I recently completed a shoot with a videographer who had purchased a pair of these 600-LED fixtures. I've seen nothing here about them - not sure who makes them? They traveled quite well on the shoot, both packed in a Pelican case as checked baggage (six cities in six days, interviews in each location). I've seen them for sale on eBay at prices ranging from $290 up to $500. They have an AC power supply, a wired remote dimmer and a set of hard plastic "gels" to adjust color temperature. Some have V-mount battery brackets and others don't.

Anyone using this product who can attest to the quality, durability etc or lack thereof?

They are readily available also sold under the brand ePhoto, great light I've had mine for over a year now and still works perfectly besides the flimsy barn doors which I took off the second I got my light. I power my light with V-Mount batteries great for portability can go all day without worrying. Must use minus green filter at all times has a nasty green spike and included tungsten gel isn't that great I use my own gel which I tape to the light. Great value for money, I've even dropped it from a light stand and survived.

Hi Nicholas,

Are these the ones? LED PANEL 600 LED LIGHT PANEL CN600 DIMMABLE 14-240V WITH SONY V MOUNT LIGHT KIT | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-PANEL-600-LED-LIGHT-PANEL-CN600-DIMMABLE-14-240V-SONY-V-MOUNT-LIGHT-KIT-/310351374683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item484262295b)

I power my light with V-Mount batteries great for portability can go all day without worrying.

Also, how much did you get for the batteries (including charger)?

Thanks!

That's the light, I use these batteries...
Switronix XPL-90S V-Type 14.4VDC Lithium Battery XP-L90S B&H

You get a $50 charger for it under accesories that charges it over night. I get 3 hours of full brightness with one battery.

Hey Nicholas

I getting tired of trying to assemble huge softboxes so I'm also looking for something easier. Over here I have the option of getting either one light with 29 x 3W power leds and barn doors with a 8560 lumen output and use it next to the camera (our speeches at weddings are always at a lectern) OR maybe better for a little more I can get TWO 520 LED panels that are 6000 lumens each .....I often will have an issue that the venue will have the lectern with a window behind so often the softbox I currently use is in my frame!!! Using two panels left and right will solve this but I need to know is the light soft enough not to create the hard shadows that halogens create??? Do you guys use lights on one person position at the standard 45 degree setup without any issues?????

I also have some guests complain about the "big white light in my eyes" even though it's pretty high up!!!
so 45 degree setups would also solve that too!!!

How do you setup for speeches at weddings with your panels????

Chris

My friend has a pair of these and I have a pair of Cool lights that are similar. I like them both but the CoolLights seem better built with better cases.
I use Rosco's Cinegel * #3026: Tough White Diffusion (216) clipped to the barn doors. Beats lugging a softbox! Works really nicely. And the talent doesn't complain about the brightness as the light is very soft. The LED's aren't quite as harsh as a tungsten but can still get a hard look if that's what's needed.

Chris this light is perfect for portable reception lighting, I sometimes set-up two 800W Redheads in the corners of a venue to act as a little fill light and then place one 600 LED about 2-3 meters away on a high light stand from the speaker, this way I light the speaker perfectly and only bother the speaker with light and not the guests. LED's are soft but not as soft as a softbox.

Thanks Nicholas!

I have used Cool Lights' 600 and 256, both at work a year ago, and found them very portable and easy to use. (Especially during inside factory shoots where safety and being unplugged was an issue.) And I do have to mention that Richard at Cool Lights delivers excellent customer service.

I've wanted LEDs for my personal use, and I thought I'd buy 2 600s on ebay. But I may just have to bite the bullet and order the Cool Lights :)

Thanks Nicholas

I'll take a look tomorrow as it's 1:30am here now..just got back from another wedding!!
The big pain for me is the physical size and assembly of a softbox and then you have to screw in all the CFL lamps too... and at the end the reverse applies!!!
We also have a supplier here with an 8500lumen light that uses 3W power LED's rather than individual ones...their light has just 21 power LED's and measures only 210mm square!!!
I use power leds on my on camera lights and despite having only 6 power leds they work better than my other on-camera light that has 160!!! They are somewhat more expensive though!! Anyone used the ones with power leds yet???? Are they better than 500 individual leds?????

I was thinking of using two lights at 45 degrees to the speaker so they don't get the "looking into the light" that a softbox or LED directly in front of them gives them. But I guess you could also get away with one if it's high enough so it's squirting light down on the speaker instead of blasting his/her's eyes ???

