Continuous LED Video lighting for STILL photography???

fooddude · #1 June 21st, 2012, 07:55 PM

I know continuous lighting is mainly/meant to be used for video, and is also much much much weaker than flashes and strobes, and isn't strong enough for something like outdoor daylight shooting. But, I am wondering who has used LED continuous lighting for STILL-photography, and I would love to see examples.

I haven't played with strobes, flashes, all it's grip gear, umbrellas, etc., etc. since I had my 5D2 3 years ago (I sold all that stuff). I used to use 3 Canon 430's and 580's, with both radio transmitters (elinchroms) and also the Canon STE2 infrared TTL transmitter.

I haven't owned any of that flash/strobe lighting since then, since I just shoot street, hobby and casual stuff now; and also video. But, I am considering buying some lighting and delve into just indoor portrait work once again.

I was thinking of maybe getting strobes again, but I really don't like the pain of using radio transmitters and also having to buy a bunch of strobes and transmitters. AND, I also want to have lighting for when I do video as well.

So... I just thought of this yesterday, as I saw some in the store, and said to myself, "what about some LED lighting". I was kinda surprised seeing them in the store for cheap, as I remember 3 years ago, the ONLY LED lighting that were available, were those super expensive ones by Litepanels, which were totally unaffordable (at $300 just for the small hotshoe unit, and $1500-2500 for the 1x1' unit...ummm ya right! lol). So before yesterday, for the past 3 years, I thought the only option for LED was those expensive litepanels...until I saw generic ones at the electronics store for cheap. Went home after I saw them, and did a little research on cheap LED lighting.. and found out, that Chinese manufacturers found on ebay, recently (very recent - only in mid-late 2011) did what it does best, for these LED lights - make cheaper and affordable options for us and released them just last year....also found more info and reviews, that these chinese LED lights are actually pretty darn good, some good as expensive US brands, and at a really great price.

These are undoubtably great for videos, as they are made for video. But, I want to use them for STILL-photos too. Not trying to take something like those crazy strobe pics in the sun nor light up an entire stage or arena, nor trying do do anything I know it cannot do of course ...just maybe for simple, indoor, single-person, portraits is what I am after; something reasonable and realistic it can most likely do.

So, for STILL-photos, would using LEDs be possible? Good idea? Has anyone used LED lights for Still-photography? If so, your opinions and any nice examples?

Reasons that I am thinking are good with using LEDs for still-photography (but, I haven't used them first hand yet):

Pros:
-Ease of use and no need to fiddle with strobe/flash settings nor radio-transmitters/receivers
-Inexpensive as compared to a bunch of strobes/flashes and also the extra cost of radio-transmitters/receivers
-Super easy setup - just stick it on the stand and turn it on (and maybe add an umbrella to your liking); no need for radio receivers dangling, etc.
-Always On - so it's super easy to dial/chimp in a nice and desired exposure --And a big advantage - can double-up for HDSLR video lighting, since it's meant for that, hehe.
-Compact and battery powered like flashes

Cons:
-Biggest obvious reason - not remotely as bright as a strobe/flash (but I don't plan to use it in outdoor sunny daylight or anything huge anyways..just indoor)
....The above is the only con I can think of (a big one tho obviously)... and the lack of cons I can think of, is what is really making me consider and close to buying a few cheap LED lights.

Any input, insight, opinions, experiences, examples for LED lights for STILL-photography welcome and appreciated!

:)

Promit · #2 June 21st, 2012, 09:21 PM

Check out Kirk Tuck as someone who uses LED extensively for stills.

fredlong · #3 June 21st, 2012, 09:30 PM

His new book on led lighting was recently released.

http://www.amazon.com/LED-Lighting-P...ords=kirk+tuck

Fred

tanngrisnir3 · #4 June 21st, 2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Promit

Check out Kirk Tuck as someone who uses LED extensively for stills.

Holy CRAP. I just checked out his work and, may I say, as a landscape guy, he makes street photography seem interesting.

Bookmarked.

Thanks!

Promit · #5 June 21st, 2012, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0dBm

Up until just a few years ago, the only available LED video lighting were those panels containing numerous 5mm Nichia LEDs.

They were horrendously underpowered; providing only 2000-5000 (~1.5 to 3 lumens) millicandelas (MCD) each - hence the need to use not just several but many of them just to get an output that would be significant enough to use. A typical LED array of this type would only provide 85-110 lumens. A typical 60-watt household incandescent bulb's output is 1100 lumens so one can imagine the sheer lumen output of those 500-watt tungsten studio lights.

Great leaps in LED technology have been made by such manufacturers as Lumileds, Seoul Semiconductors, and Cree. These makers have achieved 50-80 lumens per a single LED at just 350 milliamps of drive current. These high-power LEDS have made their way into flashlight technology and have essentially replaced the incandescent light bulb. LEDs have also made inroads in household lighting. Initial offerings approached $100 per bulb; however, as the technology progresses, the price point continues to lower.

LEDs are solid state semiconductors so they are considerably more efficient at providing the light product output vice their incandescent counterparts. They typically last longer; 50,000 hours vice 1000 hours. They can typically operate at much lower voltage levels. LED lighting is the future.

