2004Off Topic forum
LED ring lights and fill lights for Steadicam and on-camera use
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- LED lights designed for Steadicam work can draw very low current, less than 700 milliamps, making them compatible with monitor power supplies.
- Compact LED ring light units using high-output LEDs around 120 lumens can achieve similar brightness to designs using many lower-output LEDs stacked together while occupying less physical space.
- Cold cathode tube-based ring lights do not produce sufficient brightness compared to modern LED alternatives.
- LED ring lights with dimming capability and segment switches allow operators to control light intensity and reduce flat lighting without adjusting camera position.
- Ring light designs that can be permanently mounted and powered via hirose connectors support seamless transitions between handheld, shouldered, and Steadicam operation without requiring power adjustments.
- A single battery such as a lithium-ion NiCad pack can power an LED ring light at maximum brightness for multiple takes during extended shoots.
- LED ring light units designed with filter trays and modular accessories provide practical on-camera lighting for news and promotional work.
Depends on
- Specific performance comparisons between different LED configurations lack quantitative measurement data.
- The longevity and reliability of these LED light designs over extended use periods is not discussed.
- Power consumption figures are provided for one specific model but generalization across all LED ring light designs may not apply.
- Discussion focuses on Steadicam and handheld camera rigs, so suitability for other mounting systems is unclear.