Using the Ikelite video light as a modeling light

[grouchyturtle]

Asked this one on wetpixel and haven't received a single response!


Has anyone ever done this? Any reason it may not be a good idea?

The only one I can think of is it will make the housing a little bulkier...but not like an SLR with strobes isn't already bulky.

It's going to be much brighter and wider than the many cheaper lights that a lot of people use. Haven't looked at the specs, but I don't doubt it will even be as bright and wide, if not brighter and wider than the fisheyes that many people are using. In fact, I'm thinking I may need to throw a diffuser on it, because if anything it may be too powerful.

Also since it's meant for video, it has a smooth even beam that isn't going to leave a hot spot in the images...like my HID does, which I've been using.

The best part is...I already have one. So instead of spending a ton of money on a new light, I just need to find a way to mount something that's already in the gear bag and I don't need to add another piece of gear.

 

[bigfrog23]

i personally use a nocturnal SL50 for my focus light and it mounts directly to the camera housing using two ultra light balls and a clamp works beautifully. theother thing you could do to mount it to your rig would be to use a ultra light ultralight triple clamp . and mount it on the directly on the strobe arm.

the SL50 produces a lot of light i generally use the 35 or 20 watt bulbs for macro and for day diving but for night diving the 50 watt bulb works great as well as for wide angle for macro its still a little bright but it is manageable . i got a chance to compare it to my friends ikelite video lights that he uses with his rig and the SL50 is about twice as bright as the ikelite light video light. With the 50 watt bulb and the diffuser it was still brighter but not by much but it did have better coverage. i think that the ikelight video light would make a great focus light.

a good way to test the light to see if it was to bright for you would be to set you camera in manual mode. Then set it at what would be you normal setting in the water with you strobes on. like say 1/250 @ f8 or f11 and take a couple shot with it on and with it off and see if it throws off the exposure or if you see something bad in the shot. this should give you a good idea whether or not the light will work for you.

 

[grouchyturtle]

Yeah I'm thinking most likely a triple clamp for the head (already have a ULCS ball on it).
Mounting the battery pack I haven't figured out yet.

Well based on your comparison, I doubt it would be too bright, except maybe for day diving.

 

[oly5050user]

it may be too bright,so overexposure of images will occur.Or you can use faster shutter speed/higher f stop but loose creativity.There is no control to lessen out put of light to correct these issues.If using this in place of strobe not recommended.Better to attach a small narrow beam light to strobe and use that as a model light/aim light..ike has model light built into some of their strobes(125-200)

 

[grouchyturtle]

it may be too bright,so overexposure of images will occur.Or you can use faster shutter speed/higher f stop but loose creativity.There is no control to lessen out put of light to correct these issues.If using this in place of strobe not recommended.Better to attach a small narrow beam light to strobe and use that as a model light/aim light..ike has model light built into some of their strobes(125-200)

I know,I have 2 125s, but it's kind of a useless feature, since you rarely aim them directly at your subject.

I'd probably make a diffuser for the video light. Also the video light has a modeling light built into it too.

 

[bigfrog23]

Quick question what kind of housing do u have? if it is like my aquatica housing it should have several holes on the bottom of the housing for attaching a tripod you could just us a peace of flat aluminum about 2.5 inches wide and bolt it to the housing and and then put a couple holes in that peace of aluminum out just wider than the battery back and and then use a second peace under neath the pack and simple slide the pack in and tighten it up it should work pretty well

 

[grouchyturtle]

Quick question what kind of housing do u have? if it is like my aquatica housing it should have several holes on the bottom of the housing for attaching a tripod you could just us a peace of flat aluminum about 2.5 inches wide and bolt it to the housing and and then put a couple holes in that peace of aluminum out just wider than the battery back and and then use a second peace under neath the pack and simple slide the pack in and tighten it up it should work pretty well

Everything is Ikelite. I'm now thinking I may be able to just use Ike's mounting kit for the battery. I'm pretty sure the spacing of the screws on the bottom is the same between their video and SLR housings.

The only downside is I wouldn't be able to use a tripod when it's mounted.

 

[bigfrog23]

Ya I think it would be easiest and simpler to just use the ikelite mounting bracket sence you are already using an ikelite housing plus how often do u use a tipod

 

[grouchyturtle]

True, haven't even used it yet.

I'm thinking won't really need both on the same dive. For example wide angle, long exposure, exterior wreck shots aren't even going to require strobes at all.