Converting UK eLED C8 to video light?

[Hoomi]

I do simple, basic video with a standard PnS camera in an UW housing (being a novice yet, I find this easier than capturing still pictures), and I've been considering adding a light to the rig.

Using a coupon, I can get an LED light for doing video at the Dive Shop for about $250, but being a working class stiff, that $250 is more often than not needed for more important things.

I also have an eLED C8 dive light that puts out a pretty decent amount of light, and I've got a couple of ideas on how I could put together a mounting system similar to the commercial camera light, and probably for only a few bucks.

Has anyone tried something similar, and if so, with what kind of results? I have no illusions that I'm suddenly going to have a rig that will give me professional looking videos on the cheap, but it would be nice if I managed to get a bit more light, and hence a bit more color, into the video.

Thanks for any insights - positive or negative - that you might be able to offer.

 

[gcbryan]

My thought would be that it would probably be good to have two lights and if the beam angle is very focused you might want to make a diffusion filter for each light.

You could just take the reflector out if you can do this and you would have a flood light (wouldn't then need a diffusion filter) but I don't know if the light would then throw far enough for your usage. It would depend on whether you are doing close up video or something further away.

I know that the Light Cannon comes with a diffusion filter that you can use if you want to do video work so I assume something like this would work for your light as well.

Just some thoughts. Someone will come along with more practical hints I'm sure

 

[Hoomi]

I could probably make a diffuser fairly easily as well, especially since it only needs to rest in front of the light, and doesn't have to become a watertight part of the housing.

We have a camping/dive trip to Mexico planned in less than a month, which is one of our budget dive options ($160 per person for unlimited weekend shore diving, plus the costs of getting ourselves there). What I hope to be able to do is put together a rig to hold the light (or lights, since I also have one of the TUSA TUL-300 lights (dang, but that sucker is bright for such a small light!), and do some field testing to see how the video turns out. If what I put together doesn't work out well, then I'll probably go ahead and invest in the commercial video light from the Dive Shop before our next big trip.