2004Brackets/Widgets forum
Ring light options and specifications for Steadicam mounting
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Cold cathode tube ring lights are being developed with attention to color balance and power output to match or exceed Kino lights.
- A homemade ring light with eight 150-watt halogen lamps producing 1200 watts total output requires substantial power to be effective on set, weighs around 3 kg, and needs dimmer control.
- Kinoflo ring lights around 10 inches in diameter may provide insufficient output at aperture 5.6 on 320T film stock, requiring subject distance of 80-100 cm for noticeable effect.
- Connector points on some ring light designs create a dark segment in the circular light pattern that reflects visibly in subject eyes.
- LED light panels offer daylight-balanced on-camera lighting as an alternative to ring lights.
- Engineered ring lights weighing around 700 grams with 12-24v battery power and dimmability can mount to lens barrels or standard camera bars in tungsten or daylight balance.
- Custom machining of aluminum ring lights in workshop settings costs approximately 800 dollars.
Depends on
- Homemade solutions involve substantial time investment beyond material costs.
- Different ring light designs perform differently depending on lamp type, wattage, and diameter.
- Power requirements vary significantly based on film stock, aperture, and desired output level.
- Discussion participants had different experiences with commercial ring light performance.