Greenforce Heptastar

Hi guys,

Looking to put my Canon 7d in nauticam housing and wonder if my existing Greenforce Heptastar LED's would be OK as video lights or do I require dedicated video lights ie Greenforce Squids. Video shots would normally be of wrecks in UK waters 50m - 80m.

Regards

Ian

I have been using a single Heptastar LED as my main light source for video work. Please note that I hold the lamp in my hand, which allows me to paint the scenery with the lamp, instead of panning the camera.

This configuration is quite good for caves and wreck penetration because it is easier to get through narrow passages. Eventhough I use the narrow 10 degree version, the beam and its overspill covers a fairly wide area. However, I had to adjust the camera to overexpose the hotspot. Or otherwise the angle covered would have been very narrow and the overall picture underexposed. I think this configuration is best suited for narrow corridor like spaces. If you want to cover wide open spaces, like the deck of a wreck, you would need a lot wider beam. However, any light power will diminish on larger surfaces.

In the video below, you can see my Heptastar in a cave environment. If you bother to look it through, you'll see how it works in narrow restrictions, deep tunnel like drops, in patches of bad visibility, in halocline, creating reflections of air pockets etc.

Heptastar lamp and Grotta del Fico in Sardinia

As a further step I am considering combining a very wide angle lamp (100-120 degrees) with 10000 lumens or more plus the Heptastar as the light source for reaching and highlighting objects beyond the wide angle beam. Just an idea.

I have been using a single Heptastar LED as my main light source for video work. Please note that I hold the lamp in my hand, which allows me to paint the scenery with the lamp, instead of panning the camera.

 

This configuration is quite good for caves and wreck penetration because it is easier to get through narrow passages. Eventhough I use the narrow 10 degree version, the beam and its overspill covers a fairly wide area. However, I had to adjust the camera to overexpose the hotspot. Or otherwise the angle covered would have been very narrow and the overall picture underexposed. I think this configuration is best suited for narrow corridor like spaces. If you want to cover wide open spaces, like the deck of a wreck, you would need a lot wider beam. However, any light power will diminish on larger surfaces.

 

In the video below, you can see my Heptastar in a cave environment. If you bother to look it through, you'll see how it works in narrow restrictions, deep tunnel like drops, in patches of bad visibility, in halocline, creating reflections of air pockets etc.

 

Heptastar lamp and Grotta del Fico in Sardinia

 

As a further step I am considering combining a very wide angle lamp (100-120 degrees) with 10000 lumens or more plus the Heptastar as the light source for reaching and highlighting objects beyond the wide angle beam. Just an idea.

Thanks for the reply excellent video

Regards

Ian