Posts tagged ‘LED’

My NAB 2013 Impressions

Dedolight-booth-NAB-2013As in many years previous, Visual Departures was in Las Vegas last week to support the Dedolight team, as we are a major distributor of their products in the U.S. It's always wonderful to reconnect in-the-flesh with Dedo Weigert and the rest of our colleagues; some of them having made the trip from Germany, some merely from California. At any rate, now we're back from NAB 2013 and, once again, looking back on everything we saw there and trying to make sense of all the new technology.

Drone-2Drone-1

Firstly, it was definitely the Year of the Drone. Unless the FAA steps in soon, the skies above every traffic accident, playing field (including those for kids’ sports), and natural disaster site will be filled with remote-controlled aircraft carrying all kinds of cameras from the GoPro to full-frame DSLRs. I imagine crane rental companies will need to start offering drones very soon, if they haven't already. Some of the larger units on display have eight rotors and cost in the thousands, but the big crowd attraction was the Phantom from DJI, who had a display with a huge enclosed tower for demos and practice flights.

GoPro-fan-Mason-Massey-at-NABThe Phantom is already fitted for the GoPro camera, whose always-packed booth was right next door. Just like last year, they’re showing the way for everyone from amateur skateboarders to network sports departments. The daily frenzy over give-aways led Mason Massey to turn himself into a walking GoPro in the hope (successful) of winning a free camera.

Abekas-AirCleanerSpend an hour watching real-time demos of the latest rendering software like Maxon’s Cineware and you may think it’s time to give up on live-action video completely.  By the way, here’s something from Abekas that should be scaled down for the dinner table when your kids suddenly discover inappropriate language: the "AirCleaner" profanity elimination system.

With new lenses by Zeiss and Schneider, the use of DSLRs for video shows no signs of slowing down (or does it?) I didn’t get to see it in person, but the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera ($995 without lens), which uses Micro Four Thirds optics generated a lot of buzz. This will definitely be the tool of choice for journalists working in difficult environments. One of my colleagues also came back reporting on a rig for using the iPad as a production camera; hope it looks a bit less embarrassing than this.

And through all this, the marketplace for LED lighting just gets more confused. While Dedolight and other great, established companies like Mole-Richardson and Arri produce superb LED fixtures (both flat-panel and focusing Fresnel-type), there seem to be dozens of companies making really bad, cheap lights in the belief that everything can be ‘fixed in post.’ This is not the attitude people ought to take towards their craft.

Spend many hours at a show like NAB, and you eventually have to take a break to rest your feet and eat something. Fortunately, the location of the Dedolight booth made sure you were tastefully lit while you sat on the floor with an overpriced sandwich.

When in Las Vegas, enjoy al-fresco dining at NAB by the Dedolight booth

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LitePad Loop – Rosco's LED Ring Light – Is Great for Macro, Portrait, and Product Photography

Rosco LitePad Loop, a new LED ring light, perfect for macro, portrait, and product photographers

LitePad Quality, Convenience, and Value… Finally Available as a Ring Light for Beautiful Portraits and Macro Shots!

It's no secret that we're huge fans of the LitePad product line from Rosco Labs. What's not to love about these lightweight, low-power, slim-profile, no-heat, versatile, flattering, and — by the way — attractively priced light sources? For years, LitePad has been available in sizes from 3" squares and circles all the way up to massive four-by-eight-foot custom-made panels, but has never been available as a ring light… until now! LitePad Loop is a ring light with the soul of a LitePad.

Looking to buy LitePad Loop? Click here for a list of dealers!

Why Use a Ring Light?

Macro photographers — those who take extreme close-up photos of things like flowers, insects, and body parts (you know who you are) — prefer to get very close to their subject. With standard light setups, that usually means the tip of their lens will cast a long shadow across the subject. A ring light, on the other hand, can be placed at the very tip of the lens, so it's impossible to cast a shadow.

Comparison of a portrait lit with standard light vs. a ring light

In fact, since ring lights are "on axis" lights (meaning that since they're parallel to the camera's lens and image sensor), they create almost no shadows at all, giving a very pleasing, clean look. This works out very nicely for portrait photographers and product photographers, as well — and it's well-known that good photography results in higher sales, whether on you're selling on Amazon or eBay.

How LitePad Loop Works

LitePad Loop, viewed from the back with camera attached

LitePad Loop was designed to work with hundreds of cameras — from entry-level SLRs up to full-blown motion picture cameras. (And yes, Virginia, it even works with the iPhone, if you have a tripod mount.) Included with each LitePad Loop is a mounting sled which accommodates all these form factors. The sled provides a standard 1/4"-20 tripod screw to mate to your camera, and a strong magnetic plate mates to the LitePad Loop. The rig can then be mounted on a tripod or other gear via the 1/4"-20 socket underneath. For extra security, a safety cord (included) can be attached to guard against accidentally knocking the LitePad Loop off its magnetic mount.

Once attached, the mag-plate slides back and forth along a set of 4" rails (8" rails also available) and can also be raised and lowered to position the LitePad exactly where you need it, no matter what size your camera or lens is. See the video below for a demonstration:

LitePad Loop Kits and Accessories

LitePad Loop is available as a standard kit, with just the essentials, and in a Pro Kit, which adds useful accessories such as a AA battery kit, dimmer, color filters, and more. The standard kit includes a drawstring storage pouch, while the Pro Kit comes in a full zippered soft case with shoulder strap.

LitePad Loop Pro Kit contents

Other accessories include round color-correcting gels used for color balancing and enhancing (included in the Pro Kit), and pre-cut light masks, which can influence the shape of "catchlights" (reflections) in your subject's eyes.

