New VL-3

Graham Bernard · July 17th, 2004, 12:07 PM

Look, do some tests with your VL3. See if you like the effectiveness of it . . . what's the job worth? Is it near to the cost of the gig? Well it is a gig that is gonna give you an investment for future work.

As soon as I got my PAG I was home and dry . . PAG just works. It is professional kit for the miniDV guy . . that's me . . And it charges and doesn't deplete OR rely on your cammie power source. My advise - IMHO? Get the PAG . .but do your experiments with the 3 watts first . .if you're happy with it . . . . .

How much you being paid for the Wedding GiG . .don't tell me . . but it is your call . .your monaey and your further reputation you need to think about . . .PAG C6 is for me . .

Grazie

Vishal Gurung · July 17th, 2004, 12:14 PM

hmmm thanks for your great advice Graham. Definitely taken into consideration. Yeh i reckon i'll have to fool around with the VL3. The Pag does seem like a viable option for future weddings. I'm not getting paid much to be honest, after equipment rentals and labour costs i'd be lucky to make a couple hundred quid (to be a little brit) hehe. The Pag unit does look really good, but in terms of wedding reception, wouldn't it be a tad TOO bright for ppl wanting a dark time on the dance floor?

Graham Bernard · July 17th, 2004, 12:21 PM

"TOO bright for ppl wanting a dark time on the dance floor?" . .yeah . .but then you don't film them! Simple as that! BUT the people who ARE paying for your work want to be seen . . another thing you are being paid, this does give you a lot of licence in getting what your clients want yes?

. . PS . I've "modified" my comment regarding the connection to the hotshoe - might I suggest you do the same in your quote . . thank you.

Grazie

Vishal Gurung · July 17th, 2004, 12:25 PM

true enough.. uh i didn't realize i was making comments to a hot shoe? but anyways thanks for your advice once again. I've certainly got some decisions to make! :)

Graham Bernard · July 17th, 2004, 12:30 PM

Sorry Vishal - NO not the hot shoe . .you need a shoe connection that will slide into the Hotshoe - a plastic extension then under the PAG light is a silvery sliver connector that tightens INTO this plastic extention .. this is what I was getting at . .

Grazie

Vishal Gurung · July 17th, 2004, 12:32 PM

ohhhhhhh ok... i think hehe.. man, am i ever coming off green here? geez. alright i gotta run, thanks again for all the advice and taking the time to respend everyone esp Graham. Cheers and have a good one!

Vishal

Joe Calalang · July 17th, 2004, 04:22 PM

I'm in the same situation. I have a wedding this coming weekend and I'm also concerned about low light at the reception. The couple wants me to get table shots of the guests. I know....that's boring but it's their money. Using the VL3 shouldn't be a problem there since they couple will pose with them. My concern is the first dance and father/daughter dance.

I'm thinking of getting someone to use a spot light on the couple - a la Fred Astair! Hehehe! At least I won't be blinding them and it'll look sorta professional like those tango competitions!

Graham Bernard · July 17th, 2004, 05:18 PM

Do a test. Turn the lights down low. Do some filming. Turn on the VL3. Now in addition turn on your room light ( 100 watt ). If you like it without the 100watt lamp . . then, there you go. If you don't like what you get, then you need more light . . It aint Rocket Science! Maybe you'll get more ambient light, than when you just turned off the 100 watt lamp .. . you may get lucky!

Regarding across tables shots, it will be dependent on the ambient light levels, how BIG the tables are [ how far the reach of the 3 watter just is ] , the reflectivity of the surfaces giving you more illumination .. anything else?

Again, tried and tested circumstances will only tell you how good or bad the end results will be . . .

"Using the VL3 shouldn't be a problem there since they couple will pose with them." and how close will you be to these setups?

The first dance has to be well done .. gloom aint good! I've had the lights turned down and that was it! My XM2 just went on strike! Yeah there was grain when I up the gain . . more than my boss would have liked. He uses Sony's that have excellent low light performance. Luckily I was a number 2 cameraman then and I followed the main man around getting slightly off tangent shots . . . hey you might get away with there being enough "lighting" on the dance floor, being the couple's first dance together . . . and you know just how important that is? Yeah?

I was taught to go Manual Focus. Focus on a point just beyond midway on the dance floor, so that any dancing couple stays in focus, and forcing the cammie not to focus hunt, looking for something to focus in on. Low light really demands a lot of careful manual focussing .. but once "mastered" it is very rewarding . . BETTER yet with more than 3 watts of lighting . . .

Please don't shoot the messenger here!

Grazie

Vishal Gurung · July 17th, 2004, 06:15 PM

hmm well along with the VL-3 i've ordered another portable smaller 3w light as well.. which doesn't need to be connected to the hot shoe.. that being said, if we need extra light we'll have to resort to using both lights on one subject.. kinda have to use what we have.. and mebbe hope for the best, but you're right i'll have to have it tested out first ..

Jeff Toogood · July 17th, 2004, 08:28 PM

I have used a Sony 10W/20W switchable light. It runs on the same batteries as the PD-170/VX2100 and last over an hour fully charged.

Works great, when you don't need the full 20W, you can switch it back to 10W.

Just a thought, I picked mine up on ebay for about $80 US.

Vishal Gurung · July 18th, 2004, 01:03 AM

hmm jeff, what was the producty #/name of that sony light?

