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Author Topic: LED lighting  (Read 2166 times)

Nick-T

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LED lighting
« on: January 17, 2011, 02:55:40 pm »

Just wanted some input on LED lighting for stills/motion. Anybody using? Brands recommended? Pitfalls to look for?

Any information gratefully received.
Cheers
Nick-T
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LiamStrain

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2011, 05:20:09 pm »

We've use small lightpanels as fill for video work. I don't like them for still, and more and more we're moving away from using them in the video too. Hard to color balance well, especially if you have multiple sources.

bcooter

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2011, 06:39:45 pm »

Just wanted some input on LED lighting for stills/motion. Anybody using? Brands recommended? Pitfalls to look for?

Any information gratefully received.
Cheers
Nick-T

My take is 180 from the others.  The lightpanels kit is  tremendous if you have high iso for video and stills.

We just finished two projects and I probably used the lightpanels more than the hmi(s) . . . a lot more.

We've used them for key, and for fill.  If you have practicles bleeding into the shot and you want to balance them they come with one gel, but we have a huge set of light gels and you can get very close.

I think the skin tones are fine, but I don't like redish skin and the light wuality is off the scale, the kit is complete and the last three weeks have beat the heck out of them, with no problems.

Now I do a lot of images where I have the assistants hand hold lights (I've always done this) and they're perfect because they don't get too hot and the batteries run a long time.

They are also adjustable to the smallest degree without changing kelvin on the camera.

For video we've used them with the RED and some of the 7d/5d and they work great with the red.

When I get back to the U.S I'm going to buy more and larger.

IMO

BC

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paul_jones

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2011, 01:12:24 am »

what are the largest sizes you can get?

i have only seen 1 foot square ones. i would be more keen if they came in 1 x 4 foot strips, or larger. i use kinos this size a lot.

paul
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design_freak

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2011, 04:37:15 am »

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bcooter

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2011, 04:46:52 am »

what are the largest sizes you can get?

i have only seen 1 foot square ones. i would be more keen if they came in 1 x 4 foot strips, or larger. i use kinos this size a lot.

paul

I have the small ones, the rectangular kit, but will also add the 1x1's and the ring light. 

The ring light can do double dutie as a standard key or a ring effect.  I might even go three rings instead of adding the 1x1's.

They are strange lights and look small but are directional and slightly broad at the same time.

I bought them for these gigs in Paris and thought I would never use them, especially for keys and have used them for most of the shots. 

Wish I had bought the rings and could have done away with the hmi rentals (though I did get a good deal on renting the bron 800's which are good but large and heavy after using the light panels).

The cool thing abou the panels are they fit almost everywhere and and perfect for motion.

I had a scene where the talent exits a large gallery space and walks past the camera.  Traditionally we would have been scrimming down hmi's to fill her face and then moving them on wheels as not to blow her out as she moved closer.  With the panels I just had one assistant hold the light and dim it as she walks to the light.

Worked beautifully.

On a still shoot we used the panels for key and I honestly didn't think the would produce the look I wanted, but it was really stunning.   

They're strange lights and don't look like they produce that much light, but stand in the subject's spot and they're almost blinding.

I have bought and rented small hmi's and tungstens, to use in tight locations and on fast shoots and they always fall way short.  The panels are just the opposite.

Now one thing to keep in mind, I'm working in the winter in Paris and the ambient light is low and limited, even on sunny days, so the light panels work well. 

I doubt seriously if they're strong enough to have much effect under hot desert sun, but for what we just did they we're perfect.

My suggestion is to try them.  They may or may not work for you as we all shoot differently.

IMO

BC

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paul_jones

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2011, 01:31:55 pm »

thanks for the info guys.

the thing i am am excited about with LEDs is when they make a really big one that i could run off a carry-able genny.

i love the look of a strong light coming through an window with a room shot. ive shot during TVC's when they have set up a 10-20k a good distance away from the window or open door. the light you get fills the room and looks very special. its hard to get that with flash for some reason (i dont know why).
but a 10k hmi requires a crew and a generator truck to run the thing. so its usually out of reach for a stills shoot.

but it cant be far away from a really big fresnal. that 12inch led light on that youtube vid is 250w to be the equivalent to 2000w (i guess they are comparing to tungsten rather than hmi). but still its at least twice as efficient. so, by my ruff calculations you will be be able to run a eqivalent of a 6k hmi from one 3k honda genny. this is pretty cool.

paul
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bcooter

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2011, 12:46:20 am »

thanks for the info guys.

the thing i am am excited about with LEDs is when they make a really big one that i could run off a carry-able genny.

i love the look of a strong light coming through an window with a room shot. ive shot during TVC's when they have set up a 10-20k a good distance away from the window or open door. the light you get fills the room and looks very special. its hard to get that with flash for some reason (i dont know why).
but a 10k hmi requires a crew and a generator truck to run the thing. so its usually out of reach for a stills shoot.

but it cant be far away from a really big fresnal. that 12inch led light on that youtube vid is 250w to be the equivalent to 2000w (i guess they are comparing to tungsten rather than hmi). but still its at least twice as efficient. so, by my ruff calculations you will be be able to run a eqivalent of a 6k hmi from one 3k honda genny. this is pretty cool.

paul

Paul,

You should call some people in Hollywood, or NY.  I am positive I've seen 4 of the 1x1 panels stitched together and if not, it would not be difficult to rig a mount or a frame to make a 4x4.

You can call a lot of lighting and grip houses that can help you out, though I'm sure with all the films done in your part of the world, finding this should not be difficult.

a 4x4 panel would probably have the light quality of a big mole par, which would be direct with a lot of smooth wrap.

The thing about the light panels are they run cool and most of them will run off a bettery belt, or run of mains, without any generator.

Also for video they are quiet, fanless, flicker free and they don't require a ballast. 

Once again, don't be fooled by what you see,   From the camera view they can look dim, but the exposure is good.  From the subject view they are blinding and I'm just using the small ones.

A set of light panels, and a few k5600 or bron 800 watt hmis and there are very few things you couldn't shoot, especially since your now shooting motion.

IMO

BC

P.S.  I'd post some of the imagery we've produced  but it's all under embargo right now. When it clears I'll show you.
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Fritzer

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2011, 03:34:53 pm »


We've used them for key, and for fill.  If you have practicles bleeding into the shot and you want to balance them they come with one gel, but we have a huge set of light gels and you can get very close.

I think the skin tones are fine, but I don't like redish skin and the light wuality is off the scale, the kit is complete and the last three weeks have beat the heck out of them, with no problems.
....

They are also adjustable to the smallest degree without changing kelvin on the camera.


Sounds like LED panels could work very well with my Dedolights for still life.

BC, are you using a color meter to balance the color, or do you just do some test shots with different gels ?

There are some light sources which don't measure well with a meter, just wondering if LEDs are one of them.
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mtomalty

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2011, 10:44:33 am »


http://www.litepanels.com/ipad/pages/onebyone_standard.php

BC and Paul,

Scroll to the bottom of this page to see a modular use of the litepanels in use


Mark
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Fritzer

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Re: LED lighting
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2011, 11:13:23 am »

http://www.litepanels.com/ipad/pages/onebyone_standard.php

Hmm, the power seems to be quite low, judging by the numbers on that website , and when you read between the lines .
Not to mention the fake sample images.
Just another video light ?
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