Chris

I getting tired of trying to assemble huge softboxes so I'm also looking for something easier.
That's one thing I love about the cool lights 600 is the softbox is collapsable and very portable. Attaches to the light within 5 seconds. And their responsiveness is awsome.

Thanks Nicholas
We also have a supplier here with an 8500lumen light that uses 3W power LED's rather than individual ones...their light has just 21 power LED's and measures only 210mm square!!!
Chris
Sounds cool. Who makes these? Do you know if they're available in the U.S.?

Hi Jonathan
I would suspect that they are made in China!!! Most of our stuff comes from there . The manufacturer might advertise on EBay worldwide????

The local link here to their shop is : PROtog Photographic Equipment items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores! (http://stores.ebay.com.au/PROtog-Photographic-Equipment?_trksid=p4340.l2563)

I was purely asking about power LEDS as they seem to be more efficient than multiple ones and are a lot more compact!!

It's certainly a lot more compact unit and I see than Comer also use power LED's in their lights. With this you are looking at a unit an mere 8" square compared to what I'm using now which is a 32" square softbox and on low ceilings it does tend to block views.

I need to scrap/store the CFL softboxes and move over to LED but I'm sitting on the fence at the moment whilst deciding whether I should go for the 21 power LED units or the 500 led units?????

Chris

Chris, I'm interested in power LEDs, but I'm also interested in the larger 1W and 3W LEDs in general because it seems like they would produce a smoother, more diffuse light. Maybe I'm wrong. The 500 LED panels that I have aren't as smooth as I'd like to see but on the other hand, it seems like the 23/3W light you're looking at is too compact to provide the kind of softbox-like spread I'm looking for either...

Hi Jonathan

I will probably grab one of these power LED lights next week and see how they work??? I can let you know the results....Actually that has 21 x 3W modules in it.

Physical size did worry me a bit cos the average 500 or 600 panel is closer to 12" wide or more, HOWEVER, I also have a selection of on-camera lights. I have a 12W light with 6 x Power LED light that has a MUCH smaller "face" (in fact the leds are crammed into a 3" diameter circle) than my CN160 "normal shape" LED light which has much the same layout as a big light panel.

When in use, the results are actually quite amazing!!!! The power LED light produces the same coverage as the much wider CN160 and with my camera at full wide there is absolutely no difference between them at all. Both provide light cover in excess of the cams wide angle setting... actually quite amazing as I expected a sorta "spot" effect from the power light since it looks more like an overgrown flashlight and the 160 led light configuration was the more expected one BUT both give even and wide coverage.

Despite the fact that the PowerLED light is only 2/3rd's of the size of the 600 LED panels I doubt will make any difference to the light throw at all. However seeing is believing so I'll get one and try it out. It does have the extra advantage that it's more than 2000 lumens brighter than most 500 or 600 panels too.

Besides, my attitude nowdays is, if I don't like it, it goes back onto ebay!!!

Your input and others is much appreciated!!!

Chris

Looking forward to your tests! It would be very cool to have a compact light with a wide area of coverage. I'll have to check if your supplier ships to the U.S. I haven't seen these particular lights anywhere else.

Hi Jonathan

Just bought one of them a few minutes ago!! I'll report back on the performance..it will either be great or hopeless..if it's the latter then it simply goes back on ebay!!!

My reasoning was that my powerLED on cam light is a lot better than the multis so hopefully the same will apply....I'll run some tests and let you guys know my honest opinion!!

Chris

Hey Chris-
FYI, the closest thing I could find to this light is this one from China:
3w 36pcs LEDs LED studio light GL-LED36*3WA products, buy 3w 36pcs LEDs LED studio light GL-LED36*3WA products from alibaba.com (http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/463975023/3w_36pcs_LEDs_LED_studio_light.html)
They also make a 36x3w product!
studio lighting equipment led GL-LED36*3WA - Detailed info for studio lighting equipment led GL-LED36*3WA,studio lighting equipment led,studio lighting equipment led GL-LED36*3WA,GL-LED36*3WA on Alibaba.com (http://generalink.en.alibaba.com/product/485652806-212422103/studio_lighting_equipment_led_GL_LED36_3WA.html)

If the one you buy looks good, maybe I'll look into the possibility of buying a sample from the Chinese supplier directly...although it's not clear to me that they're using powerLEDs. Can you tell?

