The "LED" light Group Buy

[Ketch Rossi]

EDIT:

This Group Buy IS now CLOSED, Thanks to every one that participated!!

UPDATE:

Sorry to report that unfortunately despite of all my efforts to bring a SECOND group buy to fruition, do to the now Re-seller system, this is not going to work out...

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Compact - Long lamp life - Energy saving
AREA 4 8 S O F T
Innovative LED Soft Light

SPECIFICATIONS

POWER: External Switchmode power supply AC Power: 100 – 240 V nominal, 50/60 Hz Max power consumption 145W.
THERMAL:Ambient operating temperature: 0-40°C / 0-104°F
LAMP: High quality Blue Led array 70% Lumen maintenance over 50.000 hours.
CONTROL: DMX512
DMX in/out for daisy-chaining 8/16bit dimming 0-100%
Up to 4 control channels in 16 bit mode, selectable via digital display.
Accessories include:
DOPChoice snapgrid
Reflective material for barndoors
Barndoors
V-lock battery option.
Area 48 Soft is characterized by an unprecedented LED light quality, in terms of color-reproduction, extremely soft light and efficient lumens pr. Watt.
All this in a very compact housing build of high quality components to last.
Area 48 Soft features:
CRI 95+ in warm white (3200 Kelvin)
CRI 93+ in Cold White (5600 Kelvin)
Barndors for soft masking
Super fast strobe speed and duration
Silent fan free operation
Power saving long LED life
High reliability using BB&S proven technology
DMX in/out for daisy-chaining
4Pin XLR for power / Power+DMX
Extremely high light output
Very low power consumption
Very compact versatile unit
Flicker-free DC dimming, can even be used for high speed video lighting
Super fast strobe speed and duration
Extremely long LED life – 50,000 hours with 70% lumen maintenance
Very little maintenance required over time
No more heavy dimmer racks
No more heavy cables
Internal dimmer controlled by DMX 512
Long filter life
Reduced CO2 emission = smaller carbon footprint for your business
DIMENSIONS:
With closed barndoors:
W: 356mm/13,97”
H: 275mm/10,82”
D: 115mm/ 4,53”
Weight: 3,6 kg / 7,94 lbs


For more info on the Area 48 Soft LED fixturesPlease find all available information on the Area 48 range including photos at:

http://brothers-sons.dk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Area48Soft_HardwareManual.pdf

http://brothers-sons.dk/area-48-soft/

Snap Grid (Honey Comb) Accessory.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

A shot of the fixture...

Fixture with V-Lock Battery in place..

 

[Kwan Khan]

Thanks for sharing

 

[Vladimir Eugene]

Thanks Ketch, I always appreciate your thoroughness

Did you happen to notice how long one fixture lasted on a 90 W v-lock battery?

 

[Daniel Stilling]

Being from Denmark, I'm really proud of these guys accomplishment with this light. Looks extremely elegant and efficient.
few questions: can the battery plate be chosen as AB as well?
what exactly comes in the package when you buy the fixture listed at $1,800 (before the discounts). Any accessories? Or do they need to be purchased separately?
whats the total power of the unit? How many LED's and what's the wattage of each? Would love to see a shot of the fixture without the filter in front.
thanx for putting this together.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Hi Daniel,

yes I was impressed as well, and was a pleasure testing them and giving them some input on few details which have been all implemented and for this I chose this as the currently Best LED available.


For the $1,800 price before discount you get the Fixture with Stand Mount as shown in pictures on post#2, + the Barn-doors, all else is set to as accessories so to make sure every one only buys exactly what they need, instead of making a standard package and then have some one spend money for things they might not need.


My packages on the fixtures I purchased are as follows:

LED Fixture w Barndoors and Stand Mount (standard package)
+
5600k Special Media Screen CRI92+
V-Lock Battery Mount (detachable)
Reflector Screens on Barndoors

See also post #3 for details.

The unit puts out about an equal to a 1k Tungsten in soft mode, for the exact W power of each of the 48 LED's I'll get back to you.


I'll take a pic for you of the inside w/o filter screen.



REMEMBER... Do to their super bright units, by regulation this fixtures can not be used without a Special Media screen f your choosing, and for this a fail safe mode will not allow the fixture to be turned on naked.

 

[sander kamp]

Very interesting!

Here is the website: http://brothers-sons.dk/area-48-soft/

From what i understand the 'filter' that you place in front is not so much a filter but it actually lights up as it contains phosphor. That would mean you could buy both a tungsten and a daylight screen and exchange them without light loss.

 

[Tim Morten]

Ketch, do you know how many lumens these put out? The Zacuto Plazma is supposed to start shipping in APril at $1350 with 2000 lumens alleged from their daylight unit (they don't list the distance that was measured at). I'm very interested in these new diffused sources; I think this year's NAB is going to be a game changer for lighting. The Hive fresnel also looks very interesting (and very expensive).

