Accurate shadowing The ultra-density of the five-colour (red, green, blue, amber and white) LED lights avoids annoying micro shadows – which can require diffusers on regular thin LED light strips – and increases the relative brightness to a consistent 2000 lumens. They can add colour interest to bland scenes, for example dramatic underlighting which Magee used a lot in the test shoot. When it comes to illumination, Magee says there’s more than enough light for most uses, inside and/or in the evening. “Given the low light levels most of us work in at night, it’s been necessary to dim the Sun Dragons way, way down more often than to turn them to 100%,” he says. “They have plenty of punch.” Each Sun Dragon comes with a spiral carry case, with metal mounting options on the rear and magnetic removable diffuser covers for more traditional light panel use. What’s more, they are fully dust proof, water-resistant and waterproof to a depth of one metre. Rain, spray and accidental spillage pose no threat to this all-weather light which can cope with desert or beach environments without issue. “Unlike any of my other lights, the Sun Dragons can be set out in the rain and powered by V-Lock batteries, making them very versatile.” Magee was also pleasantly surprised by how rugged the lights felt. “Typically, lights can be quite delicate objects and prone to accidental breakage when
moved around. The fact you can just roll up the Sun Dragon made it feel it would be less likely to get damaged easily.”
Precision control Power is nothing without precision control, so Sun Dragon’s RGBAW design comes with an active controller with a large display, and wireless/wired DMX remote control allowing for nearly any hue on the colour wheel to be mixed during operation. Basic set-up for brightness, colour, hue and RGB channels is available via Atomos AirGlu devices. Sun Dragon is also Bluetooth compatible for DMX control from iPad and iPhone apps. “Just having these lights in my kit makes it so easy to get shots I usually would not have time to set up,” Magee reports. “Additionally, I can add incidental colour to shots quickly. The control and accuracy means that less correction is needed in post-production, saving more time and money.” The new lights can be controlled using Atomos monitor-recorders with AirGlu, and the brand-new Ninja Phone, allowing shots to be set up quickly and accurately. This degree of lighting control delivers immediate visual feedback to the cinematographer and eliminates checking and re-checking, which is especially important for HDR. “Creative videographers and photographers have options we never had before,” says Magee. “As I work with
the Sun Dragon and find new uses, I can see it becoming an indispensable part of my kit, helping me create feature- level lighting for corporate shoots. Sun Dragon can make me more competitive by adding dramatic features at relatively little extra cost, and save me time too.” SUN DRAGON’S control and accuracy MEANS LESS CORRECTION IN POST, saving time & money ”
47
definitionmags
Powered by FlippingBook