LitePanels Micro Is A Perfect Fit For Your Canon’s Hotshoe

Although the light on my Canon HV20 is quite powerful and actually quite gentle on my batteries the biggest design problem I have encountered is that putting Canon’s own wide-angle lens on the camera obstructs more than half the light and makes them impossible to use together effectively.

A company based out of Van Nuys called LitePanels has come to the rescue. I was able to stop by their booth at the NAB show this year and check out their latest offering – a perfect little dream of a unit called the Micro – that, like the Rode VideoMic feels like it was made especially for us.

Created in response to the overwhelming popularity of the MiniPlus the Micro harnesses the company’s ultra-efficient LED technology in a lightweight package. Ideal for any camcorder with a standard size hotshoe camcorder (like any of the Canon Vixia cameras or HD video DSLRs like the Rebel or 5D MK II) it mounts unobtrusively on top of the camera to provide soft, directional lighting.

Weighing less than 4 oz. (.11kg) and measuring 3.3″x 3.3″ x 1.5″ (83.8mm x 83.8mm x 38.1mm), Litepanels Micro produces 1.5 hours of continuous output from four on-board AA batteries (either standard or rechargeable). Or power can be supplied through a convenient 5-14V input jack located on the back of the unit.

In addition to the fact it has a standard hotshoe mount, the unique design of the mount features an adjustable tilt mechanism to allow for multiple mounting configurations. Additionally, an integrated on/off/dimmer dial conveniently facilitates smooth and instant 100%-0 dimming. Awesome!

The unit also features a flip-down filter holder for use with the system’s color/diffusion gel filters. Three filters are included: soft diffusion, 3200º tungsten conversion, and 1/4 warming (CTO) which means you can match daylight or indoor tungsten lighting with this little beauty.

For more information, contact your favorite dealer or Litepanels, Inc. at their excellent, informative website: www.litepanels.com