ABSTRACT
ARRI SkyPanels were the first big LED light to gain acceptance in film circles. Kino Flo LEDs came later but are catching up with LUT-specific menus. LiteGear has been a pioneer in bringing LEDs into filmmaking, starting with their LED ribbon, then the cards, and culminating with the Litemat series which has redefined portable lightweight soft lighting for production. The path of their success, however, is littered with obsolete models and technologies, frustrating gaffers trying to keep current. Lite Panel Astras were another big LED breakthrough. ARRI has expanded their SkyPanel line to include the very large S360 SkyPanel. Evolving with all the new lights have been various dimming systems. Luminair was dominant early on, but new entrants such as ARRI Stellar, Exalux, Gaffer Control, and Blackout are crowding the field for good DMX control of LED lighting. SnapGrids and honeycombs are the two main control devices commonly used on LED lights. Dedolight has introduced a Bi-color LED Turbo 7 light with DMX that has a similar zoom feature to the Dedo 150W lights. LED Fresnels have not caught on mainly due to relatively low output. LED spacelights are improving but cost is holding back implementation. So far no manufacturer has introduced a LED PAR light that the lighting community has accepted. LED lekos are slowly taking over the market for ellipsoidals. There are many LED tube manufacturers, all with assorted virtues. DoP has finally challenged Chimera for supremacy in soft banks of many sizes and shapes.
