Sony HVL-20DW2 Video Light for use with DCRVX2100, HDRFX1 & FX7

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 3.3 x 3.1 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000063Y73
• Item model number: HVL-20DW2
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #20 in Camera & Photo > Accessories > Professional Video Accessories > Microphones
  • #77 in Camera & Photo > Accessories > Batteries & Chargers > Batteries > Camcorder Batteries
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Sony's HVL-20DW2 double-decker camcorder light shines either 10 watts or 20 watts of light on the scene to help you capture footage in nearly any condition.

• 10 watts (with NP-F330/530/550)
• VCT-S30L Accessory bracket available for camcorders not equipped with mount shoe. See your camcorder's documentation to confirm.
• 10 watt and 20 watt modes (with NP-F730H/750/950)

Compatible Models

CCD-CR1 CCD-SC55 CCD-SC65 CCD-TR3000 CCD-TR3300 CCD-TR514 CCD-TR516 CCD-TR54 CCD-TR555 CCD-TR64 CCD-TR66 CCD-TR67 CCD-TR714 CCD-TR716 CCD-TR74 CCD-TR76 CCD-TR78 CCD-TR814 CCD-TR818 CCD-TR84 CCD-TR86 CCD-TR87 CCD-TR88 CCD-TR910 CCD-TR916 CCD-TR917 CCD-TR930

CCD-TR94 CCD-TR940 CCD-TR96 CCD-TR98 CCD-TR99 CCD-TRV101 CCD-TRV108 CCD-TRV11 CCD-TRV112 CCD-TRV119 CCD-TRV12 CCD-TRV15 CCD-TRV19 CCD-TRV21 CCD-TRV211 CCD-TRV212 CCD-TRV215 CCD-TRV22 CCD-TRV25 CCD-TRV29 CCD-TRV30 CCD-TRV308 CCD-TRV312 CCD-TRV32 CCD-TRV33 CCD-TRV36 CCD-TRV40

CCD-TRV41 CCD-TRV43 CCD-TRV46 CCD-TRV51 CCD-TRV512 CCD-TRV52 CCD-TRV53 CCD-TRV57 CCD-TRV58 CCD-TRV608 CCD-TRV615 CCD-TRV62 CCD-TRV65 CCD-TRV66 CCD-TRV67 CCD-TRV68 CCD-TRV715 CCD-TRV72 CCD-TRV75 CCD-TRV81 CCD-TRV815 CCD-TRV82 CCD-TRV85 CCD-TRV87 CCD-TRV88 CCD-TRV90 CCD-TRV91

CCD-TRV93 CCD-TRV95 CCD-TRV98 CCD-TRV99 DCR-PC1 DCR-PC10 DCR-PC100 DCR-PC110 DCR-PC115 DCR-PC120BT DCR-PC5 DCR-PC7 DCR-SC100 DCR-TR7000 DCR-TRV10 DCR-TRV11 DCR-TRV110 DCR-TRV120 DCR-TRV130 DCR-TRV140 DCR-TRV17 DCR-TRV18 DCR-TRV20 DCR-TRV210 DCR-TRV230 DCR-TRV240 DCR-TRV25

DCR-TRV27 DCR-TRV30 DCR-TRV310 DCR-TRV315 DCR-TRV320 DCR-TRV330 DCR-TRV340 DCR-TRV5 DCR-TRV50 DCR-TRV510 DCR-TRV520 DCR-TRV525 DCR-TRV530 DCR-TRV7 DCR-TRV720 DCR-TRV730 DCR-TRV740 DCR-TRV8 DCR-TRV820 DCR-TRV830 DCR-TRV840 DCR-TRV9 DCR-TRV900 DCR-VX1000 DCR-VX2000 DCR-VX2100 DCR-VX700

Product Description

Sony s HVL-20DW2 double-decker camcorder light shines either 10 watts or 20 watts of light on the scene to help you capture footage in nearly any condition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sunshine on my shoulders...makes me happy....., February 10, 2005

By 

tron3 "-TRON3 (Serving the Users since 1982.)" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony HVL-20DW2 Video Light for use with DCRVX2100, HDRFX1 & FX7 (Electronics)

My Sony FX1 has great low light capability, 3 lux, but eventually you WILL need extra light. Using your software to lighten dark shots will likely reveal some degree of graininess, no matter which camera you use.