Thanks for organizing the group buy!

Best,
Tim

 

[Tim Morten]

This coverage seems to indicate 8500 lumens (holy crap): http://content.yudu.com/A1z3ab/TVBEOct2012/resources/content/27.swf

 

[Antony Newman]

Ketch,

Thankyou for bringing what sounds like a fantastic opportunity to the Red community.
I have a 'couple' of questions to make up for my lack of practical lighting knowledge!

<All questions answers: Thanks BBS & Ketch>

1) Are they waterproof (what is their 'IP' or equivalent rating?) - UPDATE 1: Studio (mains) version is for INDOOR use only. (manual p7: http://brothers-sons.dk/wp-content/u...wareManual.pdf ) . UPDATE 2: Thanks Ketch : They are IP20.
2) There is mention that the lights need to be earthed. Does this only apply to the Mains ('Studio') version? - UPDATE: Must be .. you can't earth unless you're connected to the mains!. Also asked BBS to confirm.
3) Is the 'Field' (v-lock) version 85w and the 'Studio' (mains) version 145w? - UPDATE: There is only one version, to which a V-Lock module can be plugged in. This version is a rated at 140w, with 125w driving the LEDs. NOTE: When powering by battery, you can set the maximum current - anywhere from 5A - 12A (fantastic!).
4) Maximum light output - in lumens? - UPDATE : Thanks Ketch. 10,000 ANSI Lumens for the high CRI diffusers. (80 Lumens / watt)
5) What voltage range does the 'Field' version work on? - UPDATE : Battery Voltage input can be anywhere between 12-24v.
6) What is the maximum current draw when using a Battery? - UPDATE: 12 amps.
"The battery mode is implemented in the software release ( name : MAX A / set value : from 5amps to 12amps"
"BBS recommend 1 of following battery's
http://www.blueshape.net/bluecode_batterie_professionali.asp?lng=
http://www.idx-europe.co.uk/?p=products&id=ENDURA DUO-150
http://www.swit-battery.com/EN/product.aspx?id=308
http://www.swit-battery.com/EN/product.aspx?id=311
"
7) There are 4 diffusers listed - any details on these? Are there any other diffusers in development (eg like the PRG green screen). - Edit: Just found this: "3000K/CRI80, 3200K/CRI95, 5000K/CRI70 and 5600K/CRI93. But there will also be developed other types - eg. plates that provide colored light"
8) Is there any Negative side to getting the reflective barn doors? Or is there a different application that matt and reflective barn doors are used for? - UPDATE : See post #2 with Ketch' pics.
9) How high-frequency can these lights be used to shoot at? 10,000fps? Are both 'Studio' & 'Field' versions flicker free? - UPDATE: Ketch's own test shows flicker free hi-speed results at 19,600 fps.
10) If the 'Field' version is used with a manual dimmer activated - does this cause the lights to flicker? - UPDATE: There is NO flicker issue.
11) When high efficacy LEDs (eg 276 lumens a watt) become available, will new light engines be retrofittable to the 'Area 48' ? - UPDATE: No future plans made as yet.
12) If you had a choice between have (a) 2 x Area 48 Field lights and (b) 1x Area 48 Field light + 1 x PRG Trucolour Foton - which would you choose? [Foton is IP66 weatherproof / CRI 97 / 30w / 1000 lumen / 1.3 kg Foton vs 3.6kg of the Area48 ] - UPDATE 1: This was for RU to educate me .. not for the Manufacturer! UPDATE 2 : See Ketches Response in post #2
13) Is there a spectral graph like this: http://www.prg.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/PRG-Trucolor-Foton.pdf so I can confirm there are no skin (and other) colour 'surprises' waiting for me? - UPDATE: See Ketch's charts in post #2.
14) The site says 'very little maintenance'; What if any maintenance is required? - UPDATE: No maintenance is required.

Thanks.

AJ

 

[Ketch Rossi]

1) Are they waterproof (what is their 'IP' or equivalent rating?) - Edit: just saw that this is INDOOR use only.

The fixture is rated to IP20 which is indoor like all other HMI and tungsten units that are frequently used outside covered by an umbrella.

2) There is mention that the lights need to be earthed. Does this only apply to the Mains ('Studio') version

Yes, apply only to Mains

3) Is the 'Field' (v-lock) version 85w and the 'Studio' (mains) version 145w?

At 100% the fixture uses 145W out of the wall on the power supply.
Using the unit with batteries the consumption is up to 125 watts meaning that the V lock batteries has to be able to discharge more than 10 amps, here are links for V lock batteries that will do that.
http://www.blueshape.net/bluecode_batterie_professionali.asp?lng=
the BV 100HD and the BV 190HD will do the trick
http://www.idx-europe.co.uk/?p=products&id=ENDURA DUO-150
http://www.swit-battery.com/EN/product.aspx?id=308
http://www.swit-battery.com/EN/product.aspx?id=311
most V lock batteries discharges only 8 Amps and we are implementing a selectable mode for those in the unit software.

