Video Light(s) for Macro

Hi There this is my first post so be understanding.

I have recently bought a Sanyo HD2000 + Epoque EHS-1000HD housing off a mix of ebay and ex-demo at a very good price

The camera has a very poor stabiliser so I am planning to buy an ultralight base with a handle to add stability

I have experience as photographer and I am used at taking clips with my digital camera but mostly with wide angle and manual white balance

However with macro for stills there is no chance without the strobe and I was wondering what is a decent albeit not too expensive choice for the video.

I am planning to add a wide angle lens to my video kit but not planning to invest in any lights for that purpose most likely I will get a filter

I am looking therefore at a low complexity set up that can ensure my macro is not going to be too dark.

I have done some reading and I know that ideally you need to have one light directed to the subject from the top and one from the side however I was hoping to get away with just one video light.

I have looked at option and I have come across the Inon LE-550W that I could rig to the ultralight base building a small arm with couple of clamps and a 5" arm ending with a YS mount for the light

I wonder if anyone has experience with a similar set up for video and what are the results

I am not intending to spend huge amount of money for two lights and I would also prefer to have a somewhat lighter set up than two lights on each side

Have you looked at the light & motion sola lights?

Yes the sola 600 is similar slightly more compact and double the price

From what I read from magazines there is no substantial difference

In any case that's not about which light

The question is can I manage with only 1 light for macro?

Well that's an open ended question really. If you were shooting a nudibranch then i would say yes you could use 1, but if you were trying to shoot say a frogfish then you would need to i think.

I would recommend 2 as your lighting options won't be limited if you have 2.

Cheers Pete.

Well that's an open ended question really. If you were shooting a nudibranch then i would say yes you could use 1, but if you were trying to shoot say a frogfish then you would need to i think.

I would recommend 2 as your lighting options won't be limited if you have 2.

Cheers Pete.

Thanks for your help but I was really wondering if anyone has tried with a LED wide beam light. I shoot pictures of close focus wide angle with one strobe only and they look fine. On this basis I really don't see why would I need two lights. But again has anyone tried?

Thanks for your help but I was really wondering if anyone has tried with a LED wide beam light. I shoot pictures of close focus wide angle with one strobe only and they look fine. On this basis I really don't see why would I need two lights. But again has anyone tried?

Of course you could get away with just one light for macro but there is times you will really want 2. If you are filming something on the sand bottom typically one light will do the trick but in certain positions 2 is going to be much better. Critters hidden in stag horn corals etc. I guess it depends how much macro you will be shooting to decide if you want to buy 1 or 2.

I have L&M sunray 1200's and have had to use just one as I had a battery fail during a dive. It was fine for certain things but other times it wasn't so great due to shadowing and positioning.

http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=15

This has a little article about shooting macro with video lights maybe it will help with your decision.

But to answer you question I would say yes it is possible but results may differ from time to time.

Hope this helps and good luck!

I had indeed read that article that in fact I fully comprehend

After lots of thinking I have decided NOT to buy the inon light and instead get a small light (Fisheye FIX mini BUB kight saber) mounted on the top of the housing as it was a focus light.

The reason is simple the video camera hasn't got an optical stabilizer and the footage comes quite shaky, I have therefore decided to spend time practicing to see if I am able to take any footage at all that does not make you sick before investing in any light

As it stands looks like shooting macro on video is technically the most difficult thing to do (without a tripod) the opposite as with stills where macro is straightforward and wide angle more complex

So for now the money has been invested in an ultralight tray with two handles on the side to make the rig more stable and an INON UWL-100 with red filter

The small light on top should make possible to capture easy macro such as things on sand etc etc at average quality

Of course you could get away with just one light for macro but there is times you will really want 2. If you are filming something on the sand bottom typically one light will do the trick but in certain positions 2 is going to be much better. Critters hidden in stag horn corals etc. I guess it depends how much macro you will be shooting to decide if you want to buy 1 or 2.

 

I have L&M sunray 1200's and have had to use just one as I had a battery fail during a dive. It was fine for certain things but other times it wasn't so great due to shadowing and positioning.

 

http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=15

 

This has a little article about shooting macro with video lights maybe it will help with your decision.

 

But to answer you question I would say yes it is possible but results may differ from time to time.

 

Hope this helps and good luck!

Before buying any lights you should read Eric Cheng's review of the Keldan lights on this site. I will be coming out with a review of another model of Keldan lights in a couple of weeks as well. They are the best I have seen and used so far. Gates is also coming out with a new video light and the prototype I saw was also pretty impressive.

Steve