Author Topic: Anyone tried these 6 x LED lights??  (Read 422 times)

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Online Chris Harding

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Anyone tried these 6 x LED lights??
« on: September 16, 2011, 06:21:55 AM »
Hi All
There seems to be a host of new on-camera lights that are a lot more compact than the multi-led ones lately on eBay...they are using 4, 5 or 6 power leds so you get around the same output as the 160 LED lights ... specs seem to be a bit vague but most devices are quoted at either 12W or 13.7W compared to my 160 LED light at 9W and claim anything between 600 and 1470 lumens output (they don't say at what distance though!!!)  They are a lot more compact than the rectangular multi-led lights so they might just be neater on the camera too. Due to size they don't offer a AA option but only use the Sony NP550 2200mah battery.
All seem to be priced down here at around the $80 mark which isn't too bad!!!  Anyone been tempted into buying one yet??? If so, how do they perform??? I dropped in a pic of one here!!
Chris
 
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Offline peterphelan

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Re: Anyone tried these 6 x LED lights??
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2011, 01:05:20 PM »
Hi Chris,
>>Anyone been tempted into buying one yet???<<
Looks like you and are going to disagree again!  :laugh:  ... LED lights are not full spectrum, so it's impossible to get accurate colour balance with them; particularly noticeable with blues and skin tones. So no; at no time have I ever considered getting any LED lights whatsoever.  :)
 
Peter
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Offline Guy Bruner

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Re: Anyone tried these 6 x LED lights??
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2011, 04:08:58 PM »
That's what color correction in post is for...right?   ::)
Guy

Offline peterphelan

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Re: Anyone tried these 6 x LED lights??
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2011, 05:07:00 PM »
No, it's not possible to completely correct for LED lights, parts of the colour spectrum are missing. Colour temperature meters cannot read them either. People do use them of course, and you can "sort of" correct, with gels and post, but subjects will never be accurately reproduced in the same way as can be done using continuous spectrum lights such as tungsten or HMI.
 
It depends upon the kind of intended use and subjects you shoot of course; and what you might find "acceptable" as far as colour balance and reproduction are concerned. I do not do it, but for run and gun kind of video work, and if I needed an on camera light, I would choose the Lowel i-Light or dimmable id-light.
 
If you run tests, shooting the same subject - say a person in blue cothing, first using corrected tungsten light, then use LED's, you'll see a marked difference in the way the subject is reproduced. The latter will be devoid of the subtle shades of blue, skin will look "flat" and lack colour. It's probable most people do not see the comparison side by side; but if you do, it's then that the LED deficiencies really show up.
 
Peter 
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Online Chris Harding

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Re: Anyone tried these 6 x LED lights??
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2011, 06:32:37 PM »
Hi Peter
Nope I won't argue at all.  For me they are practically and efficient..  colour accuracy to 0.00001% is not an issue. My cams really do a good enough job white balancing so I don't have to correct in post!!
I shoot for content not for technical perfection .... and LED lights make the job easier.  I very much doubt whether any of my brides would come back to me and bitterly complain that the lilac bridesmaid's dresses are one shade off the material sample inside the reception. I quite sure that as a commercial photog your colour needs to be absolutely perfect but with events and such like it's totally un-necessary to correct unless the white balance didn't work at some stage and the bridesmaid's dresses went from lilac to blue!!
Chris
 
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