I am wondering if anyone here have used LED lite panels for still photography. THere are a number of interesting products from Litepanels and Digi-slave that I have been tempted to try one of these. I am not sure if these can be more useful than ordinary flash with a diffuser. There are a number of times when I think by dialing in just a bit of steady light, (e.g. product type of image), I can create the right kind of lighting. I just wonder what the experience of others might have been. Thanks in advance.

I've just found this, while looking for the same answers from other potential experimenters, but I did some basic math and I quickly realized it is not worth it.
Making a "diy" panel, like 20x30cm (~8x12in), putting 5 bright white (5500K) LEDs
per inch, makes it an array of like 40 by 60 LEDs. 2400 bright white LEDs.
It would produce enough lumens, likely, but it would cost more than a decent
brand name head with extra features.

It would be way better on energy saving, perhaps, but it's
not required to stay turned on 24/7, so it really doesn't matter.

Another, cheaper alternative, is making a "diy" fluorescent tube panel.
36in, 5000K marked fluorescent tubes, can be purchased at HomeDepot (or OBI, in Europe...)

With i.e. 10 such tubes, you get enough nice and bright, diffused white light
and it costs less than a $100, including the circuitry and the decent looking stand (do it yourself...)

mark1958 wrote:There are a number of times when I think by dialing in just a bit of steady light, (e.g. product type of image), I can create the right kind of lighting. I just wonder what the experience of others might have been. Thanks in advance.

I carry a LitePanels Micro with my 5D MK II for this very reason. It is a hot shoe mount and works great for a little fill (ala CG credo ) and as a video light.
There are a few things you need to watch though, like stepped shadows. Color rendition is very good. All in all, it's a handy little light, although a tad spendy.

For video, LitePanels 1X1's and ring lights are the cat's meow in LED video lights, but also very expensive. Can't beat the portability and battery life of LED's.
I've been using LED500's from Prompter People which are considerably cheaper. They are not as accurate or consistent, but they sure beat the alternative as far as I'm concerned. A touch of Minus Green and you're pretty good to go. LED's, like Flo's, have their own issues but they are quickly gaining acceptance as a continuous cool light source.

Good luck.

Are litepanels truly daylight balanced (5500K)? I've been looking for something like that in a flashlight form for light painting but from what I've dug up, LEDs have a lot of manufacturing variance so they're got a huge range of 5000-7000K..

Accuracy and consistency seems to be LitePanels hallmark in the broadcast arena. I think my Micro is closer to 5000 than 5500, but it is pretty consistent. Apparently they design their LED's to lose their consistency on the lower end, which is good.

I've played around with an LED panel designed for the film industry. At 1000+ dollars, it's probably something I'd rent, rather than buy.

E