I'm so glad I bought it. Used it for my birthday party. Though the overhead light was good, dark corners of the room require more light. If you consider yourself advanced, semi-pro, or a pro videographer, you MUST HAVE a light.

My only major beef is it runs at either 10 or 20 watts. No variable for 5, or 15. It is worth getting a long life battery like the NP-970. Independent power source (battery) is a plus. But no outlet plug adaptor that I know of.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars must have for low light digital stills, May 26, 2006

By 

Doc Terra "Nature Nut" (In the wilderness, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony HVL-20DW2 Video Light for use with DCRVX2100, HDRFX1 & FX7 (Electronics)

if you have pretty much ANY digital camera and want to do closeups or see what you're taking pix of before flash, you need this or similar light. A german company makes a high-wat LED video light but it has speckled pattern, not good for closeup stills. The light pattern on this is VERY even. Closeup up with light in one hand and camera in other, to cover an object 6 to 8 inches. pull back to widen light to 2 feet or more across. Keep the video light as close to camera as possible, will reduce shadows the camera sees. Even outdoors at 9000' in Colorado I found use for this, taking picture on shady trail where a plant was half in shade, will fix this.

bulbs are replaceable. Yet in 4 years of having one bulb never wore out, and heavy usage, 8 hours at a time. (3 fp-970 batteries, such as batterybarn.com sells will give you 8 hours light. the last time I got it off amazon, FP960 for $47 from computer brain. the new 15 hour camcorder batteries power this light for about 2 1/2 hours)

The onlything that eventually broke was the switch. Don't force it, push down the middle safety button when turning it on or eventually will break it. take battery out when travelling so won't go on accidentally. you can add a grip by getting a disk shaped tripod adaptor and screwing a hand grip such as hakuba's monopod / tablepod combo (the most comfortable grip there is, about $25 at places like Fry's) into the tripod adapter.

It gets warm, almost hot but keeps running no problem with vent slits. Even using it caving in Anza-Borrego, as we knew that we had for sure 2 hours on Li-ion batteries.

Anyway, for indoor shooting in converence halls with bad flourescent lighting, this brings out the colors. You can't use flash closer than about 2 feet with most objects or you get too much glare from reflection..

so use a video light instead for serious indoor shooting where you can't have a fixed light stand. use it in 10 watt mode for most objects, for tall or dark objects, switch to 20 watt. When battery is starting to run low, the light will only go into 10 watt mode.

I have the sony video light 3watt for dvd-403. I keep this on top of camera sometimes when too much hassle to get out video light. But it drains camcorder battery unlike this one, and light output alot lower. good for small objects tho.

and by all means, TURN ON FLASH when farther than 2' and object looks slightly dark. this helps ALOT in your pix. if it looks OK in viewfinder / lcd LEAVE FLASH OFF!

see flashlightreviews.com for general light patterns and battery life of other flashlights incl led lights you might want to buy.

IF sony would just come out with an LED version I'd be happy as a lark! It would last 10 hours or more.

Most flashlights throw uneven ring pattern so are unsuitable for lighting photos.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great little light., April 14, 2007

By 

Knitting Nanny - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony HVL-20DW2 Video Light for use with DCRVX2100, HDRFX1 & FX7 (Electronics)

I got this light to go with my full rig I use for wedding videography. Some of the lights out these are soooo expensive but I saw a lot of good reviews for this light and thought I would give it a go. Here are the goods and the bads.

Goods - Works with the batteries that go to my PD150 camera so no need for silly looking belt battery pack or extra batteries. It comes with a 10w or 20w setting. So far it has also proven itself to be durable. Not that I am clumsy but I have dropped it twice and it survived. I understand the bulbs are expensive but I have used it for 2 years now with out the need for a change. It is lightweight and fits on the slide foot on the top of my camera. Most pro and non pro cameras will have this too so i use this with my tiny consumer camera and its great there too.

Bads - I guess this stuff isnt really bad but for folks who might have a pro rig these are the things that might bum you out. No dimmer, no barn doors, so swivel. The one thing I will say though is that this thing is so light that I have a few times taken it off of the camera and held it in my hand up high at an angle so not to shine it in anyones face directly.

I hope this helps!