Recommendation for battery powered off camera light? at DVinfo.net

Michael Wisniewski · July 10th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Is anyone using a battery powered off-camera light? I'd like to find something that can be mounted easily to a light stand and give a flattering key light for man on the street interviews. This would be in addition to a lower wattage on-camera fill light.

Christopher Witz · July 10th, 2008, 08:16 PM

I have been know to put a battery on my led500 from flolight and stick it on a small lightstand.... works great..... the light has a 4 pin xlr 12v in socket.

I'm also fond of my zylight z90.... but it's 2x the price and less output than the 500led

Bill Pryor · July 10th, 2008, 08:42 PM

I have 3 of the 500LEDs from flolight.com. I don't have a battery pack yet, but the relatively inexpensive Bescor ones work great, I've heard. There's a 12 V 14AH one that's around $130 with charger that I'll probably buy. It should run the light for about 3 hours at full power.

Michael Wisniewski · July 12th, 2008, 11:44 AM

Thanks guys, the Flolights look very nice. Is this the type of Bescor battery pack (Bescor PRB-154) you would use?

Brett Sherman · August 4th, 2008, 11:17 AM

I set up a LED500 with Lithium Batteries that can attach on a plate on the back of the light. I use the 90WH V-lock battery from batteries4broadcast.com with their V-mount plate. It took a little soldering to attach it, but it's now a permanent fixture. It's also a lot more portable since you attach the battery and away you go. It lasts about 2 hours and 20 minutes, enough for most days. You can power it through the battery with the battery charger so you don't have to take 2 power supplies along for AC power.

Bill Pryor · August 4th, 2008, 11:30 AM

Michael, as I said I haven't bought one yet but I think I'd prefer the battery pack instead of the battery belt, just for compactness. Although, the belt would probably run the lights longer.

The V-mount is a good idea, assuming you have a camera that uses V-mounts and already have a charger, which costs more than another light. I think the Lightpanels equivalent LED has that, but the Lightpanels equivalent is nearly 3 times the price and doesn't have the 4-pin XLR locking connector for the power supply, or barn doors.

Brett Sherman · August 17th, 2008, 03:24 PM

I put my second light together and ran into a problem. If you do what I did and buy a V-Lock plate from Batteries4Broadcast, their wiring harness is wired out of phase. It connects red to black and black to red which I didn't notice and subsequentally burned out the LED light. Should have checked the voltage first before turning it on. Oh well, live and learn. Hopefully I can fix it. I'm waiting to get some specs on the ICs I burned up from flolight.

July 10th, 2008, 01:43 PM	#1
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Recommendation for battery powered off camera light? Is anyone using a battery powered off-camera light? I'd like to find something that can be mounted easily to a light stand and give a flattering key light for man on the street interviews. This would be in addition to a lower wattage on-camera fill light. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

July 12th, 2008, 11:44 AM	#4
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Thanks guys, the Flolights look very nice. Is this the type of Bescor battery pack (Bescor PRB-154) you would use? __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

August 17th, 2008, 03:24 PM	#7
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	I put my second light together and ran into a problem. If you do what I did and buy a V-Lock plate from Batteries4Broadcast, their wiring harness is wired out of phase. It connects red to black and black to red which I didn't notice and subsequentally burned out the LED light. Should have checked the voltage first before turning it on. Oh well, live and learn. Hopefully I can fix it. I'm waiting to get some specs on the ICs I burned up from flolight. Last edited by Brett Sherman; August 17th, 2008 at 03:25 PM. Reason: Clarification

July 10th, 2008, 08:16 PM	#2
Christopher Witz Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 591	I have been know to put a battery on my led500 from flolight and stick it on a small lightstand.... works great..... the light has a 4 pin xlr 12v in socket. I'm also fond of my zylight z90.... but it's 2x the price and less output than the 500led

July 10th, 2008, 08:42 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I have 3 of the 500LEDs from flolight.com. I don't have a battery pack yet, but the relatively inexpensive Bescor ones work great, I've heard. There's a 12 V 14AH one that's around $130 with charger that I'll probably buy. It should run the light for about 3 hours at full power.

August 4th, 2008, 11:17 AM	#5
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	I set up a LED500 with Lithium Batteries that can attach on a plate on the back of the light. I use the 90WH V-lock battery from batteries4broadcast.com with their V-mount plate. It took a little soldering to attach it, but it's now a permanent fixture. It's also a lot more portable since you attach the battery and away you go. It lasts about 2 hours and 20 minutes, enough for most days. You can power it through the battery with the battery charger so you don't have to take 2 power supplies along for AC power.

August 4th, 2008, 11:30 AM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Michael, as I said I haven't bought one yet but I think I'd prefer the battery pack instead of the battery belt, just for compactness. Although, the belt would probably run the lights longer. The V-mount is a good idea, assuming you have a camera that uses V-mounts and already have a charger, which costs more than another light. I think the Lightpanels equivalent LED has that, but the Lightpanels equivalent is nearly 3 times the price and doesn't have the 4-pin XLR locking connector for the power supply, or barn doors.