while our ability to get more out of technology increases it’s fantastic to see weights + sizes shrink in regards to our gear. if you travel often then this is an even bigger boon. in addition to traveling i often find myself in places that can rightly be described as ‘out there’ – either in terms of sheer remoteness or the vertical plane. in these situations while lighting is important it’s often is forced to the backseat. i think that’s changing though + here are a few ideas why.

pocket wizard’s relatively new Control TL system is a solid start. not only is it a well put together package (carrying case + all) but it’s small. + more then simply being small though it doesn’t give up any functionality. in fact, it adds to your arsenal by making it possible to work with your lights at higher speeds (hypersync – see above), full TTL, as well as slave more lights then with previous releases. i’ve been able to test a pair over the past 6 months (thanks guys) + appreciate what they’ve done with the size + efficiency.

caught this recently + while i’m not fully down with it yet i like the concept + the momentum. reminds of the randonee vs tele bindings about 5 years ago + the rumors of merging that were pervasive. i am a fan of litepanels though.

NAB 2010 – Litepanels LED light and strobe combined for 5DmkII and 7D from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

what is it with small lights? they’re uber mobile for travel + modes when weight is important. also for set up as they can easily be rearranged to get precisely what you’re after or accommodate the action or talent. accuracy in terms of getting light where you need it – particularly in cramped or difficult to reach angles. their ease of use is hard to beat (this is not to be confused with mastery). easy to replace batteries + more accessories then one life can handle.

are there downsides, of course. but i’ll leave that up to the cynics.