Battery Powered Lights

4th April 2007

I'm looking for a battery powered light. Something similar to a small Rifa, neat and square, 5600K, battery powered and very quick and easy to use. The camera style will be very fast, moving through crowds, etc and I need a light that can keep up.

I remember, with dread, the problems with batteries when I last used a sun-gun and would like to avoid them!

Ed Mash
DoP
London

Pocket Par with a small Chimera.

Mitch Gross
NYC DP/TD
Abel Cine Tech

Have you considered K5600?

http://k5600.com/products/index.html

I've worked w/ the 400 and 800(very versatile)-there are smaller 200 models that might work for you-

Best regards,

John Babl
DP
Miami

Mitch Gross wrote :

>>Pocket Par with a small Chimera.

Thanks Mitch

Last time I used them the chimeras were fine so long as you didn't move them too much. Is there something NEW out there with an integral hood that is more robust?

Ed Mash
DoP
London

Ed,

How about the Lite Panel 1 X 1.

1' square LED - daylight balanced - can be powered from a variety of batteries - and there is a spot or flood version.

Daryl Studebaker
DP
Los Angeles, CA

I use the 400 W joker with an extra small chimera, powered by a slimverter into two lithium battery belts. The slimverter, ballast, and batteries fit into a backpack--works great. Clip the chimera in place with some binder clips if it moves around or makes too much noise.

The lithium batteries give me about 45 min. to an hour of burn time. I usually order four battery belts so I can switch out if necessary. Also Jem Ball makes a great, sturdy, "china ball" type light that takes a joker/bug as well. It has a hood that Velcro’s on to control direction. Quality of softness is excellent.

Mike Ambrose
Gaffer
LA Based

Ed Mash wrote :

>> Last time I used them the chimeras were fine so long as you didn't >>move them too much.

Ed,

In my opinion the problem with the pocket par chimera wasn't the light bank, it was the ring and I think that the new ones are more robust. Also, in my experience the Chimera design is usually very strong - I put a Medium (approximately 3' x 4') on a 4k Par on a camera car once. It held up pretty well, although I wouldn't recommend doing that again. Either the Arri line of small instruments (125, 200 or 400watts) or the K5600 line (200, 400 or 800watts) with a Chimera light bank will work great for 'run and gun' lighting.

Any light bigger than 200 watts though will require more than one battery belt to run it. One of the new Lithium Ion battery belts will do much better than the NiCad's that you're familiar with. And of course, the lower the wattage the longer the battery can power it. All this small lightweight quality gear is expensive but worth it.

Ted Hayash
CLT
Los Angeles, CA

I regularly use the K5600 400 with a Springball in exactly these conditions, if you don't like a ball I'm sure that you can fit a Chimera instead.

Cheers

Geoff Boyle FBKS
Director of Photography
EU Based
www.cinematography.net

Geoff Boyle wrote :

>>I regularly use the K5600 400 with a Springball in exactly these >>conditions, if you don't like a ball I'm sure that you can fit a Chimera >>instead.

The k5600 is fantastic. For softness and quality of light it's unbeatable. My only concern is that in the past my gaffers have spent time trying to get a long century arm into the lamps holder, angle the lamps holder to get the light in the right direction and then had problems with the rings or the chimera, or both. Then the century arm didn't turn out to be long enough!

Having said all that I think the 200 is going to be the right light for this job.

A German gaffer I worked with got so frustrated with some of the problems mentioned above he made a long "boom" pole with a ball lantern, complete with black wrap light shield. It was powered from a tiny generator strung on his back. He swung this light around like a demon, keeping up with a speeding actress down tight alleys-and made the light look beautiful. When I started this thread I was secretly hoping he'd manufactured these lights and was selling them locally.

Having said all that I think the 200, with a light bank, is going to be the right light for this job.

Ed Mash
DoP

Warning ... sales info follows :

For run and gun particularly when using a Chimera you might also think about the Pocket Lite. This looks just like the Pocket PAR but does not require spreader lenses. It focuses from narrow to wide just by turning the focus knob, rather like a focussing floodlight.

200 and 400W versions are available.

Regards

Andy Barnett
Arri GB

Ed asks about:

>>a battery powered light. Something similar to a small Rifa, neat and >>square, 5600K, battery powered and very quick and easy to use.

I gather from your 5600k requirement you need this for daylight fill? If so, I agree a PocketPar/Joker200 with a chimera is your best bang for the size/weight.

Yet, you may want to consider the new Litepanel 1x1: small, square, contained. 5600k, remote dimmable, great battery life. They have a pretty healthy output for low-level day fill within 4-6 feet.

Great tool!

No affiliation except satisfied customer.

Alan Jacobsen
DP - NYC

I would like to second what Mr. Jacobson said about litepanels. I have used them on quite a few occasions from eye lights in limo's to fills in small heat sensitive spaces. They have (for me at least) lived up to their expectations admirably.

James Criveau
Gaffer-NYC