$1000 to spend : Kino or Fresnel

rgdfilms

rgdfilms

Wet poodle
Hey guys

Title says it all

I have a grand that's burning a hole in my pocket - I shoot lots of short films and music videos, etc. - I like KINO a lot but am thinking that money could be better spent on a 2 or 3 light fresnel kit? I dunno.. I want to spend the money right.. I do love those KINO flos...


mmmm.. warm...

thanks
 
Fresnels are definitely going to be a little more versatile. Like they say you can always make a hard light soft but you can't make a soft light hard.

It might also depend on your rental situation and if you can bill anything for your equipment. If you can get fresnels really cheap to rent than maybe the kino would be a nice compliment. For the price to buy a kino kit complete here in Toronto I think I can probably just squeeze and buy 2x 300 fresnels complete. At the end of the day the Kino could get a higher day rate than the 2x fresnels. That return amount might be something to consider...
 
With a budget of $1000 you should be able to get some of both, flos, and fresnels.

Look at flolight as a lower-cost alternative to Kino.
 
I´d go with a fresnel kit first.
If you don´t mind the DIY look, I´d build the fluos myself until you can afford the real deal...
 
Vidled, have you used the flolights? I have considered them but haven't really heard much about their quality of light that they put out - I'm kinda of the nature, if you're going to buy something now, buy what you want, that's why I've been a little hesitant on the flolight - thanks
 
I'd go the fresnel route, personally. You can always make yourself a nice fluorescent fixture. Good luck making a fresnel.
 
If you don't currently own any lights, I'd go with fresnels for their versatility. Unless the majority of your paying gigs are interviews.
 
Thanks a lot for the feedback guys - I've had my eye on the ARRI 650 watt fresnel, I like that light because I can always put less wattage if I need to - are ARRIs a good start?
 
Arri's are a great place to start (and end.) Your budget is almost enough for 1 650 and 2 300's with barn doors. That would be a great starter kit with alot of versatility for a 3 light kit.
 
That does sound like a great start - I have an old cinedome made by photoflex - i wonder if that could fit on the 650?
 
rgdfilms said:
That does sound like a great start - I have an old cinedome made by photoflex - i wonder if that could fit on the 650?
Click to expand...

when I was in Adorama, they said I could get a speedring for my photoflex to use it on the Arri. Only catch is that each Arri is a different size.

For a softbox though, I'd probably put it on the 650 (rather than the 300) because way too much power in a strobe is almost always not quite enough power in a hotlight.

EDIT: I took the photoflex softbox and dragged it upstairs where the Arri 650 fresnel was already on a stand. What luck... the SP-systems speedring just barely fit into the barndoor clamps on the Arri. With the thumbscrews all the way in, the screws rotated into the Arri housing and supported the softbox.

With that said, I ran some handheld lighting tests on the sony A1U, and yep, at 30" it was barely enough light.

I'm sure it's none too secure, and i'll want an arri speedring, but it worked long enough for a test.
 
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Barely enough light for what? Does the softbox cut out a lot of light from the 650??? Find that hard to believe
 
Diffusion cuts a lot of light from any source. And a softbox is fairly heavy diffusion. I'd say at least a full stop, maybe two. I used to have the specs, but generally I just automatically grab my bigger lights when using softboxes and umbrellas.

On further review, however, the source was closer to 60" from the subject. And I just looked it up, my Photoflex is a Platinum Multidome Large P3. But still, I think the 650 is better than the 300 in Mid to CU. For ECU, a 300 placed closer would work, but would intrude into the frame for farther shots.

The Arri fresnel 650 is a beautiful light though. I wish I had a lot more of them. (and that they had a universal front mount for accessories).
 
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OUCH. The Arri photoflex speedrings are $87 - $112. EACH SIZE.

That definitely makes the Britek 650 and 1000 WITH barndoors and small softboxes sound like a screaming deal. If you can deal with mechanical and electrical maintenance, you can get a lot for the money.
 
A 650 with softbox should be plenty of light for DVX and HVX as a key for a one or two person interview. I've been able to get away with a 300w softbox key with nice results. It does need to be pretty close to the subject and the iris is pretty open as well.
 
That's my normal one person "quickie" interview key, an Arri 650 punched through a small Chimera Quartz Pro. Sometimes, depending on what they are wearing, I may even have to scrim down the 650. I usall place the Chimera about 50 degrees from the camera, about 4-5 feet from the subject.

I shot a two person interview on Friday and had to go with my Medium Chimera with a 1k open face Arri through it. IMHO, a small Chimera is too small of a source to use for a two person interview unless you have the subjects VERY close together. Both of these setups are with the HVX in 720 24PN, 1/24th secnd shutter pulling a 2.8 f-stop. Yep, usually end up shooting with the HVX wide open or close to it, I like the shallower depth of field.

Best,

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
Both of these setups are with the HVX in 720 24PN, 1/24th secnd shutter pulling a 2.8 f-stop. Yep, usually end up shooting with the HVX wide open or close to it, I like the shallower depth of field.

Best,

Dan
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Dan, do you ever get streaky motion from your interviewees at that shutter speed? Just wondering...
 
Hi Chuck:

For sit down interviews? No, no issues. I hesitated when I first began shooting at 1/24th but it works fine. Don't like it for action in most cases but for sit down interviews, works great.

Best,

Dan
 
Despite the advice - I am pretty sure I am going to spring for a Matthews C-Stand and a DIVA-Lite 400 - I love Kino and have always wanted to own one - I love the light - My next addon will probably be an ARRI 350 or something similar -
 
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