LED versus Tungsten Lighting in 2023

In this week’s episode, we dive into the nuances of LED lighting in 2023, particularly in terms of how modern LED lights compare to traditional tungsten fixtures. We discuss how color plays into lighting design, color quality and how it’s measured, and why color accuracy might matter in your video workflow. We also show you several sample shots and discuss the various LED lights with which they were lit. Let’s take a closer look!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Lowel Tota-Light Tungsten Flood Lamp — B&H

- Lupo Superpanel LED Panel Lights — B&H

- Nanlite Forza 60C Full Color LED Light — B&H, Amazon

- Sekonic C-800 Photo Spectrometer — B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Amaran 150c & 300c | RGB Bowens Mount Lights for Video

In this week’s episode we try out the new Amaran 150 and 300c fixtures. These single-point RGBWW lights from Aputure’s budget line feature full color plus warm and cool white capabilities. They can be adjusted from tungsten to daylight color temperatures and beyond for great versatility as key lights, and also make great effects fixtures with their preloaded effect library. Let’s take a closer look!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Amaran 150c single-point RGBWW LED light - B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 300c single-point RGBWW LED light — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran Pixel Tube Lights — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Aputure light dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Aputure power station — B&H, Amazon

- Westcott umbrella — Amazon

- Sennheiser MKH 8050 — B&H, Trew, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre audio recorder — B&H, Trew Audio, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rycote PCS Microphone Quick-Release System — B&H

- Canon C70 cinema camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L lens — B&H, Amazon

- Schneider Radiant Soft 1 diffusion filter — B&H

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

NANLITE Forza 60C — Tiny, full color light & talking head lighting ideas

In this week’s episode, we have a look at the NANLITE Forza 60C RGBLAC LED light. This small LED light adds 3 color chips- lime, amber, and cyan- to a traditional red/green/blue LED array for a wide range of output colors. The Forza 60C has several modes, including HSI, RGB, and XY, as well as a color temperature range of 1,800 to 20,000 K. The 60C kit includes the light itself, a few different powering options, an FM to Bowens mount adapter, and 45º reflector; you can also add on a fresnel lens and set of barn doors. In this episode we demonstrate how lights like the Forza 60C can be creatively used in various film projects and scenes.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- NANLITE Forza 60C Full Color RGBLAC LED Light — B&H, Amazon

- NANLITE Fresnel Lens and Barndoors Set for Forza 60C — B&H

- Canon C70 cinema camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L lens — B&H, Amazon

- Schneider Radiant Soft diffusion filter — B&H

- Panasonic GH5 — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35 mm F2.8 Lens — B&H, Amazon

- Aputure P300C LED used as key light — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store

- Aputure LS 300X used for background light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Amaran P60X used for rim light — B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon

- Rosco Gobo creates the pattern on the back wall — B&H

- Sennheiser MKH8050 microphone — B&H, Amazon

- Sound Devices 888 audio recorder/mixer — Trew, B&H, Sweetwater

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2022, Curtis Judd

Innovative Single-Point RGB & Zoom Light: Godox SZ150R

In this episode, we take a look at the new Godox SZ150R RGB and white, zoom-able LED light for video. This is probably the most innovative light I’ve seen in a few years with a single point light source, RGB and tungsten to daylight color tuning as well as the ability to adjust the beam angle from 20 to 65°. Let’s take a closer look!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Support my work creating videos by donating.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Godox SZ150R single point RGBWW Zoom LED light - B&H, Amazon

- Godox SL150W II single point daylight LED light - B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount (Leko style attachment with Bowens mount) - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Aputure Fresnel 2X - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Sekonic C-800 Photo spectrometer - B&H, Amazon

- Earthworks SR314 Microphone - B&H, Sweetwater

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Audio Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Sigma 24-70mm EF f/2.8 DG OS HSM ART Lens - B&H, Amazon

- Schneider Radiant Soft filter - B&H

- Canon C70 camera - B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L IS USM Lens - B&H, Amazon

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

Lupo Kickasspanel Full Color RGBWW LED Light - Versatile Small Light

In this episode, we take a look at the new Lupo Kickasspanel RGBWW LED light. This little professional grade light is designed for on-camera use (e.g., news, walk-up interviews, documentary) but for my corporate video work, I’ll use it more as a hair, rim, or background light. Because of its lensed LED design, it can throw light a lot farther than most other small LEDs on the market, making it a lot more useful. In this review, we take a closer look at the color quality, output, controls, build quality, and powering options.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Support my work creating videos by donating.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Lupo Kickasspanel Full Color - B&H

