Coolights LED256

Tom Robertson · December 13th, 2009, 08:34 PM

I recently bought a Cool Lights LED256 and did a short demo. Clip was done with a DVX100a.

UPDATE: I can't get the link to work without it embedding the video and don't want to break any forum rules so please just go to
vimeo.com and search for "Cool Lights 256LED" and it will show up. Sorry but my coding skills are lacking this evening! LOL!
The video is worth taking a look at if you are interested in this light. Hope you like it!

I didn't use any gain on the camera settings for the demo. The placement of the light was about 6 or 7 feet from the subject (me) and about 3 feet to my side (due to space limitations in my house). If I could have placed it a little farther to the side it would have worked a little better I think and I would not have been looking almost directly at the light which is actually pretty powerful.

Also, I was not using any fill or a reflector of any kind which actually would have helped, but wanted everyone to see just the light from the 256LED and nothing else.

Power was from a Bescor battery and not the supplied AC power supply or Sony L-Series battery.

I personally like the unit and can see a lot of uses for it. The fact that it is so compact and has a low power drain makes it handy for use almost anywhere. I also have the 600LED and this unit makes a nice addition to my lighting kit.

Would appreciate any comments from other users who have one of these.

Search videos for 'cool lights 256led' on Vimeo

Trevor Meeks · December 13th, 2009, 08:47 PM

just post a link, not embed code please :)

Tom Robertson · December 13th, 2009, 09:34 PM

I was actually in the process of trying to get that to work as you had suggested.

It wouldn't work that way without embedding itself so I just posted the link listed above which will take everyone to the demo. Hope this works OK and everyone finds the demo interesting.

Trevor Meeks · December 14th, 2009, 02:28 AM

looks pretty darn bulky for the size. eh... i can see the appeal for super low budget applications, but i'll stick with my litepanels 1x1s ;)

Chris Li · December 14th, 2009, 08:51 AM

Tom,
Thanks for sharing. Like you, I own both the LED600 & 256 lights from Coollights. This is my preferred run/gun interview light kit when flying with minimal gear. The 600 works great for key or daylight fill. The smaller 256 is a versatile hairlight/backlight. I use camera batts. more often than the provided AC supply which also eliminates power cables.
Main advantage of the LED600(and 256) over the much more expensive Litepanel 1x1 is the inclusion of 4 separate bank switches (as well as a variable dimmer) that allows dimming without shifting of color temp. Litepanels don't have this feature.
Coollight units are the best bang for buck - Case, barndoors,filters,AC supply are included as standard issue. Accessories include choice of batt. mounts and softbox(LED600). All litepanel expensive accessories are optional.
To be fair, the Litepanels are more elegant, better machined - not sure how photometrics compare , I think litepanels 1x1 might have a softer , more even light quality from personal observation, but the coolights are brighter/punchier, more throw. I soften coollights with included diffusion filter or my own gels. I do like the better yoke of the Litepanel 1x1; much more robust than the light stand mount on the bottom of the coollights.

thx for posting your video review, once again.

chris

December 13th, 2009, 08:34 PM	#1
Tom Robertson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Weirton, WV Posts: 412	Coolights LED256 - DEMO I recently bought a Cool Lights LED256 and did a short demo. Clip was done with a DVX100a. UPDATE: I can't get the link to work without it embedding the video and don't want to break any forum rules so please just go to vimeo.com and search for "Cool Lights 256LED" and it will show up. Sorry but my coding skills are lacking this evening! LOL! The video is worth taking a look at if you are interested in this light. Hope you like it! I didn't use any gain on the camera settings for the demo. The placement of the light was about 6 or 7 feet from the subject (me) and about 3 feet to my side (due to space limitations in my house). If I could have placed it a little farther to the side it would have worked a little better I think and I would not have been looking almost directly at the light which is actually pretty powerful. Also, I was not using any fill or a reflector of any kind which actually would have helped, but wanted everyone to see just the light from the 256LED and nothing else. Power was from a Bescor battery and not the supplied AC power supply or Sony L-Series battery. I personally like the unit and can see a lot of uses for it. The fact that it is so compact and has a low power drain makes it handy for use almost anywhere. I also have the 600LED and this unit makes a nice addition to my lighting kit. Would appreciate any comments from other users who have one of these. Search videos for 'cool lights 256led' on Vimeo Last edited by Tom Robertson; December 13th, 2009 at 09:57 PM.

December 13th, 2009, 08:47 PM	#2
Trevor Meeks Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sonoma, CA Posts: 336	just post a link, not embed code please :)

December 13th, 2009, 09:34 PM	#3
Tom Robertson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Weirton, WV Posts: 412	I was actually in the process of trying to get that to work as you had suggested. It wouldn't work that way without embedding itself so I just posted the link listed above which will take everyone to the demo. Hope this works OK and everyone finds the demo interesting.

December 14th, 2009, 02:28 AM	#4
Trevor Meeks Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sonoma, CA Posts: 336	looks pretty darn bulky for the size. eh... i can see the appeal for super low budget applications, but i'll stick with my litepanels 1x1s ;)

December 14th, 2009, 08:51 AM	#5
Chris Li Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Wash. DC area Posts: 154	Tom, Thanks for sharing. Like you, I own both the LED600 & 256 lights from Coollights. This is my preferred run/gun interview light kit when flying with minimal gear. The 600 works great for key or daylight fill. The smaller 256 is a versatile hairlight/backlight. I use camera batts. more often than the provided AC supply which also eliminates power cables. Main advantage of the LED600(and 256) over the much more expensive Litepanel 1x1 is the inclusion of 4 separate bank switches (as well as a variable dimmer) that allows dimming without shifting of color temp. Litepanels don't have this feature. Coollight units are the best bang for buck - Case, barndoors,filters,AC supply are included as standard issue. Accessories include choice of batt. mounts and softbox(LED600). All litepanel expensive accessories are optional. To be fair, the Litepanels are more elegant, better machined - not sure how photometrics compare , I think litepanels 1x1 might have a softer , more even light quality from personal observation, but the coolights are brighter/punchier, more throw. I soften coollights with included diffusion filter or my own gels. I do like the better yoke of the Litepanel 1x1; much more robust than the light stand mount on the bottom of the coollights. thx for posting your video review, once again. chris