Video light for gopro 12

[Gmsalterego]

Hello everybody, I don't know if this is the right place to submit my question. 

I'm looking for a good, powerful and hopefully not very expensive video lamp. Any suggestion? Thank you in advance

[Davide DB]

People think that gopros & Co. have special requirements for lights or given that the camera is "cheap" same apply for the lights.

It's true the contrary. The tiny sensor requires a lot of light. A FF camera or even a M43 camera can work flawlessly at 1600 ISO and up. While a Gopro @1600 ISO is pure trash.

IMO the only requirement is having something small. 6K is the bare minimum).

There are the Scubalamp/SUPE very cheap (but iirc they are not constant output).

A good option are the latest Kraken lights ( @bghazzal can give you some feedback) or Weefine.

[ChipBPhoto]

1 hour ago, Davide DB said:

The tiny sensor requires a lot of light. A FF camera or even a M43 camera can work flawlessly at 1600 ISO and up. While a Gopro @1600 ISO is pure trash.

IMO the only requirement is having something small. 6K is the bare minimum).

 

This is a great perspective.  Thanks Davide!

 

[Davide DB]

Have a look here. This XAvdenturer seems a good option, a fair price and Pietro sell them in Italy.

@Wags could give you his feedback.

 

 

[Elvandar]

I use 2 of these Wurkkos DL07 torch : Torcia elettrica anfibia Wurkkos DL07

For night dives, where they are my only source of light, I love them, and also when you have to go into macro, or smaller subject.
For wider shot, I would not recommend them, you will most likely need to spend more.

PRO:
-Cheap
-Last two 1h dives without problem
-They need just one 26650 battery, so you can buy two, and swap between dives (they cost ~5€ each)
-Good 120 degree light angle
-Small and weight only ~300 grams, perfect for travel
-Ball head included in the package
-Feels solid
-Have also Red, Ultraviolet and SpotLight mode

CONS:
-Useless on wider scene or if there is too much light (but to overcome these problem, i think you need to spend a lot on light)
-People will thanks you a lot for blinding them underwater 😅
-The magnetic ring that control wich mode you use, sometimes is hard to turn


Here a night dive where my source of light was them (and a bit of torch from my buddys):

 

[bghazzal]

I can't comment on the X-Adventurer brand - not sure if it's produced by the same factories as Weefine and Kraken and related in anyway, but design is similar (as is often the case for these products 😅) - and Kraken lights are nice.

Really good light quality, constant output (you get the lumens stated during the whole dive, not something which dims constantly), good built BUT button ergonomics  are really not great for UW video use (long press, short press, double press etc) - some lights have the option to use a remote, which is a game changer but less so for a single light kit.
Weefine range is now different from that of Kraken, but they shared the same factory in the past and design/charateristic are still similar, as is the price range. Both are constant output for lights over 2500 lumen.
These are not the cheapest however, in the upper mid-range - look into Hydras for instance.

 

cheers

Edited December 3 by bghazzal

[Wags]

Hi, I have a single M8000 X-Adventurer, the light gives out a very even spread. Turn it down if not shooting to make it last the dive. There is a remote for it so I plan to get that which will make life bit easier. The one light just about covers the camera's FOV at night.

 

I will most probably get a second one so 16,000 Lumen all up. Used during the day you need to use a blue filter on the light else anything the light hits will be too red if you camera is WB to being on the warm side. Using a filter however kills the light power. 

 

Use if with an Action 4 and wide dome port.

[Proteus]

If you decide you want high output lights, I have a pair of Kraken 18K lights for sale in the Classifieds.

 

Gary

[Elvandar]

- @Gmsalterego Ask for a good, powerful and hopefully not very expensive video lamp:
- @Elvandar : Suggest a cheap ass torch, not that bad (45€)
- @Wags & @Proteus: Suggest a really good torch but (~600€+)


@Gmsalterego give us your budget and what you consider "not very expensive" 😆

By the way, all my video on my youtube, are shot with GoPro 11/12 and those 45€ torch, so if you are not a professional, or really into the hobby, you don't need to spend too much to get an ok result.

But if you go for a 600€ source of light because you like taking video, you should maybe consider to change also the camera 😁

But also, I should not question these decision, as i bought almost 1000€ in wet lens for my gopro 🙃

 

 

[Gmsalterego]

Dear @Elvandar all good questions. 

I've also spent a lot for macro and wet lens and I dont want absolutely dismiss my GP12 too.

I submitted the present subject because of my chinese lamp burned its led. Now I'm waiting for replacement due to the amazon warranty. 

I was thinking if a different brand was more reliable, considering all the manufacturer are in China.

My budget? Around 400-500 € more or less

Bye Giacomo 

[Nick]

Hi all,

 

Seeking some illumination (pun intended) on this subject and want to establish what is considered the conventional view

 

1. GP or Action cameras have smaller sensors so low light capability is awful, hence requiring a lot more light

2. In addition, most Action Cameras have a minimum focal distance between 30cm to 50cm, so the light needs to travel through a body of water and still remain bright enough to bring out the colours

3. and, the further the light is away from the subject, the more diffuse it becomes, the softer it becomes hence the light needs to be more powerful to compensate? 

4. but most lights have a beam angle of about 100 to 130 degree...but the further you get from the subject, the edge of the lights is usually not that bright so again more powerful or brighter lights?

 

Hence the in-going thinking is...need bright lights when shooting with action cameras

 

Is this a fair summary of the situation? 

 

 

 

[Gmsalterego]

I think so, for wide angle shots of course.  Macro requires less light by the way.

This is my understanding.

Ciao,  Giacomo 

[Gmsalterego]

Today: lake of Como

Gopro 12 and backscatter wide angle.

Chinese lights

Bye

[Nando Diver]

@Nick I have 2x divevolk dive lights LS50 , they are rebranded from SUPE SCUBALAMP

For the price/quality you can't go wrong, CRI96 and 120 Beam Angle, excellent for video.

 

With 5000 lumens each im using them in medium settings, about 3000 lumens each, but they weight 295g underwater.

 

But beware, the more powerful they are the heavier they become due their large battery.

Ive seen myself adding buoyancy float arms to my rig to compensate the AOI lens + dive lights.

Also a "bigger" system will slow you down underwater, meaning more air consumption and more restrict in movements.

 

If was today probably i would go with Sea Dragon Dive light, max 2500/3000 lumens each.

For example the Sea dragon 3000F Auto weights 110g/3.9oz in salt water,  120 Beam and CRI 90