Westcott ice lights

TG.

TG.

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I'm sure someone will defend this sort of kit, but can someone explain why anyone would use this ?
 
Jerm said:
can someone explain why anyone would use this ?
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Why anyone would want a totally mobile light-source - are you serious ??? :D

Aside from price, and like the Lowell kits too, its an excellent and very useful bit of kit for Weddings & many forms of non-studio portraiture - were it not for the ridiculous price I'd have one :)

Dave
 
Jerm said:
I'm sure someone will defend this sort of kit, but can someone explain why anyone would use this ?
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Never used one, but it's obviously very manageable for such a potentially soft light. The slim profile would be handy in windy conditions, but not being flash it just doesn't have the power for that.
 
That's my whole point..the cost.

Actually not the whole point... Genuine question.. What specifically would you use this light for ? My expectation, which I happy to have corrected, is that the power output is poor and the directional control is equally poor.
 
Leaving aside the price, and the reviews, it seems to me to be about as useful for photography as a LED car worklight...
The CRI is stated to be "90+ CRI rating" is a lot better than most LED lights, but still not capable of reproducing colours accurately.

What I find slightly annoying is that lack of hard info - the Amazon listing talks about "an extremely soft and evenly wrap-around light source" - whatever that means - but doesn't actually tell us just how large (or small) the surface is - or isn't.
 
Jerm said:
That's my whole point..the cost.

Actually not the whole point... Genuine question.. What specifically would you use this light for ? My expectation, which I happy to have corrected, is that the power output is poor and the directional control is equally poor.
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I've seen it used and the power output is fine for daylight in a hotel room and of course night-time anywhere, though of course you need it in pretty close. Being long & thin it gives a light more akin to a small window than a Lowell which is more like a posh torch. As I said, its a good piece of kit but we both agree that its a ridiculous price - can't wait for the £30 Chinese versions to come along soon :)

Dave
 
Agree with majority that its too expensive even though some top end pro's in the world use them including Jerry Ghionis (ok I know he designed it) and Roberto Valenzuela. Does equate to a top end flashgun if you look at that way!
Seen it the SWPP convention and was impressed with a few test shots I managed:).
 
Jerm said:
That's my whole point..the cost.

Actually not the whole point... Genuine question.. What specifically would you use this light for ? My expectation, which I happy to have corrected, is that the power output is poor and the directional control is equally poor.
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We were using them just for fill really, and sculpting shadows on the models faces, the power output isn't that great though, so they have to be used close up, and really you need an assistant to hold it just in the right position, from the models face, the battery lasts for less than 1 hour if using continuously so not great, they have there uses I guess, but not £400 uses :)
 
cybergools said:
Agree with majority that its too expensive even though some top end pro's in the world use them including Jerry Ghionis (ok I know he designed it) and Roberto Valenzuela. Does equate to a top end flashgun if you look at that way!
Seen it the SWPP convention and was impressed with a few test shots I managed:).
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Every year at the SWPP show somebody comes up with the next must have gadget, and hundreds think they have found the holy grail - most of us just look on in amusement.

Mike
 
We were using them just for fill really, and sculpting shadows on the models faces, the power output isn't that great though, so they have to be used close up, and really you need an assistant to hold it just in the right position, from the models face, the battery lasts for less than 1 hour if using continuously so not great, they have there uses I guess, but not £400 uses :)
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No disrespect, but that sounds like they're pretty much.. 'specialist' ;-)

I rather suspect that the 'top end pro's' who use these sell them as well.
 
TG. said:
Could you please elaborate
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I think he's trying to say that you don't need some overly expensive strip light as a fill. An umbrella on camera axis will do the trick just as well, if not better.
 
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Jayst84 said:
(I assume - haven't bothered searching for any).
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You assume wrong then don't you ! as I have searched a fair bit, just I haven't seen anything very similar to the ice light, as you seem in the know about them maybe you could provide a link
 
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TG. said:
You assume wrong then don't you ! as I have searched a fair bit, just I haven't seen anything very similar to the ice light, as you seem in the know about them maybe you could provide a link
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Well something similar came up in the suggestion bit on amazon when I clicked on your link. That was less than half the price.

Just because you haven't found anything, doesn't mean it's not out there. :rolleyes:
 
Jayst84 said:
Well something similar came up in the suggestion bit on amazon when I clicked on your link. That was less than half the price.

Just because you haven't found anything, doesn't mean it's not out there. :rolleyes:
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Share the link then, telling someone you found something and they're ignorant doesn't actually help.
 
mike weeks said:
Every year at the SWPP show somebody comes up with the next must have gadget, and hundreds think they have found the holy grail - most of us just look on in amusement.

