Trying to build a decent starter light kit

btownproductions

btownproductions

Well-known member
Hi, I'm trying to build a decent starter light kit. I found what seems to be a few pretty good deals on eBay, I'd just like to ask a few general questions before I commit to buy anything.

Would most of you say to stay away from 3200K(tungsten) lights, and go with 5600K's? or is it generally okay to go with 3200's and just white balance correctly? I ask this because in general, tungsten fresnels are a fair bit cheaper than daylight bulbs, and I'm on a pretty low budget here. I've found some Arri 1000w 3200's for $275 on ebay, and 650 watts for $213, both of which are in the price range I'm looking to spend right now.

Is there anyone here that has a valid reason to stay away from tungstens, and maybe get some less expensive 5600's?

So far, what I plan on getting for my kit would include:

1x1000w
2x650w
possible a couple 500watt's or maybe a coolight setup
plus a couple soft boxes and some gels

Any suggestions on this?
 
There is no reason you have to go with 5600K unless you are trying to balance to sunlight. If this is the case, get several sheet of 1/4, 1/2, and full CTB gel. Place these on the Arri's until you get the correct balance with the sunlight.

A couple more thing to consider however, 5600K flos operate much cooler and use significantly less power than tungsten. If this is a factor you may want to consider this as an option.
 
Right now I'm more worried about setting up a decent, affordable lighting kit than anything else. Some suggestions would be great
 
I think a lot of it depends on what you're going to spend more of your time lighting right now. My ideal basic kit? Arri's got one I love that's got an open face 1k, 2 650's and a 300. The 1k has a softbox and the kit's got stands, scrims and a stinger. It's pricey but works very well. You can do the same with Coollights and their fresnel lights. The pre-designed kits are nice because it all comes together but sometimes piecemealing the parts works better.

The fresnels will be more versitile, but to get them cheaply, you'll have to do tungsten and CTB to match daylight if needed.

The ETC Source Four par light is absolutely awesome for patterns either on the background or on talent if needed.

I also love the fluoro lights. I've built some homemade ones that I use regularly that are 400 / 600 watts but if I were to do it right, I'd buy at least a 4 bank from Coollights. For soft, even light they're hard to beat. In a $$$ crunch though, a 650 or 1k fresnel with softbox is more versitile though.

So... decent... affordable....

I would say for a starter kit, look at a 1k with softbox, 650 fresnel, 300 fresnel and a Source Four light with patterns. If you opt for a 4th fresnel instead, you'll need to buy some cookies (or make them) - Source Four is much more efficient but not as useful in some cases as a fresnel.

This will get you going. The 1k with softbox could be replaced by a 4 bank or larger fluoro light from Coollights but you'll get much more punch with the fresnel and for starters, may be a better more versitile light.

Look at the LEE filter packs, 35 - 50 bucks will get you a number of good gels / diffusion to start with.

Your listed lights that you were considering isn't a bad option, I'd volley for a smaller fresnel in lieu of one of the 500's (sometimes you need just a little light and don't wanna snoot a large light down... or you could look at a fluoro light in place of one of them.

Again, lots depends on your actual needs. There's always supplementation with fluoro or tungsten bulbs and little cheapo clamp on reflectors. Don't forget you can always light with an LED tactical light, mirror and pizza box (for bounce) which I would demo when I taught intro to lighting.

cheno
 
Thanks a lot Chenopup, that was a very informative post. I'm really new to lighting, so I'm trying to soak up as much information as possible. I'm probably going to go with tungsten due to the money issue, plus. I'll be using them inside for the most part anyways... for the price difference I'd rather just use gels for daylight. I may take your advice and go with a 1k, 650 and a 300 or 500. What's a source four light though? I've never heard of that.
 
For Interviews with the bare HVX; I use a 650 frenel with Chimera soft box, 300 frenel with double scrimms for hair light and a 300 frenel with single scrim through a cookaloris for Backgrounds. For HVX + Adaptor I use a 1k with double diffusion as the key light (adaptors eat light for breakfast).

C-stands are invaluable. CTO and CTB gels are invaluable (I use 1/4 or 1/2). Black, white and Gold Foam core is invaluable. Diffusion is invaluable. 15'-25' Heavy Duty Stingers are invaluable.