4) Is the studio version 8500 lumens? (making this a 58 lumens / watt light)

Studio version and battery version will output approx. 10.000 lumens using e.g. the 5600 K high CRI panel. Using a lower CRI panel will take the output up dramatically but then again the nice thing is the Higher CRI. Lumens/watt would be up to 100 out of a soft surface depending of the media used.

5) What voltage range does the Field voltage work on? 12v 14.8v

The voltage range is min 12v to max 24v

6) What is the maximum current draw of the Field version? 7amps?

The max current draw at 12v is 10,5 amps on batteries.

7) There are 4 diffusers listed - any details on these? Are there any other diffusers in development (eg like the PRG green screen).

We are working on a several additional types to come and we suggest using the high CRI medias 3200 and 5600 K ( see charts/ below ).these will give the unit its full potential in very nice color reproduction,

8) Is there any Negative side to getting the reflective barn doors? Or is there a different application that matt and reflective barn doors are used for?

The SnapBox is the new solution our partner DOPchoice see photos

9) How high-frequency can these lights be used to shoot at? 10,000fps? Are both 'Studio' & 'Field' versions flicker free?

Yes the Area48soft is flicker free (we have tested units at the BBC up to 20.000 fps) no flicker.

10) If the 'Field' version is used with a manual dimmer activated - does this cause the lights to flicker?

NO

11) When high efficacy LEDs (eg 276 lumens a watt) become available, will new light engines be retrofittable to the 'Area 48' ?

If in 2 years time (which is CREE's estimate for LEDs to come out of the LAB and to be available to the public), LEDs become available that are > 200 lumens a watt?????,

No, but on the other hand if the unit is bright enough as it is an upgrade may not be needed.

12) If you had a choice between have (a) 2 x Area 48 Field lights and (b) 1x Area 48 Field light + 1 x PRG Trucolour Foton - which would you choose? [Foton is IP66 weatherproof / CRI 97 / 30w / 1000 lumen / 1.3 kg Foton vs 3.6kg of the Area48 ]

The Foton is a great small light but not very punchy but can be used in smaller setups with success.
The Area48 is designed to light weight, portable and run on battery
From a gaffers point of view, having 2 Area48 “smaller light” put together side by side that gives a larger light source “the shadows is softer”

2 Lights gives the possibility :
Key and Back light
Key and side light for effect
Side and top light
Key-light and background
And so on

13) Is there a spectral graph like this:

http://www.prg.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/PRG-Trucolor-Foton.pdf so I can confirm there are no skin (and other) colour 'surprises' waiting for me?

No surprises !!

14) The site says 'very little maintenance'; What if any maintenance is required?

If the unit should fail which is unlikely you would send it to the nearest BB&S distributor and they will fix it and ship back the unit.

 

[Antony Newman]

Just found this:

Review of the prototype by 'Finn Nesgaard'

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans....dk/artikel/visartikel.php?artikelnummer=6025

"3000K/CRI80, 3200K/CRI95, 5000K/CRI70 and 5600K/CRI93. But there will also be developed other types - eg. plates that provide colored light"

Tusind tak Google.

AJ

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Very interesting!

Here is the website: http://brothers-sons.dk/area-48-soft/

From what i understand the 'filter' that you place in front is not so much a filter but it actually lights up as it contains phosphor. That would mean you could buy both a tungsten and a daylight screen and exchange them without light loss.

Correct Sander, their Special Media Screen in both 3200k and 5600k (what I sue) are made of a very special signature composite plastic called "Phosphor" and it is made so to allow for the very best light pass thru and it's accurate color rendition based on it's Kelvin temperature.

The exchange of each Filter as needed not only will not result in any light loss, but each are specifically manufactured to give the very highest CRI and it's light output to the purest and closest Kelvin temperature then any other fixture I have tested.

Ketch, do you know how many lumens these put out? The Zacuto Plazma is supposed to start shipping in APril at $1350 with 2000 lumens alleged from their daylight unit (they don't list the distance that was measured at). I'm very interested in these new diffused sources; I think this year's NAB is going to be a game changer for lighting. The Hive fresnel also looks very interesting (and very expensive).

Thanks for organizing the group buy!

Best,
Tim

This coverage seems to indicate 8500 lumens (holy crap): http://content.yudu.com/A1z3ab/TVBEOct2012/resources/content/27.swf

He he, Tim, this LED fixtures are simply amazing in their performance, and the Lumens output been so high is the reason why they had to manufacturer a Fail safe so that they would not turn on without their Filter screen, as otherwise they could cause damage to the visual cortex, that is how bright this are, yet the specially design Filter screens, or panels, do give pout a very even bright yet Soft continuos light, which makes it an absolute pleasure to work with.