Mike
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this.

They're ok. Not £400 ok. You're paying a lot of that £400 to have a couple of the cRockstar 'wedding photographers' chat it up.


Any LED panel (I'd recommend one from F&V) will do most of what an ice-light does in terms of practicality. I use them often for shooting in low light...
 
Jayst84 said:
Well something similar came up in the suggestion bit on amazon when I clicked on your link. That was less than half the price.

Just because you haven't found anything, doesn't mean it's not out there. :rolleyes:
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I was well aware of the similar lights in the link, although they wasn't really that close to the ice light when you look at the specs, hence me asking if anyone else had seen anything similar, so yes I'm sure just because I haven't found anything closer, doesn't mean there isn't anything, again my reason for asking, but occasionally and luckily only occasionally there is some nob head troll like yourself who comes along and hasn't got anything constructive to say so tries to thread spoil, so why not just pizz off back into your hole and stay there for a very long time.
 
TG. said:
I was well aware of the similar lights in the link, although they wasn't really that close to the ice light when you look at the specs, hence me asking if anyone else had seen anything similar, so yes I'm sure just because I haven't found anything closer, doesn't mean there isn't anything, again my reason for asking, but occasionally and luckily only occasionally there is some nob head troll like yourself who comes along and hasn't got anything constructive to say so tries to thread spoil, so why not just pizz off back into your hole and stay there for a very long time.
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I gave you two generic names that they are referred to by in the industry, which could help you in searching. I told you they are used a lot in film making, which could lead you down another path in searching. I told you somewhere that similar tools are sold and an approximate price.

You clearly have some serious issues, but if you expect me to fly to China, source a manufacturer, buy a crate at a discount price and bring it to your doorstep; you're in for a wait.
 
I'm just finishing up a DIY version for ~$50. Actually better specs than the IceLight (~3600 lumens, 2hr run time, remote rf control, etc). But honestly, even with those specs it's not much more than a fill light to cut back shadows.

I just did it to see if I could and for website content...
 
sk66 said:
I'm just finishing up a DIY version for ~$50. Actually better specs than the IceLight (~3600 lumens, 2hr run time, remote rf control, etc). But honestly, even with those specs it's not much more than a fill light to cut back shadows.

I just did it to see if I could and for website content...
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Hold 2 of them 10-20cm apart and you will see more uses. £800 is a bit steep for a video light
 
Phil V said:
Surely this is the must have?
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Im getting one of these....sod it...im getting 2!!

sk66 said:
I'm just finishing up a DIY version for ~$50. Actually better specs than the IceLight (~3600 lumens, 2hr run time, remote rf control, etc). But honestly, even with those specs it's not much more than a fill light to cut back shadows.

I just did it to see if I could and for website content...
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will it be as good as the pyelite? No matter, when your done post up some pictures, would be interested to see what you create. Is there a forum category for 'members inventions'.....if not there should be
 
I have used them and rather liked them. They offer you something different to utilise and variety. YES, they are expensive - hence why I borrowed them rather than bought my own. But if you like to play with light then these are very good. As for making a cheaper knock off version we did and compared them, the cheaper version was pants!
If the lights were the same price as a cheap flash this conversation would be very different I am sure.

Its horses for courses, if you want soft subtle light in your weddings shots, if you want to be creative, if like to mix it up these are for you. If you are happy with what you have then they are not. simples.
 
Well here's a couple pics of it finished.
The first image is with it on in daylight (window light). When I metered it, it's worth ~ 2stops of additional light from 2ft... (what's that; an effective GN of 4ft?)
The second image is with it on in a completely dark room. The far corner is ~ 20ft from the light. Exposure was 1/40, f/2, ISO100.
I don't know how that compares to a real IceLight, but it's not much... (the raw specs put it well above, but I don't really trust them)
 
i have one of these (as you can see from my avatar) so perhaps a little biased. However i really do like the icelight, agree its expensive and has its downsides but the cheaper alternatives dont give the same quality of light (or pure daylight temperature) and arent as well built or as portable (built in battery pack and easy to carry). Apart from the price it could do with a little more power, but I haven't seen an alternative that matches it for quality of light - though it takes a bit of practice and understanding to learn how to use it to light subjects. If you want to see examples of it in use have a look here and you can see some work the light better than others:

http://www.theiceculture.com/gallery/

I use it for light painting my automotive work and compared other sources i've tried this is by far the best i've come across:

<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/118146216@N08/12782491495/player/" width="800" height="534" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

If I was looking for a continuous light source now though i'd have a look at the Lowel GL-1. It looks very good - more power, fresnel etc...
 
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