3Watts or 10Watts

hi, i need to get a flash for use in a night club. I really don't know much about the lights and i've decided to get a flash which is powered externally so it must not be synced with the camera.

This is what i'm looking for HVL20DMA however that is 10watts/20watts and i'm not sure if that might just be too strong.. I don't want to light up the whole room, just take video of people close to me.

so should i get a 10/20watt or a 3watt?

I have a 3 watt light I will sell CHEAP! :) Not really. I wouldn't do that to you. Those things won't light up much of anything. Unless you need a little extra light for shooting a baby or something they are useless.

Get at least 10 watts. 30 is much better. I have a combination 10 watt and 20 watt bulb setup.

The most popular setup around here is made by Bescor. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=304510&is=REG) One variation or another of this light setup is what many people have.

There are several advantages to these lights. Try searching for the word "Bescor" on this board and read some of the old threads.

Ok, i see what you mean.. i need my light to work in almost pitch black sometimes.. but i don't want everyone to have shiny faces.. and the light can't be HUGE.. which is what the sony's are.. I can't carry a mofo *** setup into a club lol..

But we'll see.. *strokes beard*

i think i'll just go with the 10/20watt light.. its huge.. but if it works.. i hope it will be worth it!! we'll see what happens. but after thinking about it.. i derfinately think i'll need one..

wow what an expensive project..

I probably should warn you that lighting a crowd in a very dark room with a single, camera mounted light is going to bring about some unhappy campers. If those campers happen to be going a little heavy on the camp fuel then the reaction will be even more stern OK? :)

Lighting that strong in people eyes can be tough on those people. If they are aware and consent to what you're doing then great. If they are taken by surprise they might have a few surprises of their own.

Still that's your only option for getting decent light in some situations. On camera lighting has limitations though as you know. You will get a flat look to everything especially faces. My best results in similar situations has been to get the house lights turned up some. If people know the reason they'll go along with it.

I probably should warn you that lighting a crowd in a very dark room with a single, camera mounted light is going to bring about some unhappy campers. If those campers happen to be going a little heavy on the camp fuel then the reaction will be even more stern OK? :)

Lighting that strong in people eyes can be tough on those people. If they are aware and consent to what you're doing then great. If they are taken by surprise they might have a few surprises of their own.

Still that's your only option for getting decent light in some situations. On camera lighting has limitations though as you know. You will get a flat look to everything especially faces. My best results in similar situations has been to get the house lights turned up some. If people know the reason they'll go along with it.

yes well i don't want it to be too bright.. which is a problem. They will consent, its part of the organisation of the event. I wonder how it will go in the dark.. because.. the club i am recording at.. is nto too dark i don't tihnk.

I don't care about quality.. i just want to be able to see peoples faces.. clear enough.. ie i don't want pitch black.. its for web streaming anyway.. so quality will be shithouse..

SONY HVL-20DMA 10 & 20 WATT DUAL VIDEO LIGHT HVL20DMA

is a really good buy but you need a sony camcorder battery and charger if you do not already own a sony with a compatible battery

they make another version of this without the base bracket that fits another version of sony batteries too.

you need at least the 7.2 batt to run both lights together ;) :)

here are some specs

1 x Sony HVL20DMA dual (10/20 watt) video light.

It features two bulbs that produce either 40 lux of light in single bulb mode or 80 lux in dual bulb mode at a distance of 3 metres. Is compatible with InfoLithium® M series batteries (same as used by TRV-22, TRV-950, PD10XP and TRV-6 camcorders). The included adaptor bar makes mounting the light to the camcorder easy, as well as allowing flexibility in lighting angles. Compact and lightweight. Comes with one NP-QM71 battery. Battery information:
Sony NP-FM30 – not suitable
Sony NP-FM50 - one bulb only – approx 40 mins. Continuous lighting time
Sony or *InfoTECH NP-QM71 one bulb – approx 80 mins. Continuous lighting time.
two bulbs – approx 40 mins. Continuous lighting time.
*InfoTECH NP-QM91 one bulb – approx 140 mins. Continuous lighting time.
two bulbs – approx 60 mins. Continuous lighting time.
*InfoTECH Batteries may need to be re-inserted to turn the lamp on again. (Make sure the video light is turned off when re-inserting the battery.)

one additional thing is do you really need a video light

if you are outside then get your subject under a lamppost to film them or stand near the bar in a club where the light is brighter :)

also your money maybe better spent on a Bogen/Lastolite Gold/White 48" Reflector I have one of these the same one for 15 years :) and its still as good as the day i bought it. You can easily stick that the other side of your subject or have the sun behind them for the hair halo effect and pop it open to fill in the shadows - it looks great and very natural ;) - lovely highlights in the eyes too :) plus they are light to carry

unless you life depends on it - example you work a lot in caves or you video down coal mines then i would forget it =\ :)P

It features two bulbs that produce either 40 lux of light in single bulb mode or 80 lux in dual bulb mode at a distance of 3 metres.
80 lux isn't anything to write home about. The minimum a typical consumer grade camcorder needs to get an acceptable image is 100 lux. Now, it you were using this along with some other lights or maybe as a fill light it might be useful. But by itself, I don't think anyone is going to get very good video with only 80 lux.

It might do in some specialized situations where getting the video even if it is low quality is critical. But that doesn't sound like most people's needs.

Good luck.

Dennis

unless you life depends on it - example you work a lot in caves or you video down coal mines then i would forget it =\ :)P

A camera mounted light is never the ideal light setup but sometimes it's that or no useful video at all. My Bescor paid for itself in just a few situations IMO where it made the difference between a dull image and a much brighter video that showed stuff that was important to me.

The light will make your subject look flat and there will be odd shadows. But when your only daughter is riding in the football homecoming parade (at night of course) and she has to use an umbrella because it's raining and you know her face will be shaded by that umbrella then believe me you will be glad you have a camera mounted light. It is by far better to mix on camera lighting with any other light available but without my Bescor I would have missed out on getting good video of my daughter in this situation.

I knew I would only ever get one chance to get decent video so I was very glad I could go into the bag and bring out the Bescor. I also made some cash shooting video of the other girls in the same parade and selling DVD copies to their parents. But mainly I got what I think is decent video instead of a gray shape barely recognizable as a face.

http://www.a-framevideo.com/hc.jpg