Gopher_Greene
Well-known member
I believe I said that lowels have their purpose, the draw back to them is their strong point that you state, their light weight. I base my comments mainly on feature film shooting, and Lowels won't hold up to the rigorus use required on a movie set show after show. That's why you don't see them in grip trucks. The Rifa I had looked at and passed up buying for a couple of reasons, I had seen lowel softlights of a different design, they had a silver lining that had cracked and peeled off in a short period of time. The umbrella lights, omnis I think, I have used and am completly under impressed with thier performance. The tota I've had two different ones that the plugs melted on during extended use. If you need a light weight kit (like you're a one man show) and you can baby your kit, then go for them.
If your going to have a crew and things are going to travel to who knows what kind of location, for a vision that only lives in a directors head, then you're much better off with the tried and true moles. As far as the chimera goes it is much more versitile then the rifa, with a universal speed ring it can attach to any flood or fresnel (as long as its with in the voltage rating). And as for switching to daylight, the rifa claims it can throw a whopping 67fc at 5' and 18fc at 10' Well brother I'd have to see that one to believe it. But even if it does thats not going to come close to a 1200 HMI in a chimera.
So again every light has its purpose, the lowels are light weight, light usage lights that's great if you're a one man show. If your doing feature film work though I think I'd go for lights that are more rugged and dependable like the Arris or Moles. I do comment on items I have never used, I teach film and video and their is no way you can check out every thing on the market. Sometimes you have to make evaluations based on specs and reputation. The main thing is find what works for your situation, don't buy any light just to have it buy it because you need it.
As far as quality of light, the Rifa may put out a quality even spread light. It would be the only Lowel that I'm aware of that does so. So to me it's not worth the chance to purchase a dedicated softbox light when I can get a chimera (or other similar brands) that with a universal speed ring can fit nearly any light on the truck. I rarely do a shoot with a crew of less than 4 grip/electric once in a while on commercials. It is nothing to see 10 year old Moles still plugging away like the day they were bought, I can't say that about Lowel lights, take it for what it's worth.
