Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Recommendation for led top light?  (Read 5481 times)

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Recommendation for led top light?
« on: May 27, 2018, 11:10:15 pm »

Dear all,

I am currently using a large narrow rectangular profoto softbox (mounted on a B1 monoblock) as top light but lack ceiling height in my small studio.

I am therefore looking for a led panel recommendation.

Top criteria:
- quality of light color relative to profoto strobe - 5500k and CRI>95?
- size (ideally 4x1 feet)

Thank you.

Cheers,
Bernard

HSakols

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1239
    • Hugh Sakols Photography
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2018, 10:22:02 am »

I just got a news letter from Charlie Cramer who is not using Soraa LEDs 00943.  It would be great if LuLa had a write up on this.  I imagine there will be some disagreement from those who use a GTI viewing booth.  I'm not interested in a viewing booth because I know that anyone who views my prints will probably use less than optimal light. Still consistency is nice. 
Logged

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2018, 05:12:08 pm »

My studio is now lit with Soraa lights also, but I am looking for a strobe replacement as a LED panel.

Cheers,
Bernard
« Last Edit: May 28, 2018, 07:42:27 pm by BernardLanguillier »
Logged

HSakols

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1239
    • Hugh Sakols Photography
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2018, 07:40:03 pm »

Bernard,
Sorry I misread your post and was just reading about Charlie's print lighting. 
Logged

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2018, 07:42:12 pm »

Bernard,
Sorry I misread your post and was just reading about Charlie's print lighting.

No issues, thanks a lot for taking the time to answer!

I have watched some of Charles Cramer's video but couldn't find any where he spoke about his studio lighting, would you mind sharing the exact link?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Bernard
« Last Edit: May 28, 2018, 07:59:44 pm by BernardLanguillier »
Logged

HSakols

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1239
    • Hugh Sakols Photography
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2018, 08:14:10 pm »

I'm on his mailing list and get his newsletter.  It's in my email. 
Logged

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2018, 08:55:14 pm »

I'm on his mailing list and get his newsletter.  It's in my email.

I see, thanks.

Cheers,
Bernard

Kirk_C

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 232
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2018, 09:59:10 pm »

Dear all,

I am currently using a large narrow rectangular profoto softbox (mounted on a B1 monoblock) as top light but lack ceiling height in my small studio.

I am therefore looking for a led panel recommendation.

Top criteria:
- quality of light color relative to profoto strobe - 5500k and CRI>95?
- size (ideally 4x1 feet)

Matching LED with strobes, assuming you're using other B1s in your studio, isn't a great mix. I've tried many, CREE is developed here, and matching output and color is tuff. And what you find is best today will become outdated quickly with the next generation being cheaper and better every year for the next few.

I've been shooting with Profoto since the Pro 6 generation. I'm currently using Pro 6/7/10 and the original D1s with the same built in reflector as your B1. Fortunately I bought the domes when they were only $100. Even with the domes the D1/2 B1/1X are very uneven in the 1x3 and 1x4 Profoto stip boxes.

A Profoto Acute head and pack will give you a far better light edge to edge and end to end in those softboxes. Of course any Pro 6 or newer head would do the same but the Acute heads much smaller and provide the same light.

Having said that, in your part of the world a good used Comet pack and head(s) would be what I'd look for. I use Profoto and Broncolor for the modifiers, but the Comet CX and CB packs and heads are equivalent in color and I mix them with the PF and Bron heads all the time. Comet heads are about 1/4 the length of your B1.

« Last Edit: May 30, 2018, 10:07:31 pm by Kirk_C »
Logged

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2018, 05:03:45 pm »

Thanks for the inputs!

Cheers,
Bernard

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2018, 08:18:35 am »

D Fuller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 608
    • AirStream Pictures
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2018, 09:18:01 pm »

Bernard, that’s a great light, but it might be a lot more light than you need for the purpose. Thanked a look at this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1259695-REG/aladdin_ams_fl200bi_bi_flex4_bi_color_led_panel.html

They’re very good. We use them all the time for video Portrait Lighting.

I believe I may have found what I am looking for.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1281442-REG/arri_l0_0012950_s120_c_center_blue_silver_w.html

Cheers,
Bernard
« Last Edit: June 06, 2018, 08:42:25 pm by D Fuller »
Logged
business website: www.airstream.pictures
blog: thirtynineframes.com/blog

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2018, 11:54:23 pm »

Thanks a lot, seems very interesting indeed.

