Video lighting - newby advice please

norrisphysio

norrisphysio

Suspended / Banned
Messages
220
Name
Chris
Edit My Images
Yes
Having just bought a Panasonic GH3 as my main stills camera, I have decided to have a go at video as this camera has good video abilities according to the reviews. At work we have a small Pilates studio and I want to make a few exercise videos (demos of exercises done on a mat, yoga / Pilates that sort of thing) and want to light it as the studio lights are quite dim. Looking at continuous lighting there seem to be several types, and I would like to get something which might also be suitable for stills, as I have used studio strobes before (don't have any but have rented studios). Red head lights like these 800w ones on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181186807049?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT can be varied and come with barn doors so give a bit of light shaping, then there are the heads with several compact fluorescent bulbs with a softbox like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310813708322?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT and finally 500w quartz halogens http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200976972994?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT which come with a reflector and bowens speedring to allow fitting of different industry standard softboxes etc. Not really sure how to determine how much light I need, or how to compare the light from the lamps because some quote wattage, some lumens, and some guide number at different iso and distances. Any advice appreciated - what are people generally using?
 
Last edited:
Have you thought about one of these mounted on your camera?




a CN-160 portable video light. Cost? about £25 + batteries The advantage is the light is exactly where
the lens is looking not just some general light. Fits any camera as it is not hot/cold shoe relient


see them on youtube ie

 
Last edited:
LED is the way to go, lightweight, dimmable, often include some pretty usable colour balancing options, and they're safe. You can stick them up on a light stand easily without needing any special accessories - some will also go on your hotshoe as Bazza says, though unless you're shooting run and gun, you probably don't want to be doing that.

Redheads are a pain, especially in a gym environment with people moving around. People will be hot enough as it is, without pumping a readhead in there as well. Nevermind someone stretching over and melting their hand off.

Yongnuo do a decent job for a decent price. There are plenty of other comparable cheap manufacturers out there as well (though I don't recall any names at the moment).

One thing I've never understood, is why the barn doors are reflective silver. They're supposed to cut the light, not bounce it all over the place. Nothing a bit of gaffer's tape won't fix though.
 
I have been looking at these, but wasn't sure how powerful they were for lighting at a distance. I am shooting a model performing yoga exercises on a mat so will need to be about 3-4 m away to get full body length when lying and full height when reaching overhead
 
BBC News studio in London is LED lit. Apparently they've cut their lighting power bill by 80% by doing it.
 


Totally unedited, distance to door 12 ft . only thing was going from TIFF to jpeg and size reduction. Before hardly any light at all and the camera on same settings would not even take a picture as it was too dark
 
Last edited:
now video version. Exactly the same setup ,the first light on is with diffuser and second with it off. taken in almost total darkness


Remember this is with a 24-70mm lens, if you get closer than 12 ft with a wider angle lens ,same 50mm f1.4, would be used so the subject would be brighter even than this. As you can see total darkness in parts of the video just to show how bright this CN-160 is


Hope this is of some help Chris. al;so some versions of this can take 2 or more of the same but awkward if moving about
 
Last edited:

Same again with a 50mm f1.4 lens which makes a difference.

Had a few dust bunnies on the sensor so now removed

Hopefully Chris this gives an idea of how good these lights are, from total darkness
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top