In the fickle world of the tech enthusiast, where favourite gadgets come and go, the test of time is the only sure way for a device to prove its mettle. So we asked real gadget lovers to show us the products they can't live without.
Name
Liz Smith
Occupation
Cinematographer
Location
London, UK
WHY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY
Dedolight
Why did you buy it?
It's small and light, yet really powerful. It also comes with lots of little add-on gadgets, which let you control the light in various ways. For example, you can put framing shutters on, or use gobos to create patterns of light.
What does it do for you?
I can easily carry it with me, and I can use the tripod or clamp the lamp to fixtures on the wall. I have to work so fast that this is vital.
It's very precise -- you can control exactly where the light is going, unlike open face lights. I can create pattens of light by slotting gobos onto the projector lens, and if I'm filming a documentary and there is a boring background in the room, I can use a gobo to create the sense of light coming through a Venetian blind.
It might sound silly to get so excited by a light, but the dedolight is great.
Would you recommend it to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend it as it's easy to work with and light to move around.
Name
Liz Smith
What I do
Cinematographer
Where I live
London, UK
Outside Interests
Going to the cinema, travelling, eating out
If you could design and create your ultimate product, what would it be?
A robot administrator that could deal with all those things that I find annoying, like phoning call centres and dealing with my bank
What tech insider secret do you find most useful?
Don't let the tech take over. No matter how many gadgets you have, if the creative vision is not there or if it gets lost under a sea of technology, your film will inevitably fail
Do you have three you can't live without? Click here