As desirable as LEDs are for their power efficiency, their main pitfall remains largely, at this time, is their color rendition properties.

The 5mm Nichias have a typical color temperature of 7000 Kelvin and above! For those of us that use the custom White Balance settings on DSLRs, we know that the higher the "K" (Kelvin) values, the bluer the image. Early complaints about flashlights using those Nichia LEDs were that their "beam" is so blueish or purpleish.

LEDs are typically made as either red, green, or blue. To achieve the so-called "white" color, these colors are actually mixed. The blue tint seemed to have been more dominant in earlier versions.

This blueish-white tint causes the colors to be washed-out as the human eye perceives it: Browns and read appear grayish and greens REALLY stand out. (Consider, too, that greens are what the human eye see strongest). THIS is the disadvantage with earlier LEDs: colors are appear to be incorrect.

Recent inroads seem to be in the manufacture of LEDs with color temperatures towards the lower end of the Kelvin scale and towards the red end of the color spectrum and away from the blue. These modern LEDs are termed "warm" (3000-4000K) due their higher red content and yellowish tint that proximate the traditional output of incandescent light bulbs; and "neutral" (4000-6000K) that proximate the output of the early-afternoon sun (5500K). These moderate Kelvin values apparently allow for a better color rendition where the various colors appear to the human eye to be closer to that of the actual colors when this type of LED is used.

Large quantity of light output is now possible with multiple LED arrays using high-power LEDs. Applications in handheld combat illumination is widespread. Area lighting is becoming more commonplace. Nothing LED-based yet has appeared to replace the flash units made by such giants as Nikon, Canon, and Metz; however, high-quality LED video lighting at moderate prices are available.

I am considering acquiring the Cineroid product for its selectable Kelvin outputs of 3000 or 5000. It contains an array of high Color Rendition Index (CRI) Nichia LEDs.

It is specifically made as a video light; however, it should function adequately as a soft catch or fill light for indoor portraits.

I've repeated your very informative post without your very stupid font. Sorry.

DHart · #6 June 21st, 2012, 11:49 PM

I haven't delved into LED lighting for photography, though I am a dyed int he wool flashaholic with dozens of the latest, high end LED flashlights and, yes, color rendition it a critical factor when you get into the best flashlights and when choosing LED lighting for photography. High CRI LEDs are quite valued in the flashaholic world and I would think that would be the sweet (and costly) way to go in LED lighting for photography.

But what I do have a good bit of experience with is flourescent bank lighting for photography. I started my studio photography career with an array of Speedotron Black Line gear which I've used since about 1978, then moved on to PC Buff Ultras for portrait work in the 90's, and most recently (about 5 years ago) moved into Spiderlites with flourescent bulbs.

Of course, I love continuous light sources as you have such a wonderful ability to really 'see' what you're doing.

In any event... LED lighting may be what you want to go with, but you should have a look into Westcott Spiderlites with high CRI flourescent bulbs... you can get some great, continuous output with this gear using parabolics, umbrellas, softboxes, etc. Very cool running. Very low power consumption. Reasonably economical to use. Surprisingly high output. Beautiful results!

DHart · #7 June 22nd, 2012, 02:20 AM

OdBm... I have two Zebralight headlamps and two flashlights and they're high quality lights indeed. Zebra carefully selects their LEDs from the better tint bins and are known for consistent color quality, whether you choose cool, neutral, warm, or high CRI. I would choose neural or high CRI for photography. ZL is good stuff and 18650 li-ions are an excellent power source for these lights... Just make sure to educate yourself on the proper use and charging procedures with li-ions because they are very potent and potentially dangerous power sources.... But relatively safe if used properly and charged properly.

fooddude · #8 June 22nd, 2012, 10:11 AM

Thanks...I chcked out Kirk's stuff and also his linked: http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-pho...s/video-light/

Very inspirational stuff and totally possible to use LEDs for Stills!

Goodbye to expensive radio-transmitters/receivers, expensive pocketwizards, expensive and heavy flashes and strobes and the need to even use your hotshoe!

.....and, hello to the FUTURE - LED Lighting! :D

fooddude · #9 June 22nd, 2012, 11:01 AM

Any recommendations on inexpensive LEDs? I read that the chinese/ebay Z96 are great (I also read there are knockoffs called W96 too; which aren't as great as the original Z96's).

Lots of praise for the Z96.. it's supposedly better than the brighter Yongnuo 160 (which has a green spike and has a less appealing green tint (but im sure all LEDs have a green hue/tint) and also flicker issues). The Z96 appear to be even better than the expensive $300 MicroLED from Litepanels.

And other suggestions in the <$100 or <$200 range that are good?

DHart · #10 June 22nd, 2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0dBm

Don,
I've been a regular reader of the many posts on CPF since 2000 and a member since 2005. I am a regular purchaser of CPF member AW's numerous battery offerings since he began selling them. I am familiar with the pitfalls of lithum-ion batteries.

I am also a regular user of Zebralight products. I own about a half a dozen. My EDC are the SC60 and the SC600.

Thanks for the reminder.

Nice to meet a fellow CPFer here!