Another area in which technology has marched on has been in the use of LED lighting for moving picture productions. The advantages of LED lights are many over traditional hot lights, and include less power draw for more illumination, the ability to change the colour temperature of the light output at the turn of a dial, smaller size, less weight and the eradication of the need to change lamp bulbs when they blow. LED lights are certainly here to stay and the positive effect on the environment alone in using less power is something to be applauded. They are not the magic bullet that does everything, of course, but they are now highly sophisticated and here to stay.

A few years ago there were only a few notable major manufacturers who were cornering most of the available LED lighting market and being quite robust in their defence of their position. Now it seems the choice of LED lighting is immense with many different qualities of construction and colour control. So a new LED light is now not as big a headline as it was even two or three years ago.

One lamp does jump out in recent months and I mentioned above about the Rosco Silk 210 LED light and this needs closer attention. The biggest factors in which LED lights are measured and compared are: quality of the colour temperature output of the light; the physical amount of light emitted per Watt of input current; and also the size and weight of the unit. In all these areas the Silk light excels, and when it becomes available I’m sure it will be the first choice for most DOP’s looking for quality LED lighting fixtures. Take a look for yourself.