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June, 2025

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LED Lighting for Urban

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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
I'm looking into using LED lights for urban, as they are much cheaper than a generator, less of a hassle, and completely silent. These are the ones I'm looking at.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/portable-work-lights/20w-portable-high-powered-rechargeable-led-work-light/1297/2992/

We usually try to film stuff, and occasionally a photographer friend of ours comes and takes photos. Now, I don't know much about filming/taking photos, but I've heard that "white light" is tough to film with. Are LED lights a bad idea?

12 years ago
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Pmoore
Posts: 1802 - Karma: 1,246
very interesting. Would love to see what people have to say
12 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700


they seem pretty weak, might need quite a few to light up a spot
12 years ago
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cultrara
Posts: 5147 - Karma: 46,849
does anyone know about an LED that attaches to a camera?
12 years ago
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,803
What circumstance would you be using this for?
12 years ago
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cultrara
Posts: 5147 - Karma: 46,849
urban at night
12 years ago
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buttrapinpirate
Posts: 497 - Karma: 225
Urban at night as in video I take it? I mean light is light so it's up to you. Honestly a car battery if you wanted to cheap would last you a long ass time
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
Not sure those would be that great and you'd need a bunch of battery packs. Gas generator will be the way too go for while IMO.
12 years ago
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,103
it is an absolutely TERRIBLE idea, trust me. haha the poor real skifi guys scraped up like $500 to get led lights and found out the hard way as well.
12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Why is it terrible?
12 years ago
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,103
in order to get an LED light that omits as much light as a halogen you have to spend a fuck load of money. if you don't believe me then by all means try it out and see. there's a reason that none of the large film crews don't shoot on LED's, this isn't some sort of new idea haha
12 years ago
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sveinung
Posts: 105 - Karma: 74
This maybe be what you are looking for: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xled+hotshoe&_nkw=led+hotshoe&_sacat=0&_from=R40
12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Don't get me wrong, I know that a generator set-up is the ideal thing to have, its just pretty expensive to get a generator that's quiet enough.

What kind of LED's did the real skifi guys get?


12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaOIsdVcFdE

This is the first informative video I found on LED vs. Halogen, seems like the LED's are fairly useless.
12 years ago
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,103
i don't remember, you could write them on FB and ask them though, i'm sure they would answer. you would probably have to spend double what a generator costs to get one LED that's even remotely bright enough.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
I mean, its a generator, does it actually need to be quiet?

Buying $400 in LED lights isn't gonna do you shit, just saying. those LED lights are not that bright, like logan said you're gonna spend more money on a 1 nice LED than you would on construction lights and a generator.
12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Yeah, that youtube video I posted really displays how useless they are. Interesting. I guess its back to the classifieds to wait for a deal on a generator.

Well, IMO, a generator has to be quiet enough to not draw too much attention/piss off homeowners. I mean, if you show up to a spot with houses somewhat close by with a huge generator thats roaring at one in the morning then chances of getting the boot are a lot higher than if you get an inverter generator, which is quite a bit quieter, but more pricey.

Just curious Logan, what kind of generator does Level 1 use? I was surprised to see in Mutiny that stept uses a pretty loud/large generator, although I guess they need quite a bit more power than the average crew to get the quality of footage they go for.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
Berman has a decent sized geni too, meathead used this one: http://www.wisesales.com/eu2000ia-honda-generator.html?utm_source=GoogleBaseFeed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=GoogleBase&gclid=CLz_5MvJlLkCFSVxQgodY0sAGA pretty popular one.

No "crew" really has high end generators, 4bi9's generator takes two people to take out of the car and then it has wheels to move it. Having a 2000w geni is pretty key too.
12 years ago
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,103
get a Honda 2000 watt or a Honda knockoff. I have one of each and though i prefer the honda because it's quieter but the knockoff works just as well.

http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i
12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/2200w-inverter-generator/827630

Hyundai seems decent as well looking at the reviews.
12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Honda and Yamaha seem to be the two best ones.
12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Triple post incoming...

Which knockoff do you have? I almost bought some knockoff brand genny from a local guy but decided against after reading a review describing how hard it was to start in the cold.
12 years ago
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,103
kipor. its only downside is it's louder and a little less reliable, but all in all a good generator
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,873
Every geni is gonna be hard to start in the cold haha
12 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Yeah, but this one is apparently impossible to start without injector fluid. I'll look into that brand though.
12 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,293
besides for the practical drawbacks, wouldn't LED lighting also cause a problem for getting good colours in the shot? I know when I have my headlamp skiing in snow everything just gets really cold colouring and definitely doesn't look as good as an incandescent/halogen light.
12 years ago
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cultrara
Posts: 5147 - Karma: 46,849
you can put filters on them, but that would dim the light
12 years ago
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madness007
Posts: 6 - Karma: 8
I have a photo studio and I don't use the LED light as the main light source, it doesn't work very well. Find a better option.
5 years ago
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CHU-TANG_CLAN
Posts: 2103 - Karma: 2,911
absolutely. When using LED's check the color tempurature. They will not match the warm colour temperature you would get from a conventional lights. as stated by others you CAN put gels over them but some lumens will be lost when you do this as only certian wavelengths go through the gel

As far as these being resonable for urban, I would assume they dont produce nearly as many lumens as conventional work lights, and that the batteries for these LED might not fair well in the cold weather. Usually bright LED work lights are really expensive
coronabesides for the practical drawbacks, wouldn't LED lighting also cause a problem for getting good colours in the shot? I know when I have my headlamp skiing in snow everything just gets really cold colouring and definitely doesn't look as good as an incandescent/halogen light.
5 years ago
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8859 - Karma: 6,802
CHU-TANG_CLANabsolutely. When using LED's check the color tempurature. They will not match the warm colour temperature you would get from a conventional lights. as stated by others you CAN put gels over them but some lumens will be lost when you do this as only certian wavelengths go through the gel

As far as these being resonable for urban, I would assume they dont produce nearly as many lumens as conventional work lights, and that the batteries for these LED might not fair well in the cold weather. Usually bright LED work lights are really expensive


a lot of led's now you csn choose what kelvin you want to run them at. just google video production LED on a budget.
5 years ago
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Bigger_Poppa
Posts: 89 - Karma: 283
do u mean for on camera or flood lights because i use these in my yard and have had no problems.
-https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082V4LCKC/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A2WS5GLHQBZI82&psc=1
5 years ago
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Bigger_Poppa
Posts: 89 - Karma: 283
loganimlachin order to get an LED light that omits as much light as a halogen you have to spend a fuck load of money. if you don't believe me then by all means try it out and see. there's a reason that none of the large film crews don't shoot on LED's, this isn't some sort of new idea haha


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082V4LCKC/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A2WS5GLHQBZI82&psc=1
this 1000w one?
5 years ago
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