Camera Top Light
 

I have to do some pick ups and don't feel like dragging all of the lights along as there is pretty good ambient light on this particular shot.

However I do need to punch in a little front fill...what are some recommendations for a very very good light that I can mount on the 2100?

Hang the expense...money is no object!!! Ha!!!

MP

i hear the sony 10/20 is the best for the vx2100

LitePanel
 

If you are going to use a top light a lot, think about the Litepanel. It can really warm up an interview. I use the spot version because I think the throw on the flood is too short. You will spend about $700 for the DV kit, but for the amount I have used the light, it was money well spent.

Sony also has an LED (HVL-LBP (LED Battery Video Light) light that will be out in a few month, that will work with their 970 series batteries.
check it out here:

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...-V1U/acce.html

Also Varizzom has just released a new LED light (S-2010) that looks promissing, but I haven't heard any feedback on it yet. It runs on whatever battery connection you need for your camera (different battery connection for different cameras).

check it out here:
http://varizoom.com/products/batteri...10_series.html

I currently use and love, a PAG C6 light system, that gives a fantastic even light source. It comes with barn doors, and daylight (dioptic) and diffuse filers attached to the light. It is made of a hard plasic so the light body itself does not get real hot, and you can swap out bulbs 10-30w, in a second.

I actually have everything the barn door filer attachment (lets me atatch various gels to the light as well as extra batteries.

check it out here:
http://www.paguk.com/c6/

Question about the PAG C6 system: What kind of connector does the power cable have at the battery end of the cable? Friction or locking?

If you want something very flexible for an on camera light check out the Zylight. Adjustable CT via push buttons and more, much more as well.
It's way more than just an on camera light but certainly cost wise up there with the Litpanels. Smaller and more flexible though.

Kino minis are great, as are the litepanels. If you need "punch" and money is no object, nothing beats a jokerbug with a baby softbox. It'll be hard to get that kinda punch otherwise.

I just received mine on Wednesday. Very impressed with it based on limited test footage.

I'll be using it tonight on a "Jolly Trolly" ride from the wedding rehearsal to the rehearsal party, then tomorrow night at the outdoor wedding reception (isn't Florida great?). Ask me again next week how what I really think.

If price is REALLY no object, you could look at the Frezzi line of onboard lighting:

http://www.frezzi.com/products.htm

Or, for the ultimate in flexibility, The Paglight system allows you to have one onboard light, then replacable backs that can SWITCH from halogen to HMI:

http://www.paglight.com/

I really like the Paglight, as it really does run cooler than similar onboard lights, it's focusable, it's dimmable if you get the PowerMax/VariLux lampholder, and you can always upgrade later to the PowerArc (HMI) option.

Hvl-bpl
 

Anyone hear a price quoted for the sony HVL-BPL???

Bill, how'd it go?

Sorry for the delay in replying, but I've been BUSY!

The day after the wedding I shot a landscape seminar with one fixed camera and one trying to follow the movements of the speaker plus closeups of what she was showing.

The next weekend my son and I shot approx. 13 hours of footage at a SF convention. For me, the personal highlight was when it was all over and my wife and I drove Vernor Vinge and Harry Turtledove to dinner, had them sitting at our table all night long, then drove them back to the hotel! :-)

OK, back to business.

The Varizoom LED light was a great performer, allowing me to capture a lot of footage that would otherwise have been lost or noisy with high gain.

On the way to the rehearsal dinner on the "Jolley Trolley" I was able to use it as a fill light with the sunset in the background. Excellent exposures of the faces while retaining beautiful sunset colors.

At the wedding reception (night time, outdoor under a tent with low ambient lighting) it allowed me to perfectly capture events like the 1st dance. The diffuser did an great job of softening the light, and the color balance couldn't have been better!

At the SF con I was able to capture footage such as at the audience at the obligatory Rocky Horror Picture Show.

You just have to remember that it is only a 40W equivilant light and that you won't be able to light up the whole room.

It probably helps that the light was almost 10" above the lens on top of my NRG 3-way shoe adaptor. This also let me camera mount my Oktava MK-012 mic on a shock absorbing camera mount.

The Varizoom wasn't cheap, but I feel it was worth the investment!

Litepanel and camera size
 

anyone know how this series balances on top of the camera? The litepanel is about 1/2 the size of most of the DV cameras!

I have one. It's balanced well when using a shoe mount / ball head. But, if the light is off centered (on a Noga arm) the side to side balance will be affected. It's not that bad, but you should be aware of it.

Speaking of Litepanels...

DV Magazine (which arrived in the mail today) has an advertisement for a "new" Litepanels MiniPlus. Basically, it will be 30% brighter, with an optional remote dimmer available. There is a $200 rebate on the MiniPlus DV Kit, until 4/15/07 or while supplies last. Just thought I'd share.

cool, thx for the info.