2008Brackets/Widgets forum
Practical experience with LitePad LED light fixtures for film production
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- LitePads offer a lightweight, compact alternative to larger LED panels for adding fill or eye light on set, weighable in ounces and mountable via velcro.
- A 3x6 inch LitePad produces 6000K light with non-directional output and draws 500mA, with brightness comparable to older LitePanel models but with faster light falloff.
- Individual LitePad units cost between $76 to $119 depending on size, with dimmers available at $235 per single-channel unit that can control up to four pads.
- LitePads can be powered via AA or C batteries, or adapted to work with external battery systems like M-style lithium packs.
- The LED array design uses sideways-mounted diodes with cascading mirrors to disperse light, creating a more uniform non-directional pattern than panel-style fixtures.
- Color output from LitePads requires correction, with users reporting either greenish or magenta casts depending on measurement method, necessitating color correction filters before use.
- Dimmer units for LitePads are expensive relative to the light fixtures themselves, with custom remote control integration via external systems costing significantly more than the equipment.
Depends on
- Data from 2008, product specifications and pricing no longer current.
- Color rendering issues noted by multiple users but not precisely quantified; correction methods mentioned but results varied.
- Comparison with LitePanel generation not specified; LitePad output characteristics versus contemporary LED fixtures unknown.
- User expertise limited to camera operation rather than lighting design, providing operator perspective rather than gaffer assessment.