3200 watt Daylight Florescent Lighting Kit

Be careful if you order from the original link, www.pclightingsystems.com

My Britek's were from a company he used to run called 1080av.com which folded and left some customers out (I didn't get all the stuff I ordered). The guy who runs the site, Mark Kasserman, is the same guy who ran 1080av.com which is also connected to saferseas.com

Do some searches here for those two sites and be VERY careful if you do business with them. Things might be different with them now, but I won't order from them based on the customer service I got from them, but that's just my opinion.
 
Hi all:

I finally received the replacement T-400 light from Fotodiox.com This one works! So far, I have it loaded with the Kino K2900 Biax tubes. It works pretty well. Construction is decent if not great. The hammered aluminum panels on the barndoors are attached with Velcro so you can take them off if you need to.

I cut a piece of gridcloth and covered the front of the light, it now serves as a fairly smooth looking soft source.

Overall, so far, it seems like a good deal for the money, a cheap Diva 400 knockoff for around $288.00 including the Kino lamps.

Best,

Dan
 
Do some searches here for those two sites and be VERY careful if you do business with them. Things might be different with them now, but I won't order from them based on the customer service I got from them, but that's just my opinion.
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Thanks Jchenier! Good to know! I actually went to his house and looked at all the equipment. He almost talked me into it, but something didn't feel quite right. Maybe just wasn't ready to invest in a lighting system I knew nothing about.

:dankk2:
 
I went to DV Expo this week and saw a company named Videssence (www.videssence.TV) who makes great flo's in several versions and they are really relatively low cost. They are made with really high quality material, very compact and put out great light. The bad news is that you can't see these really great new lights on the website for some reason. Some people are great at making product and bad at showing them off or making it easy to find out about them.

They have several kits that cost way lower than what you are looking at and much better quality. They have a great little kit that comes with two lights. It is called "The Shooter Kit". Beautiful little boxes with barn doors that are fitted and close up light a little shoe box.

You can buy one light for about $250. I'd highly recommend looking at those first (if you can find them). probably will do better contacting one of their dealers or just calling them (626-579-0943).

And no, I don't work for them. Just met the owner at the show and really liked the quality to cost ratio. He worked as a lighting director and shooter and knows lighting.

Plus I always like finding small businesses run by smart people who take pride in their product and are willing to challenge the large companies that charge way to much just because they think they can because there is little competition.
 
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Spiral, you went to Kasserman's house? I spent hours searching for his info when I was trying to sort out my purchase from 1080av.com.

If you're looking for Britek lights, rostronics.com seems to be the best place.

Justin
 
Britek seems to make a very good looking type:

http://www.briteklight.com/32procolibaw.html

I already asked them if you can use the spiral lamps with it, which you certainly can because the ballast is inside those lamps and the wattage is smaller.

Even if power would be less, the unit balance with those lamps may be improved.

Mate that with their softbox and I think it would make a great affordable softlight.


Carlos
 
Kelly Olsen said:
I went to DV Expo this week and saw a company named Videssence (www.videssence.TV) who makes great flo's in several versions and they are really relatively low cost. They are made with really high quality material, very compact and put out great light. The bad news is that you can't see these really great new lights on the website for some reason.
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Information is available now on the website. Go to http://www.videssence.com/pdf/Shooter_Kit.pdf for the Shooter Kit or they have their whole catalog in a nice PDF at http://www.videssence.com/pdf/videssence_product_pages.pdf . Lots of interesting options and specifications, including photometrics in lux and footcandles at various distances. Incidentally, they list the CRI of the bulbs at 82, so I'd be inclined substitute with something better.

JP
 
Hey Dan or anyone that knows

I see the T-400 light comes with 4 bulbs. I can't tell from their website but are they 5500 or 3200 bulbs?

Thanks
 
They look closer to 5500 to me but in comparison to the Kino KF55 lamps I installed, these stock lamps are not really that close to even 5500. The Kinos KF55 looked much more blue, but these bulbs that came with the T-400 are much more blue than the Kino KF2900 lamps so I don't think that they are daylight. There is no indication of color temp or CRi on the packaging.

I threw mine in the trash.

Dan
 
Hmmm, I thought they came with Osram studios, supposed to be 56K cri 85. Sorry to see that.
Maybe I should ask for a price 'without' the bulbs. Are the ballasts high freq electronic?
 
Thanks for checking guys.
I ordered the T-400. I already have some spare KF29 for my DIVA 400. For the price this could be a nice addition.
 
jchenier said:
Spiral, you went to Kasserman's house? I spent hours searching for his info when I was trying to sort out my purchase from 1080av.com.

If you're looking for Britek lights, rostronics.com seems to be the best place.

Justin
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Yes, myself and a few co-conspirators. He had *loads* of equipment he was selling off, because he was moving to Wisconsin. He was doing his best to make us all a deal, but I just couldn't drop that cash on a whim. In retrospect, I am glad I didn't, since I will probably get a Lowell or Arri kit instead.
 
Sorry to drag up an old post, but I was wondering who all has bought the Fotodiox T-400 lights and how do they like them.

I saw the post above about them and I was wondering how well they work. I have a "home depot" rig with worklights and photo umbrellas. I design websites and I'm getting into more video work and need something that I could use for both photo & video shoots. (my company is just me, not big at all). As of now I don't wish to spend a lot on the big boy lights, that can come later.

Would like to get these T400 lights, they look way more professional than the home depot or DIY route, when you're charging clients decent money, you need to roll up with something that looks like you invested a lot in your operation. Image is everything.

I see you can replace the bulbs that come with it. Can you tell me where to get the bulbs you use in it? I'm gonna call them and see if they'll sell without the bulbs, that'll save a few bucks towards the more expensive bulbs.

Thanks,
Tony
 
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