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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

SoftPanels LED Lights with Intelligent/Precise Color Control

Cedric Letsch

Cedric Letsch

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Saw them at NAB and talked to Kevin. They're still refining a few minor things. Prototype seemed well made, but only real world usage proves anything. Quality of light was hard to determine mixed with ambient trade show lighting, so that's TBD in my book. I love the BBS Area 48s, just wish they weren't so pricey...

Cheers - #19
 
Bob do you have a link? I can only find a generic article.

Thanks Blair, appreciate your input! I have a Cineo HS that I love but can barely justify owning. An additional, mobile unit would be nice though!
 
Cedric Letsch said:
Bob do you have a link? I can only find a generic article.

Thanks Blair, appreciate your input! I have a Cineo HS that I love but can barely justify owning. An additional, mobile unit would be nice though!
Click to expand...

My bad. It thought it was posted already. I saw them shoot a segment with them. Should be up soon I guess.
 
Almost bought a few but decided not to cause of the comparisons I researched. The price is a bit up there compared to litepanels, and with less lumen output than their astra. I would also like to see a v2 after they have worked out all the kinks before my money goes towards it.
 
Output seems to be on par with the Maverick but the Cineo is much smaller and lighter. At half the price, I'd still back this project if I could find some compelling info re build and light quality.
 
Because I get a fair number of calls for location interview/testimonial shoots with no scout, I'm taking the risk that the SoftPanels will fulfill their promise. Once I get mine and use it few times I'd be happy to report my experiences here on RedUser.

Cheers - #19
 
Is a CRI of 95 the highest anyone can achieve currently? Since the developer of the SoftPanels is considered to be the LED expert, I'm curious about that.

Edit - I found these new F&V lights have a CRI of 96-98: http://www.fvlighting.com/ultracolor-z400s-soft-bi-color-premium-kit.html Any thoughts on those?

Also, did anyone get to see the SoftPanels work properly at NAB? The kickstarter video just shows a lot of product shots, cuts to someone pressing the auto-balance button, then a shot of the model with the light (offscreen) changing color temp.
 
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Got to shoot a mini test with the SoftPanels 2x3 yesterday. Put it up against the Arri SkyPanel, Kino Celeb, and Kino 4 ft 4 bank flourescent. Should have a write-up later this evening with a little video. I have no relation to SoftPanels other than asking if I could shoot a comparison. This was last minute so we only had time to grab a couple lights, but I'll do a larger test in the future.

Needless to say the SoftPanels are worth the money... And if you think the SoftPanels are heavy, try lifting the Arri Skypanel!

SoftPanels1.jpg

SoftPanels2.jpg

SoftPanels3.jpg
 
I'm just curious about the CRI 95 still - it seems a bit odd to push color-matching/balancing but also not get the CRI around 99 like a couple of other manufacturers have. Would someone with more understanding of this mind clarifying that?

I'll also point out that it looks like we won't be able to do either of these with the SoftPanels (using the 1x2 kinoflo celeb as a comparison since they have it listed on their kickstarter):

Celeb-201-Spinning-Image.gif
Other-Rigging-Options.gif
 
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Cool thanks Matt, really looking forward to the write-up! I think we can agree that the SoftPanels is cumbersome for travel/run-and-gun.

@Brendan: According to the campaign, the light can be mounted vertically or horizontally, but I'm not sure how this is supposed to work - I guess it involves changing yokes?! I don't care much about CRI as it doesn't reveal potential green spikes in LED fixtures.
 
BrendanLeahy said:
I'm just curious about the CRI 95 still - it seems a bit odd to push color-matching/balancing but also not get the CRI around 99 like a couple of other manufacturers have. Would someone with more understanding of this mind clarifying that?

I'll also point out that it looks like we won't be able to do either of these with the SoftPanels (using the 1x2 kinoflo celeb as a comparison since they have it listed on their kickstarter):
Click to expand...

CRI is only a part of the equation. What I've learned is LED manufacturers can cheat their LED's to get a higher CRI. While it carries a high CRI, the actual color temp is usually quite a ways off and also has valleys in it's spectral response curve which means its physically missing color info. Not to mention is CRI does not take into account green spikes that greatly affect your color. The SoftPanels read a 95 CRI at 5600K and a 98CRI at 3200K. 95 is the lowest CRI rating for any given color temp with the SoftPanel, and it's spectral response curve has no missing info and has more red than even the SkyPanel, which is a good thing. Just cause you mentioned the Celeb, it's color temp when set to 5600K actually reads around, well you'll see it's quite a ways off. So CRI is only helpful to a certain degree.

The other benefit of the SoftPanels which isn't mentioned much, is regardless of your dimmer settings, the color temp is always accurate (due to the inbuilt light meter adjusting the units temp to remain accurate). That's not true for many other panels as usually a color shift occurs as you dim the unit.

Cedric Letsch said:
Cool thanks Matt, really looking forward to the write-up! I think we can agree that the SoftPanels is cumbersome for travel/run-and-gun.

@Brendan: According to the campaign, the light can be mounted vertically or horizontally, but I'm not sure how this is supposed to work - I guess it involves changing yokes?! I don't care much about CRI as it doesn't reveal potential green spikes in LED fixtures.
Click to expand...

Sure, it's cumbersome if you are comparing to the Celeb or Litepanels 1x1, etc (The celeb is more expensive and has less output). If you are comparing it to the Arri SkyPanel, the 2x3 SoftPanels weighs 3 pounds more than the 1x2 SkypanelC60. If you add the battery power unit to the SkyPanel, it adds significant weight. Just giving some perspective. The 1x2 SoftPanels is much lighter than the SkyPanels 1x2 (10lbs lighter).

Also, you are correct about the green spikes, which surprisingly happens with the SkyPanel and not the SoftPanels.

Just to be clear I have no relationship with and am not paid by SoftPanels. I just asked them if I could shoot a comparison video and was able to get an hour window to do a quickie. My opinion about the light is 100% my own and I'd take one over a SkyPanel any day, and for half the price it's a steal. If portability is your main concern, the Westcott Flex Lights would be my recommendation. Those weigh about as much as a magazine and put out a ton of light for their size.
 
Stacey Spears said:
Wonderful testing and write-up Matt, thank you.
Click to expand...

Thanks Stacy! I would have loved to go more in depth and do a more thorough comparison but only had an hour and a half to do this and found out about the opportunity to test the SoftPanels a day before.
 
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