Matching Color temperature for 5.6k when you are indoors is not always necessary. It is natural for windows to look blue-ish. Besides, Full CTB really knocks down the light output.

J
 
Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming :grin:

I'm not doing interviews or docs or anything like that. Strictly Drama/Horror/Comedy/basically whatever type of film we can come up with a nice script for. The first one we're working on is a horror flick, followed by a comedy than a thriller/drama type movie. So I'm looking for a nice kit that will suit my needs for those genres (as diverse as they are... haha)

By the way, Chenopup. Which 1k Arri kit were you referring to? Any idea on the price/where it's sold? I haven't been able to find that particular one.
 
The Arri Softbank I kit is what I have - 'bout $3k which is why you may be able to try the Coollights option for probably half that. Arri stuff is the best though and can take a beating.

ETC makes the Source Four. It's typically used as more of a theater light but for a background light, it's truly amazing.
 
Hmm.. I'll have to do some shopping around I guess.. $3000 is more than I can afford at the moment. I was thinking about looking at coollights, but they're like a foriegn language to me, I don't even know where to start... I really want a decent fres for my key light though, everything else is negotiable
 
flos and used mole lights. If you are starting to build a kit, I'd suggest getting some used mole lights. Personally, i'm not the biggest fan of mole, but for the price (ebay) you really can beat it for building a kit.

For flos, kino's are best, but flolights or cool lights are a great start.
 
We use the 1k & 2k Mole Zip lights all the time. If you can find those used on ebay, they're a steal and a great softlight as well.
 
Get small lights.

This will sound like heresy, but if you are budget limited and you are doing narrative stuff. You need to light smaller.

For instance if you are in a living room and you use a large 1k or larger key light. The spill will flatten out the rest of the room. This is usually not a problem if you have a grip package with flags and scrims. But if you just have the budget for a small light kit you probably don't have the budget for a basic grip package.



So if you use smaller key lights you will not flatten out the practicals that are in the location naturally.

I would recommend one good key light with Chimera at 750 or 1k. Then fill your kit up with a bunch of small fixtures. 300 and 250s.

I shoot solo a good bit. So I went with Lowel fixtures. They are light weight and very small. They will not live as long as an Arri or a Mole but what you trade in longevity you gain in portability.

It all depends on your needs.
 
I think the best thing would be to find out what your budget is for lights. That will help as we input on what is the best bang for the buck.

Jason is right on the Lowel lights. They work really well. The Lowel Pro 200 watt light is a great little accent or hair light and again, the portability of their kits can't be beat.

Lots of great options out there. I also own a Britek set of lights that for $450 got me 3 600 watt open faced, 2 softboxes, 2 barndoors, stands and case. For the money, it's a great kit and travels really well.

cheno
 
Ok, so I've found a few different lights on eBay that I might check out, here's the list so far:

1x 1k Tungsten Arri - $269
1x 650w Tungsten Arri - $209
1x 300/500w Tungsten Arri - $179
1x Cool light-type kit (16x30w spiral flo bulbs) w/8'4" stand and softbox - $269

Still need to look around for stands for the Arri's (Any ideas??)

This is just to give me a rough idea of what I'm looking for, it should be under $1.5k for everything listed above

If anyone has any better suggestions than this for a similar price, feel free to let me know, thanks.
 
I was also looking at those Britek lights you mentioned, wasn't sure how good they were

The one I was looking at is the Britek 3000w kit:

3x 1000w "Halo flood" lights
3x 1000w bulbs
1x 4 leaf Barndoor
2x 32x32" Softboxes
3x 8' Light Stands
2x Kit Bags

$399
 
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That is the kit I just bought off ebay. I will let you know how it is when I get it. I have that long with an array of "work lights". The reason I went with the Britek is because to the average client, it looks a heck of a lot more pro then home depot work lights with wax paper diffusers haha.
 
btownproductions said:
Hmm.. I'll have to do some shopping around I guess.. $3000 is more than I can afford at the moment. I was thinking about looking at coollights, but they're like a foriegn language to me, I don't even know where to start... I really want a decent fres for my key light though, everything else is negotiable
Click to expand...

Just start with an email to richard@coollights.biz and ask all the questions you need to and we'll hook you up with whatever you need. Be sure to mention you're from Canada and that you posted on DVXUser. Hope this helps.
 
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