- Lupo Actionpanel (used as key light in sample shot) - B&H

- Lupo Smartpanel Bi-color on-camera LED Light - B&H, Amazon

- Lupo Superpanel line of pro LED lights - B&H

- Sekonic C-800 Photospectrometer - B&H, Amazon

- Earthworks SR314 Microphone - B&H, Sweetwater

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Audio Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Canon C200 camera - B&H

- Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS Lens - B&H, Amazon

- Canon C70 camera - B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L IS USM Lens - B&H, Amazon

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

Aputure MC RGBWW LED Light for Video and Photography

In today’s episode, we look at the new Aputure MC mini RGBW LED light for video. This little light delivers a great set of features for all sorts of creative lighting for your video and photography projects. Not only can it produce any color of the spectrum with its RGB mode, but it can also be used as a tungsten balanced or daylight balanced light as well. Its tiny form factor make it easy to hide in tight spots and its wireless and USB-C PD fast charging make it convenient for a variety os situations.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode:

Aputure MC RGBW LED Light - B&H Amazon

Sound Devices 633 Mixer/Recorder - B&H

Sennheiser MKH 8050 Microphone - B&H

Aputure Light Dome II Soft Box - B&H

Aputure C120T for the slash of light on the back wall- B&H

Aputure C120DII - B&H Amazon

Anker PowerCore 26,800 USB Battery Bank - Amazon

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H

Sigma ART 24-70mm f/2.8 EF Mount Lens - B&H Amazon

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Lupo Superpanel 60 Series & SSI Color Quality

Jump to 7:40 for coverage of color quality, CRI. TLCI, TM-30-15, and SSI. See why SSI is probably the most useful for most filmmakers when evaluating color quality or matching lights.

See the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences paper describing SSI over at https://www.oscars.org/science-technology/projects/spectral-similarity-index-ssi

Lupo is an Italian company which makes LED lighting for video and photography, mainly targeting the studio and professional markets. I’ve worked with their previous LED Fresnel DayLED and Superpanel 30 lights. In fact, the Superpanel Full Color 30 is a staple in my lighting kit. In this episode, we take a look at their newest Superpanels - the Full Color 60 and Dual Color 60. These are 1x2 LED panels that pack a lot of punch.

I also recently added a Sekonic C-800 color meter/spectrometer to my kit so that we can evaluate lights for our reviews. The C-800 measures color quality using CRI, TLCI, TM-30-15, and most importantly, the new SSI metric. SSI stands for Spectral Similarity Index. We cover why this is probably the most useful metric for assessing color quality vs. the others we have used in the past.

#Lighting #LED #Filmmaking

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at https://school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Great 1x2’ LED panel light that works great not only as an effects light, but also as a key or rim.

Lupo Superpanel Dual Color 60 - Same as above but without the RGB capabilities and this one has more light output. I only need to set it to about 8% on the dimmer for most head and shoulders shots.

Aputure COB 120DII (Amazon) - used as one of the background lights

Lupo Superpanel Full Color 30 - a staple in my lighting kit for the last year. Great not only for its color effects, but also as a key, rim, fill, or flood.

Sekonic C-800 Color Meter/Spectrometer

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens (Amazon)

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the talking head and most of the product shots

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.

CAME TV RGB Ring Light - Boltzen Cassiopeia C-50

In this episode, we have a look at the new foldable ring light from CAME-TV, the Boltzen Cassiopeia C-50. This is both an RGB light which can produce any color on the spectrum plus also be used as a daylight or tungsten balanced light for more traditional lighting. Interesting concept and an interesting light. Let’s take a closer look!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

Came-TV Boltzen Cassiopeia Ring Lights

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - I used this to record most of this episode

Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 OIS Lens (Amazon) - Used on the Pocket 4K camera

Aputure AL-MW (Amazon) - tiny, waterproof background light in talking head shots

Lupo Superpanel 30 Full Color - Pro level RGB background panel light in some of the product shots

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Music Copyright 2019 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.

Falcon Eyes RX-718 RGB Light Review

RGB LED lights for video and film were one of the big themes at the National Association of Broadcasters show in 2018. Here’s my first experience with an RGB mat light from Falcon Eyes, the RX-718. The mat measures approximately 24 by 18 inches and is only a few millimeters thick. But this light can do more than just put out crazy saturated colors across the spectrum, it is also produces color quality good enough to use as a key light where rendering skin tones faithfully is the goal.

Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:

Falcon Eyes RX-718 RGB Mat Light

Falcon Eyes RX-718TD LED Mat Light (Bi Color)

Panasonic GH5s Camera - my favorite small camera for video

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s

Sennheiser MKH 8050 Boom Microphone

Sound Devices 633 Audio Field Mixer/Recorder

Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd 

Music - MzA - Copyright 2017 by Cary Judd, used with permission