Boltzen LED vs. Dedo DLH4

[@ChrisLeeX]

Your writing/script is so tightly superb.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Thank you kindly.

[@jonnham]

Thank you! Best review I've seen on this light. Thanks for all the work.

[@MichaelASchwarz]

Well done review. Surprised you don't have more subscribers. You deserve it.

[@thedigitalemotion]

I've just bought a set of used 3 Dedos complete with stands & filters in perfect condition for £750. I was almost going to buy the boltzen but to be honest, it would be pretty silly to spend more on them when the Dedos are tried and trusted and I don't mind bulbs or plugging them in, all I care about is quality of light, how well they perform.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

At that price, you nearly stole them! Great decision. Many times it comes down to cost, as both of these tools perform similarly enough. My Dedo is still a favorite accent light, and worth every penny.

[@thedigitalemotion]

@@AwesomeShotStudios Brilliant, Thanks man, I can't wait to use them! :)

[@lamosos]

Thank you so much for this review. EXACTLY what I was looking for.

[@jasonctsa]

Thanks for the review. I love using dedo lights but the Boltzen is going to be my new light.

[@Dornlongphotography_films]

Best review out!

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Music to my ears. Thanks, Dorn-Long Films. Happy shooting.

[@Dornlongphotography_films]

I am really wondering were to go with my wedding reception lighting at this point. I want something that is portable, easy to setup and use (i've been using big light banks and I want to move away from that). I am between the Boltzen 55w, Comer 1800, and this facebook group I'm in suggests the yongnuo 300's. I know all these require a CTO filter for tungsten color balance but I know no other solution. What are your thoughts? Your opinion would help greatly.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

If money is not an issue, the Practilite 602 has all the features you'll want (including working WiFi). The Boltzen is bright, but until the Wi-Fi app is working, I'm not sure I'd recommend it, since you'll be mounting it high up. Comer has no remote, but is a popular choice on a budget. You can also buy a cheap Lowel Prolight, along with a dimmer. It might not have a battery option, but is cheap, powerful, and the smallest option. I've used it on weddings for years (before I got my Dedo). If you bug CAME-TV about the Wi-Fi, they might speed up the release, and then I can recommend it with fewer reservations.

[@Dornlongphotography_films]

Awesome thanks! Very detailed and very helpful! I also just found the Godox SL series...I will be making a decisions here soon...again thank you! I subbed and liked...

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Godox would make a great key light for interviews, I have a similar one by Alzo Digital. But you'll probably want a battery option for weddings, as you're not always close to an outlet, and running cables adds time and risks of trip hazzards (plus, you can't pick it up and move it around as quickly).

[@videocasetteTV]

Kindly may you create tutorials about low key lighting and noir lighting by using came. Tv fixtures

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

I own only one CAME-TV fixture, which wouldn't allow me to do a proper tutorial on noir/low-key lighting. Sorry.

[@yayitze]

The DLED4 and DLED7 are the best dedolight LED lights on the market have you tried?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Haven't tried them, but their price puts them in a different league.

[@yayitze]

@@AwesomeShotStudios Yep they are costly.. but you would not buy another light for 10 years, their standars on lumen and color consistency are impressive. for how long have you had the DLH4s?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

@@yayitze Over 8 years. She's a lovely light...but hot as a frying pan.

[@williamsparkes]

Nice review, enjoyable to listen to, well-informed. Long time user of Dedos. Concerned about fan noise on larger output lights in an average sized room using a Sennheiser MHK416 on a boom. I like to buy higher power lights, I can always dim them if needed, I can't add what I don't have. Considering the bicolor 100watt... You say they have fans, their website says they are fanless?? Keep up the good work...

[@OrenArieli]

Thanks Bill. There is a fan on the 55w, which is the unit I have. The 30w is fanless, as is the 100watt (according to their site). I'm also a stickler for quiet operation, and I can assure you that this fan is nearly silent past 2 feet, and unobtrusive even at 1 ft. Unless you're using an omni mic that close to the light, you shouldn't hear the fan at all. With your MHK416 on a boom, it's unlikely you'll have a light that close to your talent. That being said, I always record room tone, which can be used for noise cancellation as well as covering audio edits.

[@davidp158]

Can you mount the light "upside down" on the yoke so the controls are on the bottom? Have you been able to test the WiFi feature yet?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Yes and yes. The Wi-Fi app is buggy for me, and no longer works. Implementation is horrible with my Android phone. You might have better luck with yours.