OK
This is pretty much the same light that has 21 x3W chips in it.

3w 21pcs video studio light LED GL-LED21*3WA - Detailed info for 3w 21pcs video studio light LED GL-LED21*3WA,video studio light LED,3w 21pcs video studio light LED GL-LED21*3WA,GL-LED21*3WA on Alibaba.com (http://generalink.en.alibaba.com/product/483277458-212422103/3w_21pcs_video_studio_light_LED_GL_LED21_3WA.html)

Standard LED's would always be in the Milliwatt category ...anything over 1W is a Power LED really!! The second link you posted has a huge variety of lights going right up to stuff that would light up a big venue!!!
Most China manufacturers would have a minimum quantity but surely someone on eBay is selling these???

Although I got my via eBay, my local guy does have a website so just go to Camera Bags, Camera Backpacks, Video Tripods, Battery Chargers (http://www.protog.com.au) and see if they will ship internationally???? (Not exactly local as he is 4000kms away on our East Coast but I cannot see any reason why it couldn't be shipped)

Chris

The 500 LED light sold by Protog is the same as a model sold by IKAN here in the States. I've used that one on several shoots, and it doesn't have the throw distance or coverage of the CN 600 unit that I started this thread with. At US $300 it's also less expensive.

One other thing I like about the CN 600 is the slot behind the barn doors for gels - the diffusor is made of stiff plastic and actually protects the LEDs from the barn doors when closed.

Good discussion, all - I was just hoping to hear from others with this particular light.

Hi Sam

I saw the 500 led light that ProTog sells and yes, it's $299 here and if you compare it's output to other various LED panels including the 600 it is pretty low...that's why I'm trying out the one with power LED's .... I think most of these originate from China anyway... you can actually get a 700 LED for the same price and they even go right up to 3000!!! The 600 I looked at for the same sort of budget pushes out around 6000 lumens measured at 61cms (I guess the lumen meter is about 2' away???) and the 21x3W powerled unit is about 2500 higher....!!

I work in very cramped wedding receptions and getting a softbox high enough is always an issue!! That's why I wanted a really compact unit!!

As already mentions if the throw isn't good enough I'll toss it back on eBay!!! It just looked more convenient than a panel but I could very well go back to using a panel if I have to!!

Chris

FYI, I just heard back from ProTog and they'll special order 110V units for the U.S. Shipping is $55. So it's doable. Looking forward to your experience with them, Chris!

Hi Jonathan

Still waiting at present for "so called" Express delivery...our local postal service is REALLY poor and often I can get stuff here from Chinaor Hong Kong quicker than within the country!!!

Whoops, I forgot that you guys are 110V however most switching adaptors nowdays are rated for both 110 and 220/240 but if they need to special order they can just get the supplier to ship direct to you.

I'll definately let you know my comments overall on whether they are a good or bad buy!!!

BTW: The local IKAN website doesn't show the PowerLED units but it does show the 500 and 600 panels

Chris

Hi Jonathan

My light arrived today and it's very well built and nice and compact..the actual fascia looks different to their pic as the barn doors cover a lot...the actual light itself if you remove the doors and retaining ring is 7" x7" with a shiny mirror finish and then 21 x 3W Power LEDS mounted flush in the face..Now you don't need gels with this light as it's already corrected to 5300K (each LED assembly has a filter inside) so for me that's an advantage for a start, not having to carry around gels!!!

The other thing that I DO like is the head is powered by a mains to 12V adaptor and connects to a flylead off the light with an XLR 4 pin connector (male/female) ... Because they have kept the input at 12v it makes it very easy to hook up a 12v lithium pack also with a female 4 pin XLR plug and you can also run on battery WITHOUT the huge cost of Sony V-Lock batteries like the other lights have. It will need a tiny bit of "DIY" to change the battery pack plug on one end to a 4 pin XLR!! (no big deal)

I have just bought a 12 v CCTV battery pack (12v lithium Ion and charger) It's a 9800mah pack so in theory it would run the light for 2 hours. It cost me $40.00 on eBay from Hong Kong. A similar V-Lock battery (not even from Sony but a generic) is over $300 and it's a lower capacity!!!

I did have the choice of buying 2 x 520 LED panels from China for $500 which was only $100 more than this light BUT it means I have to use gels and also lug around and run extension cables too for two lights!!

