compact but robust light for trip to Russia

M

mLAne

Active member
I am embarking on a 10 day shoot to Russia and Germany in a few weeks. I will be shooting with the HVX and the redrock adapter. I will need to bring some sort of strong key light for some interviews but will not be able to bring any of my kinos! I need something that is ultra compact yet powerful and soft. Plus, any advive on how to power this solution once I get it?


much thanx!!!
 
Voltage adapters-and 3 lowel Rifa's and a Pro light. Take extra bulbs....Take some 1/2 CTB if your near windows...Hide a couple of stingers(ext cords) in your luggage as well.
 
How strong is "strong"? Just got a zylight z-90 for interviews, and its going to work perfectly as a key. Probably will pick another couple up for background and edge/rim lighting. The adjustability of these is amazing and at only 30Wh a piece in full blast I can get an hour interview done from one dionic 90. Really looking forward to these for light travelling and run and gun work. They're expensive but for semi close up work they rock.
 
Z90, a heck of a lot smaller than my suggestion, and I have one...pricey to own three, unless you specialize in travel assignments. This would be the ultimate,mini, any lighting situation travel pack.
This option would mean that you would also need batteries or ext.cords for each unit, just like the Rifa's. For a better looking interview, I'd go with a larger light source like the Rifa however. Some extra "spill" light, might be needed for interiors.
I don't know your shooting style or what your locations look like(either do you i'm guessing) I'd go for a little more fire power, but if the smallest package for travel is the goal, JDAJDA's suggestion is a fantastic one. My two cents. Matter of fact, take a Z90 or two and a Rifa with some CTB along(just in case).
 
I think that combo with the Rifa would be the perfect travel kit. I'm going to have to make some custom cables for the multiple zylight setup. I'm definitely going to the extreme in small size at the cost of power and money. But its all going to fit in a carry on :) Do note that the z90 only is good as a key with a wide open lens (hvx) and only a few feet away. Works for head and shoulders interviews but thats about it.

I always forget about how small the Rifa packs up. I've got one and kinda forget about it sometimes and use it in more predictable locations with longer setup times available. Definitely a light to look at.
 
thanks guys! I thought that everyone would say Rifa. Someone was just telling me about the zylight! Looks great but I need a lot of light with 2 stops of loss on top of the low light challenge of an hvx.

cheers
 
Oh yeah I missed the part about the redrock when I first read through your post... You could probably use one as a hairlight :)
 
mLAne said:
I am embarking on a 10 day shoot to Russia and Germany in a few weeks. I will be shooting with the HVX and the redrock adapter. I will need to bring some sort of strong key light for some interviews but will not be able to bring any of my kinos! I need something that is ultra compact yet powerful and soft. Plus, any advive on how to power this solution once I get it?


much thanx!!!
Click to expand...

I have the same camera setup you described. When i have to pack light for travel I take a Kobold 200 watt HMI and use an XXS Chimera on it. A soft grid for the Chimera is always a nice item to have.
When I do interiors I head straight toward the window and use part of the daylight spill as a back/side source for my subject. The HMI is used as the key with a flex fill for bounce on the fill side. I also carry a single and double 6x6 ND net to knock down the window if necessary. It's a pretty compact and efficient setup.
Good luck on your trip.
 
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