Extra light for camcorder

[snapware]

I need to pick up an extra light for a camcorder so that when i'm indoors in low light situations i can still film people, anybody know how many watts i would need? or any recommendations? Looking to go to adorama or B&H (nyc) today

[edDV]

I need to pick up an extra light for a camcorder so that when i'm indoors in low light situations i can still film people, anybody know how many watts i would need? or any recommendations? Looking to go to adorama or B&H (nyc) today

Most camcorder manufaturers offer lighting options for their particular models. Some take power off the hot shoe and thus place the power burden on the camcorder battery or external power. Some will work off a camcorder battery. Most third party models have self contained power (batteries or external power supplies). Issues include:

- how does the light get power and how are batteries or power supplies managed.
- 3-6 Watt (consumer models) to 10-20 Watt (prosumer models).
- color temperature of light should match the ambient lighting (incandescent, fluorescent, sunlight)
- wide vs. narrow (longer distance) beam focus. Narrow focus may hot spot a wide shot.

A new type of camcorder light uses white LED's. These need to be matched for color temp and beam focus but may have a good future because of low power consumption and long bulb life. Here is one model.
http://www.camerabright.com/faq.htm