Cheers,
Bernard

Kirk_C

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 232
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2018, 11:45:35 pm »

Bernard, that’s a great light, but it might be a lot more light than you need for the purpose. Thanked a look at this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1259695-REG/aladdin_ams_fl200bi_bi_flex4_bi_color_led_panel.html

They’re very good. We use them all the time for video Portrait Lighting.

This is the light that Wescott is re-branding under their name. They're creating some accessories but all the lights are manufactured by Alladin.

Alladin is based in Seoul so you may find both brands in Japanese camera / video stores and rental houses.

The Alladin is a good light but very light duty compared to the Arri SkyPanel.
Logged

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2018, 05:10:26 am »

This is the light that Wescott is re-branding under their name. They're creating some accessories but all the lights are manufactured by Alladin.

Alladin is based in Seoul so you may find both brands in Japanese camera / video stores and rental houses.

The Alladin is a good light but very light duty compared to the Arri SkyPanel.

Thanks, at 40% of the price I decided to go with that. The color quality seems to be as good as the Arri and lightweight is in fact better for me since I intend to mount it on a boom as top light.

Cheers,
Bernard

D Fuller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 608
    • AirStream Pictures
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2018, 09:26:20 pm »

Thanks, at 40% of the price I decided to go with that. The color quality seems to be as good as the Arri and lightweight is in fact better for me since I intend to mount it on a boom as top light.

Cheers,
Bernard

I think this is exactly right . We use these in conjunction wit( the Arri Skypanels, and with8n their range, we find the color just as good. The Arri does a lot more tricks and has more power, but the Allison is a lovely light source and a bargain at its price.
Logged
business website: www.airstream.pictures
blog: thirtynineframes.com/blog

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #15 on: July 01, 2018, 08:30:27 am »

I think this is exactly right . We use these in conjunction wit( the Arri Skypanels, and with8n their range, we find the color just as good. The Arri does a lot more tricks and has more power, but the Allison is a lovely light source and a bargain at its price.

Got my Aladdin kit, first impression is very positive. Great built quality, very easy to use.

Cheers,
Bernard

D Fuller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 608
    • AirStream Pictures
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #16 on: July 01, 2018, 09:05:37 pm »

Got my Aladdin kit, first impression is very positive. Great built quality, very easy to use.

Cheers,
Bernard

Great to hear, Bernard. I’d love to hear your thoughts after you’ve used it a whil3. I’ve only used those lights for motion work, where we often mis led and hmi lights. I’d love to hear what you think after using it for a bit with strobes.
Logged
business website: www.airstream.pictures
blog: thirtynineframes.com/blog

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #17 on: July 03, 2018, 06:01:15 pm »

Great to hear, Bernard. I’d love to hear your thoughts after you’ve used it a whil3. I’ve only used those lights for motion work, where we often mis led and hmi lights. I’d love to hear what you think after using it for a bit with strobes.

Sure, I will. I am in the process of upgrading my sudio set up in depth this summer. I’ll probably have to wait until end of August to be able to perform some real tests.

Cheers,
Bernard

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #18 on: August 16, 2018, 10:07:37 am »



I found a young model willing to help dad test the new studio set up. The Hasselblad was already packed for a trip, so the D850 had to work a bit. ;)

Lighting is a main Para 88 to the right, Profoto Octobox as fill (both driven by the new Pro-10), Aladdin led as top/hair light and Profoto B1 as background light.

It is in fact a bit challenging to mix the led and the strobe because the power of the led is a bit low even at max output. I had to raise the ISO to 200 at f5.6 at 1/250 to get enough contribution from the led with the Pro-10 at 2.0 for the main and 0.5 for the fill. My D1's minimum output ended up being too bright. But it worked fairly well in the end.

Cheers,
Bernard

32BT

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3095
    • Pictures
Re: Recommendation for led top light?
« Reply #19 on: August 16, 2018, 10:15:57 am »

I found a young model willing to help dad test the new studio set up. The Hasselblad was already packed for a trip, so the D850 had to work a bit. ;)

Combination seems to work well, at least for the skintones, all tones well contained, no shine or shimmers, background also nicely lit. Deep tones and additionally very sharp. I do have one niggle, not entirely sure since i'm not on a calibrated monitor: the dress seems to have inconsistent color. It seems to become more yellowish depending on the light incidence perhaps? Metamerism?
Logged
Regards,
~ O ~
If you can stomach it: pictures
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up