[@davidp158]

​@@AwesomeShotStudios Remote control of lights is super handy when adjusting light while behind the camera. That's one of the reasons I'm a fan of my Aputure lights, 3 of which share a common remote control.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

@@davidp158 Agreed. I have a few remote lights with dedicated remotes, which I prefer over buggy apps that need to create a Wi-Fi connection. Aputure is doing it right.

[@davidp158]

Thanks for your review. Good to know the light doesn't flicker at high frame rates. A couple pesky questions for ya: 1. How loud is the fan? Some reviewers mention it could be a problem for interviews in a small room. 2. Any thoughts on the lower power 30 watt model with does not have a fan? 3. Does the yoke connection allow adequate support for the weight of a softbox? 4. Which softbox do you use, and is an optional mounting ring required to attach the softbox? Regarding the position of the knobs, would it help to mount the light upside down so that the knobs face downwards? The LED display will be upside down, of course.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

The fan is nearly silent, which means beyond 2 ft. you can't hear it at all. Depending on what you're using it for, the 30 watt will probably be underpowered, especially if you pass it through a softbox. I always go for more power figuring it will be cut whenever I need to diffuse or color correct. I honestly wish this unit was twice as powerful, but I already have a 200w LED key light that does the heavy lifting. The yoke as it stands is too weak for a large softbox, but I've been told that a new yoke design with notched stops is in the works. Best to ask the reps at CAME-TV to verify that those are being shipped. You will need to purchase the optional Bowens mount adaptor to use your Bowens type accessories. It is NOT included. The one I showed in this video is a Photoflex small softbox that I had for previous lights. I've also attached a striplight and grid that was larger, but it strained the ability of the lock knobs, so I don't recommend that you do that. Yes, you can mount the entire rig upside down, but if you're powering it from the mains, your cord will hang awkwardly from the top of the unit, and any tension it causes will probably tilt the light. Not ideal, but a minor complaint.

[@xakhuh5104]

The wifi app has been available on the iOS App Store for several weeks. I just don't know what wifi dongle I'm supposed to purchase.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

I heard back from the reps at Came-TV, who assure me they are still working on the WiFi functionality. As of Feb 4th, it's still manual control only.

[@reyesmontemayor6998]

I'm looking for a light with enough throw to film speeches at about 50 ft away. I plan on using the barn doors to shape the light on the speakers only. With this be powerful enough or will I need to look elsewhere? The price is right which is why I'm looking at this option.

[@OrenArieli]

You'll need something with a lot more punch. This is unlikely to do the job in a corporate situation, and will only likely be sufficient in a wedding situation in a very dark room. Once you throw on the CTO filter, you're cutting the output by a stop, so keep that in mind (if you're working in a tungsten environment). The Aputure 120t (tungsten) or 120d (daylight) plus a fresnel attachment would be better options here, but the price is at least double, before adding the accessories. Factor in a v-mount battery and charger, and you're probably better off with a good old 650w tungsten fresnel that are cheap and easy to find used. It won't give you the battery option, but you'll get the output you need.

[@reyesmontemayor6998]

Thank you for the info.

[@IronFilmVR]

How does this compare against the Aputure LS-C20 & 120T?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

IronFilmVR , I haven't had either of those units, so you'll have to check the specs. I'm reasonably sure that the 120t is the brightest unit of the three.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

I'd love to test them head to head. Maybe Aputure can send me one of each? Of course, the 120t at twice the power of the Boltzen 55w should be significantly brighter. I know that Aputure makes some of the most color accurate LEDs on the market, so they are a safe bet in most cases.

[@NeilAngeloLightman]

Thanks for the review! Question, how accurate is the orange filter as tungsten? is it true 3200 kelvin?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

I haven't actually used that plastic filter, mostly because you have to remove the front housing to put the filter between the chip and the fresnel glass. It's slow and cumbersome. I've already given feedback to CAME-TV about that issue. I have 1/4, 1/2, and full CTO filters that I can throw on the front to adjust the color temperature.

[@cunninghamprod]

Thanks for the video! I've been using my dedo w/ the projection attachment to put gobos behind interviewees. I've been looking for an LED replacement. Using the Boltzen mounting ring adapter, do you think I could attach the dedo projection to the 55W? Just a thought re the dimmer/on off switch on the top of the unit: couldn't you mount the light upside down?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

cunninghamprod I don't have the projection adapter, so I'm not sure they are compatible. The Dedo's optics are probably better suited to creating a clean gobo projection. Mounting the Boltzen upside-down is an option, but I'm still waiting on the promised Wi-Fi control. Not too happy with the delay on it.

[@BarefootMediaTV]

can you get patterns / cookies to fit into the lights that give you shapes like blinds and other things?

