Dichroic Ultralight vs Dichroic id-Light

[jeremycohn]

I'm starting to like the dichroic filter for my Ultralight.. it's great if shooting something inside of a building that's mainly lit by natural light. Obviously the wattage of the Ultralight is low (20w) and I don't want to add anything that's more powerful (mainly because even 20w is too bright if I'm doing a one light live shot). I also don't want to be draining batteries any faster.

I don't have a dichroic right now for my id-Light (dimmable Pro Light)... but am considering getting one. Thoughts? I've got a 100w bulb in that light, and I power it from my battery belt.

Thanks

[Infidel]

Oooohhhh.....he said battery belt...that hurts.....!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jeremycohn]

Hey, I love the good ol' battery belt! That thing'll power my 100w light for a good 2 hours! Before I had a light that was powered by my camera's battery, I used to run through the airport with my id-Light and battery belt. By the time I was done my story and walked back to the car I thought I'd been at the gym for 8 hrs.

[Sportsguy]

Battery Belts?

Working nightside, I've found those antiquated pseudo-garments left over from another era of tele-glory to be my best friend at many a middle-of-nowhere locator shoot. We've got about two working still, with cells older than most sixth-graders. But, if I can use it to shoot a standup in the middle of a field with no need for AC power, then I'll drag those 30 volts and a light stand anywhere...

Anything is better than the camera's toplight.

Plus, they're a darn cool fashion statement. Cine 60 belts were clearly designed with the most hip CP-16 shooter in mind...

[focusthis]

http://i4.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/8a/a4/d7f9_1.JPG

I've been using an LED based light for a week now, and am very happy. It puts out as much light as my old 20w halogen, but only draws 3 watts! The other lamp I ordered is daylight balanced, and supposedly puts out 25% more light. Since I work nights, I gave it to a dayside photog to use. He seems happy with it, and has no problem with it's color. We haven't talked at length, so I can't offer any more details. He should really see a difference since he's not using the dichroic (losing light there) AND enjoyiing a higher output lamp. We'll see. I'll be ordering another pair in the 5w range to see if they put out more light than the 20w halogens.

The specs for the lights are: 3w LED, size MR16 GU 5.3, 15 degree spot. Each lamp costs $20 or so, and I had to bend a couple retaining clips in my A/B UltraLight to make it fit. Took two seconds to do. Now, when I use the top light, I don't immediately lose a bar or two from my battery status!

[editor_dude]

focusthis
where did you find above bulb? the whole staff now wants one.

[Wideangle]

Count me as interested too! Looks like it could help solve some of the power
consumption problems we are going to have here when the Sony PDW-700's get in.
Whose manufacturing them?

[thru-the-lens]

focusthis,

I can't seem to focus on my ncaa brackets knowing that that lamp is available and out there somewhere. Please where did you get it or order it from?

thru-the-lens.

[jeremycohn]

Not to be a jerk... but didn't I ask a question about dichroic filters in Pro Lights or something? :)

[Wideangle]

Use a blue gel in your id-light. It will give you more light with the same color temp
you are trying to achieve because the light is going thru less diffusive material.
Plus it's hard to break a gel and it's cheaper too. Now back to where you can get
one of those LED lights.....

[Canonman]

Now back to where you can get
one of those LED lights.....

Found them here...

http://www.theledlight.com/12volt-led-bulb.html

31 bucks apiece in both 3300 and 5000 K versions.

cm

[AlexLucas]

Not to be a jerk... but didn't I ask a question about dichroic filters in Pro Lights or something? :)

I second the blue gel.
Take some gel, and some scissors, and cut a piece that slides directly on your glass and fits under the grooves of glass where it meets the casing. Think about cutting it with little tabs, that works great.

Now make two of them (because one will blow away), and keep them in your wallet.

If you can't fit a gel under the casing, make little gaffer or 'scotch tape clamps,' (I prefer scotch tape actually, it works better, and I fold the scotch tape to make little 'pull tabs' to take it off easily). Then take the wax paper side of a Beta tape label, and stick that whole gel with tape assembly to that slick label so you can slap it up in a flash. It gets a little big for a wallet, but you'll thank yourself later.

It's a cheap man's dichro assembly, and when it blows away in a storm, you're out a nickel's worth of gel, and some scotch tape.

It's an old trick. Passed down from generations of cheapo photogs.

[focusthis]

Nothing fancy. Email Yvonne at LED Mania (customerservice.ledmania@gmail.com) to get quotes. They offer a few different spot degrees from about 15 degrees and wider. They have "warm white" for the 3200k, and "white" for the daylight version. I ordered " 2x MR16 3*1w CREE - 15 degree (1 daylight, 1 warm white) " and they arrived a week later in plain white boxes inside a brown padded envelope.

I emailed about a brighter lamp, and she suggested this. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=350010217683&ssPageN)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87294316@N00/2348495449/http://www.flickr.com/photos/87294316@N00/2349322946/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87294316@N00/2348488057/

[jeremycohn]

Kinda jumped the gun, but oh well.....picked up the dichro today. Weird though.. I had the Ultralight on and the Lowel on at the same time.. the lowel looked bluer than the UL.

[Wideangle]

Thanks for the info on the LED lights guys....that's why I love this website. There's always something new to learn!

[Myblue]

Would these LED's work with the A/B toplight dimmer?

[focusthis]

Not dimmable.

[Tippster]

http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/ABUDL.JPG

[Sportsguy]

http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/ABUDL.JPG

Yeah... If you've got like $900.