One Video Light Or Two?

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guyharrisonphoto

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Hi,

I am beginning to shoot a lot of video with my OM-D. Want to get some good lighting. The 2 options are 2-4000 lumen compact video lights (Sola or Keldan), or a single 7000 lumen light (just a little larger, the FIX). One light is much easier to handle, but my question is, is there a good reason to go with two lights instead of one? When I have used two lights in the past, I often get cross-shadows that do not look too good. Wouild one light help with this, or am I simply not using the two lights in the right manner?

Any advice to a relative video newbie would be appreciated!

Guy
 
Echoing what others say. Two or more. I use three.
 
Like others have said, 2 lights are better than 1. But, if you are shooting closeups and/or macro, 1 light can often do the job.

Since you mention easier to handle, make sure you consider light size, weight and buoyancy. It is easy to underestimate how negatively buoyant lights, extended out on arms, can make shooting video very difficult.
 
Although I've shot some pretty decent video with a single light (when the other went out on me during a dive or I had to send it in for servicing), I definitely prefer using two lights. To some degree it will also depend on whether you are shooting close-up or overviews and what the dispersion characteristics are of the lights you use. I shoot with dual Sola 1200s usually at the lowest setting since I shoot close-up most of the time
 

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