On Camera light recommendations for PDW-EX1
 

Hello all EX1 fans!

Please share info about available on camera light equipment options for EX1.

Sulev Sepp

I film a lot of event videos and weddings where the light situation is always on the low side. Although I film most of the time with available light to achieve a more natural look (since my SD camera is very sensitive in low light) I sometimes use a PAG light with a 20W lamp when it is really low light. At the moment this Pag light is connected to the camera and it triggers on and off with the camera trigger and also draws power from the camera itself.

Unfortunately Sony did not provide such a feature in this camera (a silly oversight since on board lights are always used quite often). So I intend to use the same PAG light 12V ENG unit - http://www.paglight.com/paglight.htm - powered by a battery attached to my belt. Since I already own various 14.4V V-mount batteries, I have bought a Hawk-Woods VL-CF2 - http://www.hawkwoods.com/ - I'm going to attach a belt clip on the back side and will attach the PAG to the D-Tap outlet on this accessory. The good things about this VL-CF2 is that:

1)It allows you to use your existing V-lock batteries (if you already own them). These batteries have loads of power and most of them are relatively light in weight.

2)It has a soft start circuit which gives protection to the Li-Ion battery when the lamp is switched on

3)It can accept a lamp up to 50W in power. This is useful as I think that since today I just get away with a 20W lamp, considering that the EX1 is about 1 - 1.5 stops less sensitive than my DSR-300 then I would be using a 35W lamp (maybe the 50W in extreme cases)

The PAG Light also has 1) the ability to swap different lamps very easily and 2)has the ability to add a Dichroic filter which comes in very useful when having 5600K light surrounding the subject and 3) is very lightweight.

There is also the Anton Bauer but I have bever used it. It is even smaller than the PAG.

The paglight is a good one. In combination with this camera i would als prefer ist.

For a lot auf power for the EX1, you could also use this system from a german company:

http://www.bebob.de/international/box-vm_eng.html

Yes, I had considered the Bebob box as it gives you a number of DC outputs and eliminates having batteries attached to your belt. However one has to remember that:

1)the box in itself is about 0.7kg and together with a battery of about 0.6kg will result in about 1.3Kg extra weight. Considering that the EX1 is about 3.5Kg - this means a lot of weight for a handheld camera

2)this box will only accept IDX batteries due to size limitations.

For tripod work it's good but I doubt it for handheld work - any feedback from Bebob owners would be greatly appreciated.

On Camera Light recommendations for EX1
 

Thanks Brian and Robert!

Has somebody experience with Kaiser „digiNova“ LED Video Light or Sachtler Reporter series?
What is better: light with dedicated battery or light which uses standard ( AA or AAA) batteries-accus?

Sulev

Seems to me the obvious but expensive solution is to use something like Zacuto's rod and shoulder pad system to hang a big battery out the back. Then you have oodles of power for the camera and an on camera light. As this camera uses 12V it'll be simple to use a good light like the Zylight Z90.

IDX X3 LED camera light
 

I use the IDX X3 LED camera light the main benefits are...
1. No heat generation.
2. 5600 K balanced LEDs.
3. I use my own 12v 5amp batts and they last for ages.
4. I bought the filter kit which gives you barn doors and a 3200K filter as the LEDs are 5600K.
5. No worries about bulbs blowing half way through the shoot.