[Robert Kennedy]

Hello,

I have a lot of experience between the focusable (bi-focus) LED’s and the color changing LED’s (bi-color). I have found that it is more useful to take something that is originally bi-color and dimmable and then alter the angle/direction of the light than to use a bi-focus (focusable) light in the first place.

To be able to change the direction of a light you need to add-on specific accessories made to do this. Most accessories are made to fit lights that are 1’x1′ so its important to choose a light with the 1×1 frame. My favorite LED light choice is the Socanland 1×1 LED Light Panels. I will add more to this later.

The best ways to alter and focus LED light panels are via accessories like a Chimera 1650 LED Lightbank (softbox). The Chimera allows you to insert various degree changing covers (5 degrees, 30 degrees, etc). If your willing to get a little creative, you can also insert light blocks within the Chimera to achieve unique lighting effects. You can also use your more basic accessories like diffusion or barn-doors in a lot of situations to help direct and spread the light.

There are also metal honeycomb grids that can make the light 25 degrees or 45 degrees.

I’m currently using various Socanland LED Light Panels which I have come to love. The standard model I use is the Socanland 50CTD. This is a 50 watt, bi-color 1×1 LED Light Panel with ample power (2-3 times brighter than a Litepanels 1×1 bi-color). Its definitely brighter than other competitors like F&V, iKan, Coolights, etc and with a much better build quality (metal not plastic). It also has fantastic, accurate color temperatures whether shooting with Tungsten, Daylight, or the temperatures in-between. Dimmable from 0-100% and comes standard as a 60 degree flood.

I also added onto my LED Light Kit a model that just came out called the Socanland Nova-CTD. It’s identical to the 50CTD but double the output due to the fact that its twice the wattage with twice as many LED’s. This model is 4-5 times brighter than a 1×1 bi-color Litepanels light. You can actually use it outdoors while the sun is out. Like the 50CTD it’s also a bi-color, dimmable, 60 degree flood.

I should also mention that I heard news about the Socanland 50CTD and the single color Nova-CD soon being available in a 30 degree spot around the beginning of July 2014. Not sure if that’s accurate or if it will change the price of the lights in any way.

When you use various tools (either on their own or together) like the Chimera 1650, barn-doors, diffusion, and honeycombs, you get a ton of control out of the lights. Again, I find it most useful to be able to change the color temperature and the output levels via the color knob and dimming knob and then alter the focus of the LED’s light with extra tools/accessories made specifically to alter the focus of the light’s direction (spot/flood/lighting effects). Hope that helps!

Here are links to the products that I just mentioned:
Socanland 50CTD 1×1, 50W Bi-Color LED Light Panel: https://www.intellytechusa.com/collections/products-of-the-week/products/socanland-50ctd-1×1-bi-color

Socanland Nova-CTD 1×1, 100W Bi-Color LED Light Panel: https://www.intellytechusa.com/collections/products-of-the-week/products/nova-ctd-1×1-bi-color-led-light-panel-100w

Socanland Nova-CD, 100W Single Color 1×1: https://www.intellytechusa.com/collections/led-light-panels/products/socanland-nova-100cd-1×1-100w-light-panel

Chimera 1650 (fits Socanland 1×1 and other 1×1 LED Light Panels: https://www.intellytechusa.com/collections/accesories/products/chimera-1650-softbox-kit-for-socanland-1×1-light-panels