Group Buy: Budget CRI 95 LED Strip Lights

[Jamon Lewis]

Speaking of amps...

While our budget controllers/dimmers were being customized an issue came up. The higher they raise the PWM frequency (to make it flicker free) the more the amps have to go down or things get too hot. So, what is more important to you guys? Flicker free slow-motion or a higher amp rating? The higher the amp rating the longer our strips can be. There are amplifiers we can get also that are relatively inexpensive (~$32) and/or we can upgrade to a slightly larger unit (still quite small in size) for ~$17. Personally, I would prefer a beefier unit and the option to use an amplifier both, but I want to hear what you think. I've talked about these amplifiers privately with a few of you who want to build multi-spool larger rigs.

They have a team working on this for us. Let me know your thoughts...

Beefier units

 

[Mike Smith]

At any frame rate. 10A is a lot to expect from a $50 dimmer. LG's standard dimmers are only 8A.

True enough. Was just curious.

The PWM freq will be somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000.

Thanks for the info Brandon.

 

[James Gill]

Tubes and china ball for me please!

 

[Corey Jacques]

Do you think it could be an option for them to try modding a different type of dimmer? Something with a beefier internals. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the whole wireless controller. It has some advantages, but I feel like tweaking levels will be difficult with that type of wireless remote. What do they think of modding a dimmer such as:
http://store.litegear.com/product_p/ld-eco-8a.htm

I've used that same dimmer(Of course it flickers) but maybe something like that may be able to be modded to handle atleast 8 amps. Which is more than enough, and I've opened them up and there's plenty of room in the housing to do other things in there. You can also find these exact dimmers for much cheaper, so if it was possible to mod, then I'm sure the company can buy bulk.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Do you think it could be an option for them to try modding a different type of dimmer? Something with a beefier internals. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the whole wireless controller. It has some advantages, but I feel like tweaking levels will be difficult with that type of wireless remote. What do they think of modding a dimmer such as:
http://store.litegear.com/product_p/ld-eco-8a.htm

I've used that same dimmer(Of course it flickers) but maybe something like that may be able to be modded to handle atleast 8 amps. Which is more than enough, and I've opened them up and there's plenty of room in the housing to do other things in there. You can also find these exact dimmers for much cheaper, so if it was possible to mod, then I'm sure the company can buy bulk.

That's a totally different class of product and it doesn't work with variable strips at all. I have 2 of these and they are absolute garbage. Not only is the flicker an issue, but they have a high pitched whine when you use them. Modding one of them would mean gutting it and using the case with new electronics

They are only able to modify their own products and they don't have anything with knobs. It's actually pretty easy to set levels with these and they even remember your last settings after being turned off.

 

[Susan Lumsdon]

Beef for me too!

 

[Nils Ruinet]

I think 10 Amps (which if I'm not mistaken corresponds to a 5m strip) at 100fps is an absolute minimum, if you need to go beefier and a bit more expensive, then go. How much beefier are we talking here ?

The amplifier sounds interesting too, would love to hear more about that, how it works and so on.

I also agree that I would have preferred a knob controller, because it's easier to know exactly what % you're at and easier to adjust. But maybe I'm wrong, haven't tried your system yet... Wireless can be nice I guess, if the remote really works well.

About the tubes, do you know what diameter they are ? I think these will be really useful for a lot of setups.

Thanks for all the time you keep spending on all of this

 

[Bryan Koss]

+1 for the china ball and tubes please

 

[Andy White]

Missed the China Balls and tubes stuff - interested

Any info/prices etc yet?

 

[PC Greene]

100 fps, amplifiers tubes n balls please.

 

[ericyoung]

No, 10 amps and flicker free is too much for it. The PWM freq would be too low.



I would love that, but it may be too much for a $50 budget controller. They are still tweaking things though.

I'll keep everyone updated.

So 2 questions lead on from that:

1) What is the highest camera framerate the current one can do flicker free?

2) And what is the maximum current the current one can supply flicker free?

Thanks!

 

[Vince Arvidson]

I would be interested in tubes and a China ball please.

Thanks, Vince

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Any info/prices etc yet?

Too soon to know for the China Ball, but we are about ready to pull the trigger on the tubes. I'll have details soon. They are inexpensive and a must have in my opinion.

So 2 questions lead on from that:

1) What is the highest camera framerate the current one can do flicker free?

2) And what is the maximum current the current one can supply flicker free?

Thanks!

I don't know yet. They are still optimizing things. It's going to be about finding a balance between amps and frame rate to fit the most common use scenarios. There may need to be a high frame rate version and amplifiers are always an option. They can't test high frame rates themselves because they have nothing to shoot with. I'm hoping to get 2 or 3 versions that use different frequencies to test out soon. I should know more Monday and will keep everyone updated.

 

[Dean Bradshaw]

Hi Brandon,

Thanks again for making this happen. Stoked to get these. Please put me on the list for tubes and china ball (when that happens).

Thanks!

 

[David E. Rogers]

Please add some tubes for me also

thanks
David

 

[Brandon J.F.]

I just made the easiest lighting rig ever with 3 inches of strip light and a 12" (30.5cm) Styrofoam "Half Ball". Took about 10 seconds.

http://instagram.com/p/x-bVcmhBH6/

I went hunting for things to use for strip light rigs at Hobby Lobby today. Found lots of Styrofoam stuff I'm going to play with. Here's the link to what I used: http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/12-white-smoothfoam-half-ball-498386/

 

[Bruce Allen]

Thank you Brandon for all of your hard work.

I have ordered 10 of these light strips and would definitely vote in favor of looking into larger / beefier power options in exchange for the ability to go at high fps and/or high power. If that's possible.

Or we can just get the ones specced in the original group buy now... and we'll jump on another group buy later for other solutions? I do have a shoot coming up and the ones listed originally seemed OK for that.

I don't know yet. They are still optimizing things. It's going to be about finding a balance between amps and frame rate to fit the most common use scenarios. There may need to be a high frame rate version and amplifiers are always an option. They can't test high frame rates themselves because they have nothing to shoot with.

Darn it... they don't have a recent iPhone? iPhone 5S can shoot 120fps, iPhone 6 can shoot 240fps. My older Galaxy Note can do 120fps too.

I'm hoping to get 2 or 3 versions that use different frequencies to test out soon. I should know more Monday and will keep everyone updated.

Once more... thank you again, Brandon!

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

 

[Paul Hazlett]

Cut a hole for the lens and there is your ring light

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Or we can just get the ones specced in the original group buy now... and we'll jump on another group buy later for other solutions? I do have a shoot coming up and the ones listed originally seemed OK for that.

I will have more details on that in a couple days. A totally custom unit made to our spec is possible ~6 months out. New products take time. About to reply to your email.

Cut a hole for the lens and there is your ring light

Absolutely!

Cut a hole for the lens to make a ring ling, tape/velcro several to the ceiling for a cool dramatic look, have someone hold it off camera for a indie run and gun or documentary shooting, run a row of light along the inside edge all the way around to get even more light, double or triple row it if you want to go crazy... tons of options. It can all be run off batteries too. Ironically, with our deal, the Styrofoam costs more than light going on it

 

[Octave Zangs]

Tube and china ball for me! Thanks!