bit-tech Shopping: Canon VFL Light

Rating: 2

Time with product: 2

Strengths: Compact, works OK as a flash in photo mode.

Weaknesses: Video light is just too weak, low height means the camera causes shadowing toward the bottom of teh frame.

Summary: Also got this for my HG-10 around the holidays, and I was quite disappointed from the get-go. The unit simply dfoesn't do the main job it's meant to: providing a small light source for a compact camera. It's too dim to help much for subjects further more than 4-6 feet away; the light itself is a nightmare in terms of color balance (think an old style flourescent bar light and you're not too far from the truth). And the locationof the hot shoe mount means the camera cuts off some of (what little) light is there.Then there's "auto" mode, where it's supposed to adjust functionally for changing ambient conditions. It semes to have 2 settings: white it out or gecome so dim as to be worthless. I don't think I've used the auto mode since the second day I've owned this.On the plus side, it's farily functional as a flash for still-picture taking... But had I know this was the big selling pont of this light, I'd just haveb bought an adapter for my EX-430 flash: would have saved money and gotten better results.Maybe there are some conditions where this light is a boon, but I have yet to find one. Generally a disappointent all around in ym book, especially at the price (then again, when the product doesn't live up to expectations, any price is too high, no?)