In my office I pointed the camera at a picture on the wall with just the room light ( a 23w CFL) and at around 10' away the iris was full open and the gain sat at 18db !!! With the light turned on the gain disappeared and the iris closed down to F4!!! and my zebras (set at 90%) showed overexposure on a good 50% of the LCD!! I think it will be a very useful light with some nice advantages over the 500 or 600 LED panels that use the 3mm or 5mm leds!!!

Hope this helps you...I'll add more after my next wedding where it will be field tested (next weekend)

Chris

Chris, I am not sure what you mean when you say that you won't have to gel the light since it is 5300k. Aren't most of the LED video lights around 5500k daylight and you only gel them when you want to go down to 3200k for indoor lighting?

Chris-
That all sounds really promising! I'm also curious about gels. Are you seeing a green spike at all? I've been assuming that all LED lights need at least a minimal minus green filter...

I sure wish these were available in the U.S. directly. I think I'll scout around for a few days before placing an order with your Australian supplier.

Hope your wedding shoot goes well!

Hi Guys

Maybe I'm being confusing but the colour temp is probably closer to 5000K and subsequently I don't have to use a yellow gel at all as a wedding reception with mixed light (including the LED) is well within camera WB range and the colours seem accurate. The phosphor filter that is built-into the power LED modules might be different from smaller LED's but I did notice that my 160 led on-camera lights output a lot "bluer" light than the powerled on cam light.

These lights don't come with gels or filters which hasn't worried me as yet but yes, it is strange... I tried mixing it with incandesants last night and the cam colours were accurate on autoWB without any yellow filter and so far no green spike...I have had the green spike though on my CFL setup!! I thought is was more common with CFL's or flouros?????

We have a holiday weekend with Royalty over here in Perth so I'll really on get a chance to field test it next weekend!! I can give my more accurate comments then and if it does (or should) have a set of filters!!

Chris

Hello guys,

I dislike the chinesse LED's but money talk....:) I try to raise my budget for a good video gear (GH3+20 1.7) and I search for best value for money in terms of LED's. My project reffer to talking heads interviews for my blog. For the begining I will buy just one LED. Second and third will be the window and the sun :)

Regarding the potential good chinese LED's, without green effect, can someone make a reccomendation between CN-600 and the Yongnuo YN600 ( http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/photon-management/521494-yongnuo-yn600-pro-dual-temperature-led-video-light-review.html ) ?

Thank you,

I just got one of these new on ebay for $178; the CN-600SA, newer model than the one originally discussed here. So far it seems great, better quality than I expected for a cheapo light.

Wondering about non-V battery options, anyone have suggestions? Since I already have Sony type NP-F batteries, I'm thinking about this adapter (dual NP-F to V): http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Battery-V-Mount-Converter-Adapter/dp/B00OI8WI8W/ref=pd_sim_421_7

Also wondering about something like this, but don't know if it would work:
http://www.amazon.com/XTPower-10000mAh-Recorders-Sensation-Connectors/dp/B00935L44E/ref=sr_1_8

My light says 12v-15v input.

Still wondering about battery options if anyone happens to have ideas (alternative to V-mount batteries). Also, I just posted a review of the CN-600SA light panels:

Review: CN-600SA LED Light | Pic Coach (http://www.piccoach.com/review-cn-600sa-led-light-panel/)

Chris,

I expect you to find out that without any diffusion that light is going to be an incredibly hard source. Most guys are even surprised by how hard the 1 foot panels are the first time they try them. It is deceiving because they look like a big source and the concept would seam to be softer than a single blazing tungsten bulb but they are not soft. Your power LEDS are going to be like pointing a flashlight at them. I hope it works.

Not all LEDS have a green spike. Getting a true color balance and accurate temp is one of the things you are paying for with the big name brands. The Chinese imitations use the cheapest LEDS they can put in so YMMV.

Kind Regards,

Steve

[QUOTE=Jim Newberry;1900146]Still wondering about battery options if anyone happens to have ideas (alternative to V-mount batteries). Also, I just posted a review of the CN-600SA light panels:

Review: CN-600SA LED Light | Pic Coach (http://www.piccoach.com/review-cn-600sa-led-light-panel/)[/QUOTE

Hi Jim,

Interesting link, have you used these lights? Sold my LitePanels and could use a couple of LED lights for a Web series and these fit the budget.