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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 :)

Where is LED lighting technology these days?

Brody_B

Brody_B

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Hello Gents,

How good are your battery powered LED lights these days? And which ones are worthy in your opinion? I have seen and used a few V-mount LED panels over the last few years, ultimately experiencing over blown magentas and greens, and under powered wattage.

Has anybody come across something worthy of their experience yet?

I have my pair of Arri Compact HMI 2.5k's and a handful Arri tungsten 1k & .5k's. But would love a portable, non generator, off site option that has enough throw, and doesn't require too much color correction.
 
The TLCI Index put together by Alan Roberts would seem to be (currently) the best measurement going for colour performance from LED lights. You can check out the current index here: http://www.gtc.org.uk/members-area/tlci-results/current-tlci-results.aspx

Basically, anything that scores 90 or above, is solid, and shouldn't require specific any colour correction.
 
I like the new Dedo 70 Dled. Hard light, very light but powerfull and very good quality of the light.


Olivier
 
Mole Richardson "Quantum Dot" LED Fresnels are GREAT!
 
Brody_B said:
Hello Gents,

How good are your battery powered LED lights these days? And which ones are worthy in your opinion? I have seen and used a few V-mount LED panels over the last few years, ultimately experiencing over blown magentas and greens, and under powered wattage.

Has anybody come across something worthy of their experience yet?

I have my pair of Arri Compact HMI 2.5k's and a handful Arri tungsten 1k & .5k's. But would love a portable, non generator, off site option that has enough throw, and doesn't require too much color correction.
Click to expand...

I am a big user and advocate of LED tech. The Mole LED frensels use pretty decent Quatum Dot tech. Decent light quality and output. The bonus here is you get the frensel flexibility at the expense of size and weight.

I own some Nila Boxers and their LED QC process is rather insane. Rugged and you use little etched holographic lenses to control the light. The smaller Vasa and Zaila units run nicely on V-Lock and can push out light pretty nicely. I especially like the look of the 80 degree lens into 1/4 diffusion.

In terms of panel lighting. There have been notable advancements in LEDs and the quality of those LEDs is mostly what separates the bazillion companies now. Litepanels went ahead and upgraded the bulbs and general housing/fixtures to create their Astra 1x1 series and they are more powerful than the OG stuff with a better quality of light. Those come in Daylight, Tungsten, and Bi-Color. I can run those off of V-Lock bricks for a while. There's a nice 2 light kit that is pretty handy to have around.

There's a few things coming at NAB to be on the lookout for.

Hive is another option if you are after a really nice HMI-like source with a lower draw.
 
Pay attention to the CRI index which is about the fidelity of color (like 92 and above). The older LED's were horrible for color. Aden tech was one where I could not believe the green in the color, and the sheets of Magenta supplied in attempt to correct it. Some are also clunky as all-get-out like the Arri Lc7.... which was crazy huge with very little output. We've come a long ways in LED's with good color in just the last year or so, but we have a ways to go still specially for a hard/bright and reasonably priced lamp. The little dedo is very nice, and the lightpanels Astra is an excellent value with size/weight/output and price ratio's. The Area 48 is an awesome lamp but a bit on the big-heavy-pricey side.

I imagine this years NAB with bring another step in the right direction, probably worth waiting to see.
 
Brody_B said:
Hello Gents,
I have my pair of Arri Compact HMI 2.5k's and a handful Arri tungsten 1k & .5k's. But would love a portable, non generator, off site option that has enough throw, and doesn't require too much color correction.
Click to expand...

There are still no LEDs with output comparable to your Arri Compact 2.5 HMIs that can be powered off of batteries – besides you don’t need them. You can plug your Arri Compact 2.5 HMIs into common wall receptacles with the aid of a Transformer/Distro. Most locations have 240V receptacles for electric ranges, cloth dryers, air-conditioners, etc. A Transformer/Distro will step-down the 240V power from these receptacles to a single 100A (in the case of range receptacles) or 60A (in the case of dryer receptacles) circuit at 120V, which is more than enough to power your Arri Compact 2.5 HMIs or even your Tungsten 5k. Transformer/Distros are equipped with standard 100A or 60A Bates receptacles so that you can plug your lights directly into them or use standard distribution equipment like Bates Extensions, Splitters, and Break-Out Boxes to distribute power around your set before plugging in the lights.

LED is still the most expensive lighting technology on the market in terms of lumens/dollar, and given the pace of development, anything you buy today will be obsolete in a year. I would stick with mature technologies like HMIs and tungsten and instead take advantage of new means of powering them like Transformer/Distros on 240V wall receptacles or modified 7500W Honda EU7000 generators.

Paul Dean
 
Fantastic input! Those Mole LED's look really cool, love the frensel design flexability cause thats certainly what im used to. and glad to hear people are having success with those and the others listed, gonna take a look at them all now. Also the TLCI Index, great info. Thanks guys.

With NAB right around the corner we will also see if the future is looking brighter, Literally.
 
I have to agree the Aputure Lightstorms are great! I have the full size and the half size and they are so light and built like a tank. Remote controllable! Battery ballast is separate from the LED panel, which is brilliant. Why other companies put the ballast ON the light panel that will be up on a light stand is beyond me.
As for a fresnel, I am going to check out the Hexolux from Visionsmiths. They seem to be pretty popular around these parts....and not because they are red.
 
I have been using the Westcott Flex Bi-color mat for last month and i really like the light coming from it. However i gotta say that im not diggin the plastic dimmer control panel, its feels cheap and lacks a v mount plate for battery use. Im looking into the Aladdin Bi-flex 100 kit which do have a integrated v mount plate on the control panel. http://hotrodcameras.com/aladdin-bi-flex-100-kit-1x2.html
 
There a Mole 10k(!) equivalent LED fresnel being presented at NAB. If the specs ring true, that'll match a 2.5k HMI/10k Tungsten, and you'll be able to plug it into the wall, and dim it without colour shift - VERY exciting stuff.

I'd actually argue that one might be more interesting as a tungsten balanced fixture rather than daylight - since 2.5k HMIs are easy to get hold of, but a 10k tungsten that you can plug into a wall? Unheard of.
 
I have a Dedo DLED4.1 bi-colour kit that I love along with Kino celebs. They match very close. All good quality, CRI and very versatile and manageable light. The versatility of the Dedo kit I think is unrivalled but not a lot of output. Just accent lighting.

I'm also really liking my Zylight F8 which is a single-shadow fresnel lamp that can run off a 90wh battery and has pretty good punch and CRI considering it can be run off a v-mount or AB.
 
We always rent the Area 48´s find them to be better then the rest. If I would buy any those would be what I would get, the light is simply so much cleaner and smother then for the ones that does not have the fosfor filter trays. To me they are perfect, other leds are... usually pretty far from perfect.
 
Mark K. said:
There a Mole 10k(!) equivalent LED fresnel being presented at NAB. If the specs ring true, that'll match a 2.5k HMI/10k Tungsten, and you'll be able to plug it into the wall, and dim it without colour shift - VERY exciting stuff.

I'd actually argue that one might be more interesting as a tungsten balanced fixture rather than daylight - since 2.5k HMIs are easy to get hold of, but a 10k tungsten that you can plug into a wall? Unheard of.
Click to expand...

Yes!
 
22k lux at 1 meter is only impressive to me if it has a large spread, as well.

As a benchmark, an Arri T1 will do 17000 lux at 1 meter at a spread of 53 degrees, 35900 lux with a spread of 30 degrees, and 145900 lux at 7.7 degrees. Though, you probably shouldn't be using it that close to your talent.
 
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