36 Led Light for Cams - Int'l

by Sima

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 4.8 x 2.2 inches ; 2.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0026S3GTQ
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: SL-20LX-I
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

Sima SL-20LX LED Video Light SL-20LX-I Lights & Flashes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not just for international use!, November 9, 2009

By 

S. Greenberg (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 36 Led Light for Cams - Int'l (Electronics)

FORGET THE INTERNATIONAL PART. This is a light for domestic US use that you can also use internationally. It should completely replace the Sima SL-20LX, and addresses all it's primary deficiency: the SL-20LXI can be used with the AC Power plugged in, unlike the LX.

After buying 3 Sima SL-20LX, I discovered that you couldn't run the light on the AC Charger. When you plug the charger in with the LX version, it cuts the light out while it's charging.

During an interview, my lights started flashing and then went dead. Then you have to wait for it to charge before you can use it again.

NOT SO WITH THE SL-20LXI! The LXI comes with a nifty charger with interchangable plugs which work I presume in Europe and other countries with 220 volts AS WELL AS US 120 volts, and I imagine it's a constant regulated voltage charger. As such, Sima seems to have changed the circuitry so the power from the battery no longer cuts out to the light while you're charging. BUT ONLY ON THE LXI VERSION. The power supply doesn't help with the LX at all. So now I have 3 LXes, and 3 LXIs. Well, you can never have too much light.

These things put out a lot of light, especially for their size. I'd estimate color temperature at around 4500K, but it white balances well on its own, and works well with florescents, which thanks to compact light bulbs, are really really common. I've bought 3200K gels when I'm mixing with incandescents, though that does give a nice warm fill with the 4500K white balance

The light interlocks with other 20LX and 20LXI lights, and is simply the most amazing value in video lighting today. I also like that they're cool to the touch, and if I have to use them on battery power alone, they last a little under an hour. The throw isn't too far, so they're not going to replace your 50 watt halogens, but for 15 feet and under, they do beautifully with my Canon HG-21 for interviews. They also pack small enough to carry a bunch of them, so if you need to light a larger area, you can discretely tape them up or put them around with light stands. The light is fairly soft even with the highish color temp, the built in you-don't-have-a-choice diffuser having a really nice dispersion.

Since the lights interlock, if you really do want a ton of light on top of your camera, you can interlock as many of these things as you want. I've tried 5 of them on top of the camera, and it lights up a really wide area with 180 LEDs. For [...] 5 (or thereabouts) that's a lot of light. The Sima SL-20LXI is the most practical, amazing value in lighting I've seen and I love using it. There is one drawback. You can't change the battery. Sorry. But they're almost as cheap as a lithium-ion battery alone. Not enough of a drawback for me to dock it a star though.

Also, I had to get a cold shoe adaptor to use it with my Canon HG-21. You can find those here: [...] and here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AHUPRA (same company either way).

Summary: Epic WIN!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for home video.., March 9, 2010

By 

Ben N "Saigonese" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 36 Led Light for Cams - Int'l (Electronics)

This video light is bright. I like how light and compact it is. This is one of the good accessories for new modern video camcorders, small and light for any shooting situation. This light model works from the built-in battery and from plug-in power as well. I haven't had a chance to test life the battery for continuous shooting and on/off use yet. But with the option to use when plug-in, you can save the charge when shooting an indoor interviews. Also, with this option the light is not a total uselessness if the built-in battery dies. The price is very inexpensive. You can pay a lot more for other products which produce the same mount of light. I'm pleased with the purchase so far.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love these lights!, March 3, 2010

By 

Fred Von Graf - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 36 Led Light for Cams - Int'l (Electronics)

I have four of these lights and love them! They are great additions to your field video kit and a couple of them combined work great. The international version does support multiple outlets and voltages, but the real advantage and reason to buy it is that the light can run on the AC power! The other version (US only) turns off if you plug it in while trying to run it, and when the battery is running low the light starts to flash. Spend the extra and get the international model. Highly recommended!