Camera-mounted dimmable lighting apparatus

A wide area, camera-mounted illumination system for lighting a subject for film, photography or video, the illumination system comprising:

• a portable frame having a mounting surface and adapted for temporary mounting to a movable camera apparatus and being readily detachable therefrom;
• a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the mounting surface of the portable frame so as to provide continuous, wide area, forward-projected illumination for the subject;
• a power receptor for receiving electrical power from a detachable DC power source that physically attaches to and moves with the portable frame;
• and
• an onboard adjustable dimmer, said adjustable dimmer configured to allow manual selection of an electrical signal provided to said semiconductor light elements.

A wide area, camera-mounted digitally controlled illumination system for lighting a subject for film or video, the illumination system comprising:

• a portable frame having a mounting surface and adapted for temporary and rapidly detachable mounting to a movable camera apparatus whereby the portable frame follows the movements of the camera apparatus;
• a plurality of semiconductor light elements disposed on the mounting surface of the portable frame so as to provide continuous wide-area illumination for the subject;
• an onboard adjustable dimmer, said adjustable dimmer configured to allow manual selection of a desired continuous illumination level for said semiconductor light elements;
• and
• an integrated digital processor responsive to said adjustable dimmer for controlling an electrical signal provided to said semiconductor light elements in response to the selected illumination level.