lighting for subject while shooting in steadicam

[aruneeshvaran]

how will you control the lighting for subject while shooting in steadicam

and there any specific style

Lighting

[AndySchwartz]

hey

 

i guess that would depend on what and how you are shooting this subject. try to be more specific about your shot dilemma.

 

kinoflo and lite panels make ringlights for the front of a camera lens. they work pretty well depending on your ambient light.

 

try searching the forum for topics on the ringlights and litepanels.

 

and i am not sure why you stuck this question in the follow focus threads but i guess depending on your light situation you will going to have to deal with focus a bit regardless...

[Charles Papert]

Yeah, this is honestly too broad and realistically belongs more in the sister forum cinematography.com if anything.

[JobScholtze]

I use a litepanel. But i am searching for a way to control the dimmer. Wireless.

 

Any one?

[Martin Stacey]

I use a litepanel. But i am searching for a way to control the dimmer. Wireless.

 

Any one?

 

 

Chrosziel Aladin builds a dimmer control

 

http://www.anthrazit-design.com/pdf/l_Aladin.pdf

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

Edited September 24, 2007 by Martin Stacey

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

I use a litepanel. But i am searching for a way to control the dimmer. Wireless.

 

Any one?

 

Hi Job, same Litepanels just came out with a new DMX control system that will work with ANY litepanels unit.

Check at their homepage

 

Fabrizio

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

I use a litepanel. But i am searching for a way to control the dimmer. Wireless.

 

Any one?

 

Hi Job, same Litepanels just came out with a new DMX control system that will work with ANY litepanels unit.

Check at their homepage

 

Fabrizio

Ops, looks like hardwired :ph34r:

[Jerry Holway]

I use a litepanel. But i am searching for a way to control the dimmer. Wireless.

 

Any one?

Job-

 

10-15 years ago I used a spare focus motor to rotate the dimmer control knob on an on-board light.

 

If you can add a .8M (32 pitch) gear to the dimmer knob, so much the better, but double stick foam tape works fine on the knob as well.

 

I even remember the idea of slaving the light to the focus using two motors running off one controller (easy to do with the Bartech these days) so as you got closer, the light dimmed... but I don't think we ever used that option.

 

Jerry

[JobScholtze]

thx all.

The Chrosziel option is a bit expensive. The litepanel is indeed hard wired and there not coming with the wireless version.

Jerry's option could work, but then i have to change the dimmer knob becose its so damn small.

 

Its stupid though, becose the litepanel has the dmx plug on the side. I do a lot of live television shows like idols, popstars and so on. It would be ideal if the lightman could control my ledlight. I KNOW its around, just cant find it

[Kevin Krautle]

Well if the light panel has DMX (or by accessory), that opens up a whole set of options, WIRELESS DMX!!!

 

Keep in mind, usually you have to buy a wireless set and a controller, but the wireless set will work with any lighting console. Just remember that DMX is a Push protocol, meaning that there is one sender and multiple receivers, and like a video signal it sends a constant signal, and is only one way (so a no no for PYRO!). One bit of warning if you are looking into some of the wireless remote focus control units, they are usually not dmx, but a wireless controller for the console, ETC's for example is one.

 

Some quick googleing provides:

http://www.wirelessdmx.com/ - Provides also in OEM if needed. 2.4 ghz

http://www.theatrewireless.com/ - 2.4 ghz

http://www.citytheatrical.com/ - Provides also in OEM if needed 2.4 ghz

http://www.chauvetlighting.com/fixtures/dmxdfi_fix.shtml - 900 mhz

 

There are many others, just have to look a little.

 

For controlling:

Well any DMX controller will work, all that matters is size.

http://www.stagelightingstore.com/s.nl/sc....tegory.34523/.f - Huge assortment

 

If it is only one channel needed, you could even use a dmx tester.

http://www.americandj.com/product.asp?Prod...her_Controllers - $50

http://www.anytronics.com/download/lig_con...005_anytest.pdf - little more.

 

Remember there are 2 types of DMX connectors XLR 3 pin, and XLR 5 PIN, in the 5 pin connector only 3 pins are used, the other two are left empty which are usually used for color changers power. More than that, NEVER USE A AUDIO CABLE for DMX, because the wiring inside is different.

 

Job, for your live tv jobs that use controlled lighting, the wireless dmx is all you need for them to control the light. Then again it is another signal in the air, fun fun fun!

 

Oh one last thing, you only need 1 wireless set for all the lights on your rig, because DMX-512 by its very nature, has 512 channels of control each with 255 levels of intensity on each channel. So multiple lights is not an issue. Talk to the lighting guys and they will jack you in, the way works best for them. Lastly the DMX channel setting is not the Frequency setting, they are 2 different but important things.

 

-Kevin

 

[EDIT - Updated to include OEM's, they are a lot smaller]

Edited September 26, 2007 by Kevin Krautle

[JobScholtze]

wow, thats very helpfull

 

Thx a lot. Lets see what i can dig up here

[Kevin Krautle]

Just a few more general things about DMX,

 

To clarify how dmx works. The Lighting console (or controller) is usually the sole place of transmission for a lighting setup. Meaning that all the DMX signal comes from it, and is split and looped through lights until the end. What the wireless set does is take the dmx signal just transmits it over radio as a bridge.

 

But as with the Steadicam, Lighting has gone 10 fold in complexity. At one time 512 channels of control was enough, but when you have 100's of martin intelligent lights each consuming about 16-24 channels each, you run out very quickly. So what the lighting manufacturers did was add universes to the lighting consoles, 1,2,3,4,5.... up to 9 now I think. A universe is just another DMX Port, with another set of 512 channels. Meaning that if there is 9 plugs on the back of the console for all the lights needed, you get over 4500 channels on 9 circuits instead of 512 just on 1.

 

So what does that do with us? Well since only so many lights can be put on the Steadicam, you will never get close to a single universe of channels used. So when shopping for a wireless bridge, only 1 universe is needed.

 

 

So say if you are on a film set instead of a large MTV type production, thats when a portable controller is needed because you need something control/produce the signal. If you only need 1 channel of control just get a tester for 50 bucks. Or for the same price you can get a usb to dmx adapter, and control everything from the computer.

 

Hope it helps.

 

BTW I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of your old rig Job, at the May SOA Course in Pennsylvania, David's good people. My theater knowledge is finally paying off I think. But then again remembering all the different types of lighting connectors, eeeek.

 

-Kevin