Jeff Toogood · July 18th, 2004, 06:28 AM

The model number is HVL-20DW2

July 17th, 2004, 04:22 PM	#22
Joe Calalang Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mid-Atlantic Posts: 84	I'm in the same situation. I have a wedding this coming weekend and I'm also concerned about low light at the reception. The couple wants me to get table shots of the guests. I know....that's boring but it's their money. Using the VL3 shouldn't be a problem there since they couple will pose with them. My concern is the first dance and father/daughter dance. I'm thinking of getting someone to use a spot light on the couple - a la Fred Astair! Hehehe! At least I won't be blinding them and it'll look sorta professional like those tango competitions! __________________ Newbie using Canon GL2 and Powerbook G4 1.25 gHz 512ram and a Mac Pro

July 17th, 2004, 08:28 PM	#25
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	I have used a Sony 10W/20W switchable light. It runs on the same batteries as the PD-170/VX2100 and last over an hour fully charged. Works great, when you don't need the full 20W, you can switch it back to 10W. Just a thought, I picked mine up on ebay for about $80 US. __________________ Toogood Studios

July 18th, 2004, 06:28 AM	#27
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	The model number is HVL-20DW2 __________________ Toogood Studios

July 17th, 2004, 12:07 PM	#16
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Look, do some tests with your VL3. See if you like the effectiveness of it . . . what's the job worth? Is it near to the cost of the gig? Well it is a gig that is gonna give you an investment for future work. As soon as I got my PAG I was home and dry . . PAG just works. It is professional kit for the miniDV guy . . that's me . . And it charges and doesn't deplete OR rely on your cammie power source. My advise - IMHO? Get the PAG . .but do your experiments with the 3 watts first . .if you're happy with it . . . . . How much you being paid for the Wedding GiG . .don't tell me . . but it is your call . .your monaey and your further reputation you need to think about . . .PAG C6 is for me . . Grazie

July 17th, 2004, 12:14 PM	#17
Vishal Gurung Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 237	hmmm thanks for your great advice Graham. Definitely taken into consideration. Yeh i reckon i'll have to fool around with the VL3. The Pag does seem like a viable option for future weddings. I'm not getting paid much to be honest, after equipment rentals and labour costs i'd be lucky to make a couple hundred quid (to be a little brit) hehe. The Pag unit does look really good, but in terms of wedding reception, wouldn't it be a tad TOO bright for ppl wanting a dark time on the dance floor?

July 17th, 2004, 12:21 PM	#18
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	"TOO bright for ppl wanting a dark time on the dance floor?" . .yeah . .but then you don't film them! Simple as that! BUT the people who ARE paying for your work want to be seen . . another thing you are being paid, this does give you a lot of licence in getting what your clients want yes? . . PS . I've "modified" my comment regarding the connection to the hotshoe - might I suggest you do the same in your quote . . thank you. Grazie

July 17th, 2004, 12:25 PM	#19
Vishal Gurung Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 237	true enough.. uh i didn't realize i was making comments to a hot shoe? but anyways thanks for your advice once again. I've certainly got some decisions to make! :)

July 17th, 2004, 12:30 PM	#20
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Sorry Vishal - NO not the hot shoe . .you need a shoe connection that will slide into the Hotshoe - a plastic extension then under the PAG light is a silvery sliver connector that tightens INTO this plastic extention .. this is what I was getting at . . Grazie

July 17th, 2004, 12:32 PM	#21
Vishal Gurung Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 237	ohhhhhhh ok... i think hehe.. man, am i ever coming off green here? geez. alright i gotta run, thanks again for all the advice and taking the time to respend everyone esp Graham. Cheers and have a good one! Vishal

July 17th, 2004, 05:18 PM	#23
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Do a test. Turn the lights down low. Do some filming. Turn on the VL3. Now in addition turn on your room light ( 100 watt ). If you like it without the 100watt lamp . . then, there you go. If you don't like what you get, then you need more light . . It aint Rocket Science! Maybe you'll get more ambient light, than when you just turned off the 100 watt lamp .. . you may get lucky! Regarding across tables shots, it will be dependent on the ambient light levels, how BIG the tables are [ how far the reach of the 3 watter just is ] , the reflectivity of the surfaces giving you more illumination .. anything else? Again, tried and tested circumstances will only tell you how good or bad the end results will be . . . "Using the VL3 shouldn't be a problem there since they couple will pose with them." and how close will you be to these setups? The first dance has to be well done .. gloom aint good! I've had the lights turned down and that was it! My XM2 just went on strike! Yeah there was grain when I up the gain . . more than my boss would have liked. He uses Sony's that have excellent low light performance. Luckily I was a number 2 cameraman then and I followed the main man around getting slightly off tangent shots . . . hey you might get away with there being enough "lighting" on the dance floor, being the couple's first dance together . . . and you know just how important that is? Yeah? I was taught to go Manual Focus. Focus on a point just beyond midway on the dance floor, so that any dancing couple stays in focus, and forcing the cammie not to focus hunt, looking for something to focus in on. Low light really demands a lot of careful manual focussing .. but once "mastered" it is very rewarding . . BETTER yet with more than 3 watts of lighting . . . Please don't shoot the messenger here! Grazie

July 17th, 2004, 06:15 PM	#24
Vishal Gurung Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 237	hmm well along with the VL-3 i've ordered another portable smaller 3w light as well.. which doesn't need to be connected to the hot shoe.. that being said, if we need extra light we'll have to resort to using both lights on one subject.. kinda have to use what we have.. and mebbe hope for the best, but you're right i'll have to have it tested out first ..

July 18th, 2004, 01:03 AM	#26
Vishal Gurung Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 237	hmm jeff, what was the producty #/name of that sony light?