LitePad Loop Color Correcting Gels and Stencils/Masks

Where to Buy LitePad Loop

Are you as excited about LitePad Loop as we are? Want to be the first on your block to own one? The premier dealers in the US to carry LitePad Loop include:

Since LitePad Loop is so new, you may find that your favorite dealer hasn't had a chance to update their online database, yet, so be sure to call or email if you find that's the case. If you don't see your local dealer listed, tell them to get in touch with us (or tell us, so we can tell them about LitePad Loop.)

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NAB 2011: Great Noodles in Vegas and New LED Lights from Dedolight

I'm back from this year's NAB show in Las Vegas, where it seems the year (if not the decade) of the DSLR continues. Once again, the video production part of the show was filled with cameras (Canon), accessories (Red Rock Micro and Zacuto), and a whole host of established companies anxious to show their track-mounted dollies, jibs, lenses, portable lighting, monitors, tripods and heads, etc. all supporting the EOS 5D and its kin.

We'll get to equipment in a bit… but first, a word on other diversions. I flew out a couple of days early to meet my son, Tim (a lawyer in San Francisco) for a weekend devoted to food and amusements that are not part of what most people go to Vegas for. Tim is a big fan of Yelp.com when it comes to finding great restaurants, and his research did not disappoint. Since he arrived a few hours before me, Tim had already found (and had lunch at) a Japanese noodle restaurant, Monta, that is an absolute knockout. It has fewer than 30 seats, a short menu revolving around ramen that is the equal of any place in New York or L.A., and prices that are extremely reasonable. It's located, as so many great places are in Las Vegas, in one of dozens of drab little strip malls that it would be just as easy to drive past.  Another reason to have a portable GPS with you.

Ramen at Monta Las Vegas

Back to NAB, there are more and more companies each year who are showing and selling LED lighting for studio and location use. But this year, I was very happy to see Dedolight's new entry into the field, which Dedo himself has named Felloni.

Initially, production will be of the 1×1 size (12"x12") in a very wide range of output levels and color temperatures, as well as multiple beam angles. There are daylight, tungsten, and bicolor units (variable from daylight to tungsten) — all dimmable, with the ability to be powered by battery as well as line voltage. Great specs on output and power consumption, and some very clever built-in docking of popular battery modules.

Dedolight Felloni

We'll have all the key information on the site shortly, along with PDFs you can download. And if you're wondering about price, it will be very pleasant surprise. Of course, Dedolight's current tungsten and HMI lighting range also continues to expand. All the new products are about making sure that film, video, and still shooters have all the lighting tools they need whatever the assignment.

Finally, there is an infrared version of LEDZilla, the very successful on-board LED light introduced a couple of years ago. This one is called iREDZILLA. Primary applications will be for infrared (night) photography and surveillance. Specs indicate it can be used at a range of up to 130' (based on tests with Sony's Nightshot camcorder). Considering the popularity of recent online feeds of nesting eagles and other nature videos, I predict strong demand from nature and scientific shooters.

Dedolight iREDZILLA

Check back next week for more impressions from this year's NAB show!

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LitePad Axiom

LitePad AxiomHow Do You Improve on an Amazing Product Like the LitePad? Give it Twice as Many LEDs, Add a Steel Frame, Universal Mounting System, and a Gel Slot!

Our longtime readers already know we've always been huge fans of Rosco's LitePad product. How can you not love a light source that fits almost anywhere, runs for hours on almost any power source, and weighs next to nothing? By the same token… how could you improve on something that was already so good? The wizards at Rosco Labs have managed to do just that, and now we'd like to introduce you to LitePad Axiom.

LitePad Axiom back mounting bracket

LitePad Axiom is a whole new class of LitePad. Designed specifically for the film and TV market, this more rugged and versatile product is a LitePad HO+ in a metal housing. LitePad Axiom has LEDs on all four sides and a “sunk” internal power connector. The extra LEDs mean your LitePad is now even brighter, while the slim-profile metal housing means your LitePad is now much more durable. The housing also enables you to quickly and easily mount the LitePad using one of the new Axiom brackets or by conventional LitePad mounting methods – even Velcro or rubber bands!

LitePad Axiom on a still photo camera

All LitePad Axiom units are available in either daylight or tungsten color temperature, and are built in various square and rectangular sizes from 3"x6" to 24"x24" (non-reinforced 3" and 12" circular LitePads are still available in the LitePad HO+ line.) The LitePad Axiom housing has a gel slot for color correction or other filters and is deep enough to hold more than one filter. On the back of the unit, there is a universal LitePad Axiom mounting system, allowing different Axiom brackets to be slid into the mounting system for various applications. For example, a 1/4-20 bracket could slide on for use with one of the new accessories or a Baby Pin could be used for attachment to a C-Stand. The new Axiom brackets will work with any size LitePad Axiom.

LitePad Axiom is meant to be a stand-alone unit; the housing was not designed for the LitePad to come out nor be taken apart. However, current LitePad owners can purchase LitePad Axiom conversion kits to upgrade their current LitePads to a tough new steel frame.

Interested? Find out where to buy LitePad Axiom…

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Food Photography at Dawn, Using LitePad

When your assignment calls for a subject to be photographed at dawn or sunset — possibly in a remote location — LitePad is an excellent way to fill your lighting needs without using a ton of gear (or bringing along assistants to carry it all!) LitePad can be powered by AC power, or run for hours on AA batteries or your car's cigarette lighter. It's dimmable, generates no heat, and can be gelled to any color temperature you need.

In this video, Allen explains how to photograph food (or any other small subject your assignment requires) at first light with a minimal amount of gear and fuss; a situation made possible by our friends at Rosco Labs. Interested? Click find a dealer if you'd like to try one!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7R4VCG8TXE

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