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Home: Video University Forums: Canon All Camcorders:
Canon VL-10 Light

Mark J
New User

Apr 28, 2008, 2:59 PM

Post #1 of 6 (567 views)
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Canon VL-10 Light	Can't Post

Does anyone use the Canon 10 watt on camera light with an XH-A1 and what do you think? Has no barn doors and it's low-power but it's small and uses 900 series Canon batteries. But, does the battery make the camera more front-end heavy?

MLiebergot
Veteran

Apr 28, 2008, 3:36 PM

Post #2 of 6 (565 views)
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Re: [Mark J] Canon VL-10 Light [In reply to]	Can't Post

I used to use it with my Canon GL1/2's and now shoot with Sony FX1's (even larger camera than yours). It an alright light, in the same vein as the Sony 10/20 light.
It has a little wider spread than the Sony 10/20, but I still don't think that it's wide enough for the A1 or any widescreen camera. I also don't thik that teh Sony 10/20 light is wide enough either, and as such you will get hot spots with either light.

Diffusing it is a waste of time in my mind, as you are cutting down the light source of a 10w light if you do.

I have used many lights NRG Varalux, PAGC6, and currently use and love the Sony HVL-LBP LED light. It's a great light that has great spread, can run all night on a Sony 950/970 battery, is dimmable, and has built in diffusion door (as well as barn doors) and spot focuser (extends your light source by an additioal 10-15 feet in a form of a spot). The trade off is that it is a rather large light that can make your camera front heavy.

To compensate I recommend mounting it on the handle (with a handle bracket) or using some sort of support while shooting (tripod, monopod). We use a DVMulti Rig, and have no issues with it.

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

Brackish
Veteran

Apr 28, 2008, 9:31 PM

Post #3 of 6 (540 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] Canon VL-10 Light [In reply to]	Can't Post

How does the brightness of your Sony LED light compare to
the output of the Sony 10/20? Has anyone ever said how many
watts the LED light is equivalent to?

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when all the birds are singing in the sky now that the spring is in the air with the flowers everywhere

MLiebergot
Veteran

Apr 28, 2008, 9:48 PM

Post #4 of 6 (537 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Canon VL-10 Light [In reply to]	Can't Post

At full output it was said to around 50 watts.
Honestly there isn't any comparison. The light source is so much cleaner and softer. With the diffuser door down it gives the image such and even distribution of light. No hotspot what so ever.
The only complaint is that it's daylight balanced only so you will have some slight white balance issues with tungsten lighting behind your source once you white balance.
I could try to attack some colored gels to correct it properly but haven't done so yet.

That's what I really love about the Zylights, as they are switchable daylight, tungsten with a push of the button, no gels needed. They are also remote controlled, one light can control all of your lights color intensity and all. And the LEDs can be changed to any color of the spectrum and saved as presets and so forth. But the darn lights are so expensive. You can get 2 Sony LVP lights for the price of one Zylight Z90.

In Reply To

How does the brightness of your Sony LED light compare to
the output of the Sony 10/20? Has anyone ever said how many
watts the LED light is equivalent to?

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

Brackish
Veteran

Apr 28, 2008, 11:15 PM

Post #5 of 6 (529 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] Canon VL-10 Light [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

That's what I really love about the Zylights, as they are switchable daylight, tungsten with a push of the button, no gels needed.

Zylight has same watts output with tungsten as daylight? That would be nice. With the Sony LED, I'd only be using it geled so you're looking at about 30 watts output with the gel, considering the gel will cut the output nearly in half.

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when all the birds are singing in the sky now that the spring is in the air with the flowers everywhere

MLiebergot
Veteran

Apr 29, 2008, 9:33 AM

Post #6 of 6 (506 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Canon VL-10 Light [In reply to]	Can't Post

The Zylight requires no gels what so ever. It is entirely switchable to Tungsten or Daylight, as well with the ability to dial in your own color temperature.

Check them out...
They have 2 models the Z50 and Z90. They operate the same way, but the Z90 has a wider spread and stronger throw.

And yes if you gelled the Sony LVP light, you would probably be looking at 30-35 watts of throw. BTW. keep in mind that the Sony light is fully dimmable and stays totally cool.
I honestly have no desire to gel it for indoor use, as the white balanced picture that I get it perfectly acceptable. If the background bthered me that much then I would try to backlight the scene somehow.

In Reply To

That's what I really love about the Zylights, as they are switchable daylight, tungsten with a push of the button, no gels needed.

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!