To that add, portability, low battery power requirements, (via the optional V-Lock Battery detachable plate) 0 to 100 digital dimmer removable Stand Mount for extra portability were you could add two handles and makes it even lighter, and you have a very special light.

 

[Ryan Sauve]

Oh Ketch, great timing with this group buy! I'd be mainly running this via vmount so I wonder if luminance is different vs. being plugged in. Looking forward to the feedback from NAB! Thanks Ketch!

 

[jamesbridges]

Hey Ketch,
Wow, but will it have an Anton Bauer gold mount option?

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

Looks like they have copied the technology currently being sold under the CINEO name ( http://www.cineolighting.com/node/37 ).
Until recently, most of us knew of it as the TruColor HS (under the PRG banner).
It was actually introduced en masse at last years' (2012) NAB show ( http://vimeo.com/40678999 ).

We got a sneak peek at the technology at a SMPTE meeting in NYC towards the end of 2011 at AbelCine. The remote phosphor has been mentioned in a number of threads on REDUseer - it definitely has caught the attention of a number of us. Well deserved attention.

If anyone wants to check out some of the technical information behind remote phosphor lighting, the firm that developed and patented the process is Intematix Corporation (based in California) - the name they assigned was ChromaLit.

Sorry for the history, but it goes without saying that remote phosphor is a remarkable light source - absolutely no flicker at any frame rate - CRI 91 at 5600K, CRI 96 between 3200K and 4300K . Interesting to note that the CRI improves as the color temp goes down (accomplished with interchangeable phosphor panels) makes it a valuable tool in lighting a warm environment without the inherent issues of tungsten fixtures.
Another unit on the market is a smaller, portable fixture - but it was only available in lower color temp - no plans for a daylight version... (last I heard from Mitch)

Back on topic, Ketch's observation about brightness is dead on. At the SMPTE meeting in 2011 that I mentioned, we discussed it's application for HFR capture. Perfect light for the job.

The pricing Ketch is arranging for a group buy looks like a pretty good deal...

 

[Shapour Daneshmand]

Ketch,
thank you so much for all the work you did on this item.
im in for 2 units.
please let me know what woud be the next step for me to take.
cheers

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Oh Ketch, great timing with this group buy! I'd be mainly running this via vmount so I wonder if luminance is different vs. being plugged in. Looking forward to the feedback from NAB! Thanks Ketch!

Happy to hear Bryan, and yes, no matter the power source used the light output will remain the same.

Hey Ketch,
Wow, but will it have an Anton Bauer gold mount option?

James, we are looking in to this option and we'll get back with a reply on Post #1 as soon as we do.

Looks like they have copied the technology currently being sold under the CINEO name.
Until recently, most of us knew of it as the TruColor HS (under the PRG banner).
It was actually introduced en masse at last years' (2012) NAB show.

We got a sneak peek at the technology at a SMPTE meeting in NYC towards the end of 2011 at AbelCine. The remote phosphor has been mentioned in a number of threads on REDUseer - it definitely has caught the attention of a number of us. Well deserved attention.

If anyone wants to check out some of the technical information behind remote phosphor lighting, the firm that developed and patented the process is Intematix Corporation (based in California) - the name they assigned was ChromaLit.

Sorry for the history, but it goes without saying that remote phosphor is a remarkable light source - absolutely no flicker at any frame rate - CRI 91 at 5600K, CRI 96 between 3200K and 4300K . Interesting to note that the CRI improves as the color temp goes down (accomplished with interchangeable phosphor panels) makes it a valuable tool in lighting a warm environment without the inherent issues of tungsten fixtures.
Another unit on the market is a smaller, portable fixture - but it was only available in lower color temp - no plans for a daylight version... (last I heard from Mitch)

Back on topic, Ketch's observation about brightness is dead on. At the SMPTE meeting in 2011 that I mentioned, we discussed it's application for HFR capture. Perfect light for the job.

The pricing Ketch is arranging for a group buy looks like a pretty good deal...

This guys definitely know what they are doing and what they are doing with and with what...

As for brightness this were the only LED that truly impressed me, and been able to shoot perfectly exposed head shots at t8 with only one lamp is greatness.

As for price I really tried to make them understand the importance of making a significant discount available to this community and they did, so very happy of this, and glad that you have taken notice Brian, thanks for your input.

Ketch,
thank you so much for all the work you did on this item.
im in for 2 units.
please let me know what woud be the next step for me to take.
cheers

My pleasure Shapour, I'll add you to the Top list on Post #1 which I'll update regularly, then on closing of this group buy on April Friday the 19th, all orders will be processed directly.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

+1!
Please count me in too, Ketch!