Brad <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> You may already know this, but some of these HID lights have a very narrow
> beam of light. My Light Cannon is very bright, but so narrow, that it's
> practically a laser. It might work ok for macro, but not for wide angle.
> Also, the light has a definite blue color. And like you said, it would be a
> juggling act, to use it as a photo light - if you don't have a third hand.

Sorry, I don't know whether the intent is to use this as a still
camera lighting device or a video lighting device.

If the intent is to use it for a still camera you're going to be
limited to manual photography only. Since the camera cannot quench the
HID you will not be able to use TTL. Like, I would think, most I
consider TTL a very desirable option in your bag of still photography tricks.

Either way the narrowness of beam is a significant problem. I know
next to nothing about u/w video photography but I've noticed that
conventional (consumer) video lights are often lacking in beam spread
as well as power. All the more so, then, HIDs at least as far as
spread is concerned.

As for colour temperature, you're quite right. Expect some
significantly unnatural results in all depths except that one where
the colour temperature of the light is neutralised by the depth.

Conventional strobes/video lights are usually pretty close to the +/-
5000 Kelvin range (some very sophisticated, thus very expensive,
strobes such as <subtronic> of Germany give you a choice) which
temperature is significantly warmer than those HIDs. Mind, you could
always use a diffuser which will give a greater spread and "warm up"
the light. Not really a problem since HIDs are pretty powerful but it
still does not overcome the lack of TTL (for still cameras). As well,
it adds to the complexity of it all.

I wrote something on this not that long ago (colour temperatures etc
in the u/w environment). For anyone interested please contact me privately.

Cheers,

Christian