[@OrenArieli]

You could probably make them yourself, but without the proper focal-length projection accessories, it would be worthless to place them against the lens. You can make a cutout (cookie/cucalorus) and move it further from the light to project a pattern, but as this isn't a true fresnel instrument, you're not likely to get a very sharply defined image. So the short answer: no, don't bother.

[@MyNycable]

Can I use the dedolight DP-1 Projection attachment on the CAME-TV Boltzen 100w Fresnel Fanless Focusable LED Bi-Color?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

You might be able to, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be a direct attachment, and it might not work with the fresnel optics of the Boltzen. They don't use the same front mount, although jerry-rigging something shouldn't be too difficult. If I had the DP-1, or knew someone with it, I'd be able to test it out for you.

[@MyNycable]

Thank you!

[@pronunta]

Hi, I want to use this light for wedding photography, which is ok, 55w or 30W? 55w work with battery NP-970 ???

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

pronunta, get the 55 watt and the largest batteries. Not all aftermarket batteries supply enough current, so test them out before your shoot.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

It's never a bad idea to start with more light, since you always have the option to reduce the output. As mentioned in the video, the NP970 should work with the 55w version, but I've heard some people had issues with certain aftermarket batteries. I didn't have any problems.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

I'm not even sure of the brand, it's a generic 7.4v that I've had for ages. Ironically, the Sony OEM battery I tried couldn't power the light at 100%. But age could be a factor. Wish I could give you a specific brand to try, but I'd be guessing. As you surmised, the amperage is crucial, since you're asking for quite a bit of current from these small batteries.

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

A/C adapter, d-tap adapter is included.

[@mapioskoloni9784]

How much of an issue is the fan during interviews?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Mapios koloni, It's not an issue unless your microphone is less than a foot away. In most of the rooms I shoot, the HVAC is much more of a problem.

[@RazorsRide]

What was the distance you did those measurements at please?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Thomas Balet , I believe it was at 6 ft. away.

[@niklaskolb8345]

Just flip the Light then you have the controls at the bottom

[@OrenArieli]

When the WiFi app is running, that shouldn't be an issue. But hanging the unit upside down means the power cable pulls on the back (possibly tilting the light). The yoke they sent me was a version 1 without a rosette, so it's not easy to tighten completely. They are now sending the newest yoke, which might help with that problem as well.

[@Cactustone]

Great Video! I'm wondering if the Boltzen 30 might be good as an accent light in a tight space? I have 4ft between the talent and the wall, and using a 3-point setup with Flex 1x1 LED panels I'm getting pretty strong shadows on the wall. Very distracting. Would the Boltzen be a good choice when aimed at the wall behind the talent to eliminate the shadows created by the Flex panels placed in front of the talent?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

It would make a decent accent light, although you have to be careful when adding more lights to a scene, as you're potentially casting more shadows too. You might need a more diffuse source on your background, higher angle for your key, or more distance between key and subject.

[@Cactustone]

AwesomeShot Studios Thank you!

[@Avidcomp]

Shouldn't you be comparing the Boltzen with the DLED4.1 ?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

If I had one, I'd compare it. I can only compare what I own unless someone wants to send me a unit for review.

[@jeremyfoster8726]

this work for video testimonial videos?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Technically, it will work for almost any kind of video. The key is, how will you use it? As a main light, it's not ideal, as a fill, hair or scratch light, it's more suitable.

[@jeremyfoster8726]

AwesomeShot Studios 50 watt wouldn't work as key ?

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

It really depends on the ambient light levels, the look you want, and if you plan on softening the key through diffusion. It's bright when fully zoomed to a tight beam, but that makes for a very hard key. Too harsh for most scenarios...and blinding for your talent. Throw it in a softbox, and you'll quickly find out how much light is lost. I would step up to a 100w LED or even larger if you're going to use it that way. I'm not saying it can't work, but there are so many variables. I use a 200w LED (1200w tungsten equivalent) for my key lights. Throw on a 2x3 softbox and grid and the output is cut drastically. You can see how I use this in my interview setup in another video I just shot: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iofJqXijrq2GfcU

[@jeremyfoster8726]

I do'nt plan on filming in dark rooms like that. I just plan on actually being in more natural places like an office, or inside a business where stuff is happening. nothing too fancy

[@jeremyfoster8726]

I suppose i should look into the 100w version of Boltzen? What's a good softbox to grab?

[@williamsparkes]

Agree, poor placement of knobs on top...were these designed by real-world users?? I dunno...

[@AwesomeShotStudios]

Bill Sparkes Sadly, that seems to be the case with too many video-related products.