Video Lighting

[haneyr]

I just recently completed a conference room project where I used Brightlines T-Stealth lights. Except for a couple of hardware quality issues I can say that it is a very cost effective way to improve the lighting in a video setup. Using a Lutron dimming system only makes it better.

[turbo]

Hi Russ,

I am considering lighting options for a dedicated videoconferencing centre, and Brightline seems to be one of a very few specialized offerings.

Brightline rep quoted us with a very serious amount. I want to find out why you consider them cost-effective. Was the investment worth the improvement in videoconference quality?

Does it make a difference to the participant's satisfuction with using the rooms with Brightline lighing?

Why do you think it's good to have a dimming system?

Now that you've had the product for longer, have you had more hardware quality issues? Are the replacement lights hard to get / expensive?

Since it's going to be a specialised vc centre, it's very important that it offers premium environment, but I am not sure if it's worth the money. Moden standard fluorecent indirect fittings can also provide the right amount of lumens and color temperature, and if placed correclty, correct "above and in-front of the face" angle.

Thank you in advance!

Stas

[haneyr]

Stas,
I am a big proponent of proper video lighting especially when using HD cameras. I have used several different companies for video lighting and each one has its good and bad points. I used some Navitar lights years ago but found the units to be unsuitable for a conference room environment because they hung down from the ceiling and looked more like studio lighting. I see they have a new recessed light fixture but it may be a bit in your face too bright for most conference rooms. Other people may have a different opinion if they used them.

For a high end conference room I used video lights from Videssence. I used their forward throw, wall wash, and spot compact flourescent lighting. They produce an excellent image on the camera and use a recessed lamp to reflect the lighting at the subject to give a very even skin tone and with the wall wash lights a very impressive depth of field. Overall a very good lighting setup.

I tried the Brightlines Stealth T series late last year and had good results from them. Since most of my installs are in rooms with suspended ceilings I alway buy units that will drop into the place of ceiling tile. These lights not only gave a nice indirect angled lighting for the subjects but also provided more room illumination than the Videssence lights. Only two things I have suggested for them to look into improving their product:

1 - Put a sticker on the lighting frame to show which direction the fixture is to be placed in the ceiling. This at first didn't register with them until I told them you have to take all their diffusers and reflectors off to install the light in ceiling and wire it up. So if you are like me and easily forget how the reflectors were installed before you took them apart you need some indication of which way the light should point.

2 - The more iritating issue is that the reflectors are attached to the frame by a wire spring on two opposite sides. This does not allow for a more tight closure and a gap is sometime seen when the fixtures are operational. I ended up using some strong velcro strips inside the fixture to close some of the units.

Other than these two issues, both of which are only issues to perfectionists like myself, I thought the light quality was very good. The customer is also very pleased with the end results and their images are top notch on their HD VTC system.

There are other companies out there that also make video lights but I have not had a chance to use their products yet.

Using an electronic dimmer control panel is essential to making the lights change the rooms characteristics for VTC, presentations, movies, and meetings. Each scenario requires a seperate lighting scene. Using a good system like Lutron Grafikeye ensures your have a high quality controller that is extemely adaptable and easy to configure.

My preference in lights is Videssence, Brightlines, Navitar in that order. It is very important to communicate with both the light company and the controller company to make sure you get the right balasts and control protocol. Buy some extra lamps as they are usually not an item you can buy off the local market. Your customer may think the lights are too bright when they first use them but they will get used to it. One thing for sure is that all the distant ends will comment on why your picture looks better than others.

Hope this helps.