Affordable video light panel?

Does it have to be a panel light? I have a variety of lights (including a small panel light that is about 8x10 inches), but the lights I use the most are softboxes. And the softboxes I use the most are really inexpensive. I got them about 3 years ago and am very gentle with them, but I have taken them to shoots and they are holding up fine. And they are so cheap -- a pair of softboxes with two crappy stands costs US$81. (Note that there is currently a $5 coupon, so the price is actually $76.) Here's what I have and I really do use them all the time: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082XPZPS9

This particular light is adjustable to 3 color temperatures: 3200K, 4000K and 5000K. The 5000K mixes fine with daylight through a window. The lights run continuously without making much heat -- I did a timelapse video of a flower blossoming and used one of these lights. It was on for a couple weeks continuously.

Here is a short video I shot of me in my closet, using two of these lights: https://youtu.be/V0lMuwuyDSU There was also some daylight coming from a skylight over my head.

The stands that come with these lights are really cheap and flimsy, but they work. That said, I recommend getting a couple of decent light stands at $35-40 each.

A big enough panel light that will have soft shadows will be a fairly heavy and expensive device. I think that softboxes are a better solution for you.

BobKo wrote:

Here is a short video I shot of me in my closet, using two of these lights: https://youtu.be/V0lMuwuyDSU

You are a wild man, Bob!!!

Magnar W wrote:

The main use is a single talking head, not more than half figure, and I want to use the panel as main light in low light situations, and as fill light when the room lightning is decent, like light from windows at bright daytime.

Un-diffused daylight coming through a window CAN be very bright, and any lower-cost light might have a hard time acting as a fill light.

If there is plenty of "light from windows at bright daytime," it might be best to use a reflector for fill.

Otherwise, you might have to use a lot of diffusion over the window light (or even ND film) to bring the window light levels down low enough so that the fill light would be noticeable.

A couple other thoughts:

Panel lights are great for when you are in cramped areas and a softbox / umbrella would intrude in to the shot.

Single-color LED lights (whether panel lights or COB (chip on board) tend to be brighter than bi-color or variable color LED lights.

And finally, from what I can tell / have tested personally, COB lights give you a lot more light for your buck. Although I have only had a couple of Yongnuo LED panels, they were not very powerful. Also COB lights tend to be more flexible in terms of being able to create "hard" light and soft light (but you will need to invest in an umbrella or softbox to get softer light). It is pretty difficult to create hard light from an LED panel.

Anyway, hope this helps. Apologies in advance.

I found Yongnuo YN300 to be nearly perfect, they come white and also in RGB colors. They have various settings, work off standard Sony batteries and are generally very reliable and budget efficient.

StoneJack wrote:

I found Yongnuo YN300 to be nearly perfect, they come white and also in RGB colors. They have various settings, work off standard Sony batteries and are generally very reliable and budget efficient.

Not to be argumentitive, but my experience with yongnuo LED lights has been kind of a bummer

I haven't used the YN300.

I do have two of the YN600 daylight panels and unfortunately the retaining clips for the batteries on the back began breaking off almost immediately.

On one of the led panels, I can only use one battery (they normally take two) so it only runs at half power.

I have tried getting an AC adapter for it, but can't seem to find the right adapter (I have purchased several on Amazon that claimed to be compatible with the YN600 but they weren't).

Some people seem to get pretty soft light from LED panels. Unfortunately, my DNA appears to be missing the gene for that particular talent.

Sean Nelson wrote:

Off The Mark wrote:

I have tried getting an AC adapter for it, but can't seem to find the right adapter (I have purchased several on Amazon that claimed to be compatible with the YN600 but they weren't).

Was the problem an incompatible connector or insufficient power? Many of these light panels require a much beefier AC adapter than what you typically see. Be sure to look for one that not only outputs the correct voltage but also has a least as high an amp rating as the light requires.

As far as I could tell, it was the amp rating (if I remember correctly).  I don't know whether yongnuo has any official customer service in the US or not. I asked around on the yongnuo Facebook group and no one had a suggestion on which adapter to buy.

Isn't there a label on the light with something like

14.4V xamps ? Or maybe 7.2V since it still runs on one?

BandH mentions an optional AC adapter. I'd drop them a question.

NickZ2016 wrote:

Isn't there a label on the light with something like

14.4V xamps ? Or maybe 7.2V since it still runs on one?

BandH mentions an optional AC adapter. I'd drop them a question.

Hi there, Nick:

Thanks for asking. Here is what is written on the panel (the red text on white background is just me spelling it out in photoshop):

So just DC 12V, 5 Amps Max.

Outer sleeve is negative (or is it called ground???), and inner pin is Positive

I don't know exactly what the dimensions of the pin slot are. I think they are a "standard" size, right?

One of the adapters I remember trying was this one off of Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OHHTTVS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If memory serves, the AC adapter output was around 2.7 Watts or so. I am pretty sure that the ground / positive configuration was correct.

I have TWO of the YN600L lights and on the light with the broken battery retaining tabs, the light wouldn't power on at all when using this adapter.

On the other light (where there are still enough battery retaining tabs to keep the batteries in place), the light would power on but only about 50 percent of the brightness or so. If I recall correctly, once you turn up the power on the light past 50% or so, it would shut off. At least, that is what I am FAIRLY CERTAIN what happened. I tested it out back in October of 2021, so been a while.

This was without batteries in the battery slots.

Sean Nelson wrote:

Off The Mark wrote:

I have tried getting an AC adapter for it, but can't seem to find the right adapter (I have purchased several on Amazon that claimed to be compatible with the YN600 but they weren't).

Was the problem an incompatible connector or insufficient power? Many of these light panels require a much beefier AC adapter than what you typically see. Be sure to look for one that not only outputs the correct voltage but also has a least as high an amp rating as the light requires.

Just wanted to follow up a bit. I did include a photo fo the back of the LED panel to show the power requirements. And I did link to the Amazon page for the adapter I tried but that didn't work.

One thing I noticed is that there aren't any "OFFICIAL" amp specs given in the description. Way back in 2015, some people asked how many amps it output, and the seller said it was 5 Amps (and up to 12 volts).

But I swear that the unit I got was only around 2.7 Amps.

Also, the seller description said that the adapter is made / sold by Yongnuo, but there were no markings on it from yongnuo.

Often those battery powered lights will run on lower voltage. The weaker the battery gets the less likely it'll hit the full voltage but ya an actual 12V adapter would be best.

https://amzn.to/3Ebymdb

You'd need to make sure the plug is right.

Sean Nelson wrote:

Off The Mark wrote:

Way back in 2015, some people asked how many amps it output, and the seller said it was 5 Amps (and up to 12 volts).

When you buy an A/C adapter, you need the get the voltage exactly right and buy a unit that can supply at least as many amps as the device requires. So if your light is marked 12V / 5A then you need an adapter with 12V and 5 or more A.

Thanks for that.

The back of the light (as i understand it) says 12Volts and 5Amps MAX input.

Which is what I honestly THOUGHT the adapter I bought was going to have when I bought it.

I just don't understand why the light has a MAX input level for volts and amps, but no minimum level stated on the light.

NickZ2016 wrote:

https://amzn.to/3Ebymdb

You'd need to make sure the plug is right.

Thanks to the link to the power supply. I will measure the jack best I can to ensure it is the right size.

Much obliged.