LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative at DVinfo.net

Greg Kiger · February 25th, 2014, 12:21 PM

Our Cool Lights LED 600 Spot (5600K) recently kicked the bucket. We really like these lights because they're "cool" and break down well/are very compact. They unfortunately are not made anymore.

What is the 2014 version of these? What do you guys like/recommend?

Kevin Lewis · February 25th, 2014, 04:03 PM

I would suggest the Dracast Led lights. I have both the 500 watt and 1000 watt led panels. These lights are very bright and well made and the light quality is excellent. Its been my favorite kit to date.

Greg Kiger · February 25th, 2014, 05:13 PM

Thank you very much. Those seem very similar to what we had. Do they feel durable and have some weight to them? Obviously we like them light and compact, but we are looking for them to last too. Thanks!

Kevin Lewis · February 25th, 2014, 10:29 PM

Yes they appear to be very durable. I believe there may have been a change in the design within the last year or so, making the units even more durable. I have only had mines for a few months now and I use them at just about every shoot.

Chris Medico · February 25th, 2014, 10:45 PM

Do you know what failed on your light and if it could be repaired?

Robert Turchick · February 25th, 2014, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Lewis

I would suggest the Dracast Led lights. I have both the 500 watt and 1000 watt led panels. These lights are very bright and well made and the light quality is excellent. Its been my favorite kit to date.

Will second this!
Have the same…500 and 1000. Very high quality light. (barn doors are a different story!)

Shaun Roemich · February 26th, 2014, 11:08 AM

My review of my Dracast LED lights, if you are interested:

Dracast 500 and 1000 LED Pro Series Light Panels | Road Dog Media

Kevin Lewis · February 26th, 2014, 01:21 PM

Greg, i'm fairly certain that there was an upgrade subsequent to Shauns review, as I have not experienced any of those problems. This is a great high quality light.

Shaun Roemich · February 26th, 2014, 02:21 PM

Mine were purchased in July of 2013 if that helps put these on a timeline.

Kevin Lewis · February 27th, 2014, 09:53 AM

Shaun, I was looking at the pictures on your blog. I noiticed your version of the light has four separate banks. The newer version does not have separate banks. Just a dimmer to control the strengh of the overall light.

Shaun Roemich · February 27th, 2014, 04:44 PM

Interesting Kevin. I have just updated my Blog post to reflect your findings.

Appreciate the input.

So have the other issues I noted been addressed as well?

- is the 4-pin XLR still too short?
- does the transformer pack still get ridiculously hot?
- I don't suspect they have redesigned the barndoor system...
- are the plastic barn door retainer knobs more robust?

Oh... and thanks for the input!

Kevin Lewis · February 27th, 2014, 08:07 PM

Shaun: If your talking about the overall length of the cord itself, it has a good amount of length to it. I never noticed if the transformer gets unusually hot, which is probably a good sign. I cant address the barn door issue because I did not order them with my kit. I will soon be ordering another 1000 watt light to complete my kit.

Michael Sims · March 2nd, 2014, 09:40 PM

I also use the Dracast 500 and 1000 lights. I've been very happy with them for almost 2 years now. I chose them over Litepanels because I thought they were sturdier. I modified the AC power packs by gluing Vmount wedges from old batteries onto the AC packs. That way I can mount the power pack where the battery goes on the back of the light. Yes, the barn doors do bind sometimes. I just remove them because barn doors on LED lights are useless anyway. The only time I use the barn doors is when I want to clip a gel to the light.

February 25th, 2014, 12:21 PM	#1
Greg Kiger Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 134	LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Our Cool Lights LED 600 Spot (5600K) recently kicked the bucket. We really like these lights because they're "cool" and break down well/are very compact. They unfortunately are not made anymore. What is the 2014 version of these? What do you guys like/recommend? __________________ Greg Kiger St Louis Mo www.GreenBridgeFilms.com Sony EX1 / Canon 5Dm2 / Cool Lights / DP1x / Marshall / Oktava / Sanken / Kessler

February 25th, 2014, 04:03 PM	#2
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative I would suggest the Dracast Led lights. I have both the 500 watt and 1000 watt led panels. These lights are very bright and well made and the light quality is excellent. Its been my favorite kit to date.

February 25th, 2014, 05:13 PM	#3
Greg Kiger Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 134	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Thank you very much. Those seem very similar to what we had. Do they feel durable and have some weight to them? Obviously we like them light and compact, but we are looking for them to last too. Thanks! __________________ Greg Kiger St Louis Mo www.GreenBridgeFilms.com Sony EX1 / Canon 5Dm2 / Cool Lights / DP1x / Marshall / Oktava / Sanken / Kessler

February 25th, 2014, 10:29 PM	#4
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Yes they appear to be very durable. I believe there may have been a change in the design within the last year or so, making the units even more durable. I have only had mines for a few months now and I use them at just about every shoot.

February 25th, 2014, 10:45 PM	#5
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Do you know what failed on your light and if it could be repaired? __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

February 26th, 2014, 11:08 AM	#7
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative My review of my Dracast LED lights, if you are interested: Dracast 500 and 1000 LED Pro Series Light Panels \| Road Dog Media __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

February 26th, 2014, 01:21 PM	#8
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Greg, i'm fairly certain that there was an upgrade subsequent to Shauns review, as I have not experienced any of those problems. This is a great high quality light.

February 26th, 2014, 02:21 PM	#9
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Mine were purchased in July of 2013 if that helps put these on a timeline. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

February 27th, 2014, 09:53 AM	#10
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Shaun, I was looking at the pictures on your blog. I noiticed your version of the light has four separate banks. The newer version does not have separate banks. Just a dimmer to control the strengh of the overall light.

February 27th, 2014, 04:44 PM	#11
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Interesting Kevin. I have just updated my Blog post to reflect your findings. Appreciate the input. So have the other issues I noted been addressed as well? - is the 4-pin XLR still too short? - does the transformer pack still get ridiculously hot? - I don't suspect they have redesigned the barndoor system... - are the plastic barn door retainer knobs more robust? Oh... and thanks for the input! __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

February 27th, 2014, 08:07 PM	#12
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative Shaun: If your talking about the overall length of the cord itself, it has a good amount of length to it. I never noticed if the transformer gets unusually hot, which is probably a good sign. I cant address the barn door issue because I did not order them with my kit. I will soon be ordering another 1000 watt light to complete my kit.

March 2nd, 2014, 09:40 PM	#13
Michael Sims Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 102	Re: LED Help - Cool Lights LED 600 Alternative I also use the Dracast 500 and 1000 lights. I've been very happy with them for almost 2 years now. I chose them over Litepanels because I thought they were sturdier. I modified the AC power packs by gluing Vmount wedges from old batteries onto the AC packs. That way I can mount the power pack where the battery goes on the back of the light. Yes, the barn doors do bind sometimes. I just remove them because barn doors on LED lights are useless anyway. The only time I use the barn doors is when I want to clip a gel to the light.