Video light/strobe

Hi

I have been taking photo and video, about 50/50 for nearly 20 years using basic camera and ambient light. Now have better camera (Canon G5X Mk2) and planning to get a light source.

Have been getting a bit confused with the choices available, one recent option was a pair of used Light and Motion Solar 2000F video lights, but, at the price offered, there was no headroom if the batteries failed.

my next thought is a single video light (I take quite a lot of video) and then, later, change to double video, or video/strobe.

all suggestions and observations welcome. 

There are LED lights out there that offer a strobe mode, but they're a couple orders of magnitude less powerful than actual xenon strobes.

There's iTorch Symbiosis line of combination lights, which feature both LEDs and a xenon bulb in a single housing, running off one battery, but they've been discontinued. You might be able to find some on the used market; from what I hear, the Symbiosis SS-3 is pretty decent.

To follow Barmaglot's suggestion, Bluewater sells the Symbiosis SS-3 for $399
https://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/itorch-symbiosis-ss3

Hi hotglove

Although as the guys suggest, you could go with a system that is both video and still/strobe lighting, this is far from ideal - and I'm not sure that is what you're asking. For still photography you really need the power of strobes - which have a far greater output than video lights. I'd be wary of trying to do both with one form of lighting.

As you have seen, video lights are expensive - as are strobes! If video is your primary focus, my suggestion would be, as you say, get one powerful video light (minimum 10,000 lumen) and see how you get on. Then think about a second as you become clearer on what type of photography will be your prime goal: video or stills

If you are planning to shoot stills, do you have a preference for macro or wide-angle (WA)? For macro you can get away with less powerful strobes (for example the Inon S2000) - but if WA is your main focus you will want something with more power - for example the now discontinued Inon Z240 or its successor the Z330. You can get away with one strobe. Two is not a must.

Have a look on the WP Classifieds (as you have probably done already) and you can find deals on equipment in very good condition. Keldan lights and Inon strobes have very good reputations and are used by many WPers. I'm sure others will chip in with recommendations on lights (not my area of expertise). If you have the budget and think you are going to be serious about still photography, I think the Retra strobes are brilliant. But no use for video. 

The lights/strobes (and associated arms/clamps) you buy are, by my experience, some of the few items of u/w photography equipment that can stay and grow with you as you change cameras and housings. So buy well in the first place. It's worth, I'd suggest, a bit of an investment in these items as they should last you through several camera/housing iterations.

You seem to be on a budget and I note you are proposing to use a compact 1" sensor G5X.  You don't need to stop this down near as much as larger sensors when used UW - most people use them at f5 - 5.6.   This means you can get away with a bit lower power for your strobes.  An INON S-2000 is a great little strobe which goes for $365 in the US and would match well with your camera.  You don't say what you shoot most of - wide angle or macro - this makes some difference - you can get away with a single light/strobe more so in macro work

On video lights the 2000F was only 2000 lumens on maximum power and also only gave a 60° beam.  I think you would be disappointed with that.

As to what video light to choose you can probably get away with less power with the G5X and even less if you are restricted to macro range video.  There's a lot of cheap chinese made video lights on Ebay of questionable quality.  I would think you would be looking at $350 minimum for recognised name brand lights.  INON have a 3100 lumen light that runs on AA eneloops, so battery replacement is not a big deal but it's only 3100 lumen with a 100° beam.   Beyond that you are looking at $500 plus for something over 3800-4000 lumens.

With video lights you are adding red/yellow light into the the ambient light to allow the camera to do a custom white balance as I understand it, so more power makes it easier for the camera to WB and increasing the effective range of the lights.  When you are comparing lights you need to compare beam angles as well as the lumens.  Two lights with the same lumen rating but 90 and 100° beams - the 90° beam light will put more light on the subject for example. 

You should also look at the activation methods - some of the lights have complicated button press sequences to change settings. 

Thanks for the thorough and thoughtful replies, I have read them carefully and learned a lot.

I have bought an Anchor 5k video light from Godive UK, mainly on advice from one of their guys who is an old and highly respected dive buddy.

Arm and clamps together with quick release are Ikelite, the replies made me examine my photo habits and I would say that it probably works out 50% video, 25% WA, 25% Macro (but not with specialised Macro lens, just the camera’s Macro setting.

Will soon be going to Sharm for 3 weeks and will start the trip with a day’s private guiding with a guide who has a similar camera herself, so will be able to take my time without being concerned about holding up a group dive. (I can happily hover around a glass fish pinnacle for aaaages)

Thanks again.