Hello,

I want to buy some lightning for my Sony DCR-DVD505 for occasional use.

Studying the Sony broschure you can find the models for the active shoe system:
a.) HVL-HL1 (small 3 Watt video lamp).
b.) HVL-HIRL (small 3 Watt video lamp with additional infrared feature for nightshots).
c.) others, mainly with additional flash, which I think I will not need.

My questions:
1.) Has anybody already used that video lamps and can write a recommandation?
2.) Does the HVL-HIRL really perform as a video lamp in the same way as the HVL-HL1?

Many thanks for your comments in advance.

Much regards
dr. onestone

Once more my main question:

Does the HVL-HIRL (video lamp with infrared addition) perform the same task as the HVL-HL1 (only video lamp) but in addition you can occasionly use the infrared light for nightshots?
Or is the HVL-HIRL a hybrid, which does not perfectly perform neither the job of video lightning nor the nightshot with infrared?

Much regards

3 watts isn’t very much light and will only be ok for a few feet, I recommend at least 10 watts or more.

__________________
Joe Louvar -
Sony DCR-DVD405
Ulead VideoStudio 10+

I bought the HVL-HL1. It works well from a few feet away, I can see a difference. The only drawback is that it really drains the battery. I may end up buying the big battery for times I use the light. The light is nice though, it fits the camera well and comes with a nice storage bag. I am using it on a SR100 camcorder . Performance should be the same for you though.

Joe, do you know of a 10 watt video light that will work with the DVD505 or your DVD405? The only ones that I have found have the standard hot foot attachment that you slide in and then screw down which doesn't fit into the proprietary Sony foot. The only other option I found was to mount the light to a universal bracket that fastens to the tri-pod mount on the bottom of the camera and that one would seem pretty cumbersome.

Joe