Opinion on a Lighting Kit

svf1972

svf1972

Active member
Hello all, I recently ran into some extra cash and was going to buy a decent mic as well as a quality lighting kit. I've done research throughout the site as well as some other places and I came up with the ARRI SOFTBANK D4 TUNGSTEN LIGHT KIT for $2299.00
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=571963

It is a bit pricey and I do need some other accessories as well so if there is a kit comperable for less I would definitely go for it. I light primarily for film and lighting is very important as we all know:) If anyone has any suggestions on decent lighting kits they have used that have worked well I would greatly appreciate the advice. Also any gel kits for decent prices would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
 
You are paying a little for the name, but let me relate an incident that happened this past weekend. I was filming and had a 300w Arri on a cstand fully extened and an arm to use it as a backlight. An actor lost his balance and crashed into it, sending it to the floor (it was double sand bagged) most lights you'd be lucky if all that happened was the bulb blew. Most fixtures would be headed for the trash or the repair shop. The Arri amazingly I picked it up and it was still working, no damage. So you get what you pay for!
 
If you've got a little more money to swing I'd strongly suggest the softbank I kit. http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=571984&Category_Code=7A1A1&Product_Count=4

With this you get some higher wattages, plus a CHIMERA! Even tho the 1k is an open face, its great for quick lighting of backgrounds, and of course with a chimera on it, its beautiful.

Now I've never worked with this particular kit, but i've heard great things about it. In fact the only Arri kit i've worked with is the 650/300 kit which is a great one as well.

I do own my own lights, and actually went for Moles more for the name than anything else... well I suppose they are built a bit tougher... but Arri's are great. I'm so glad to see someone on here actually being realistic about the prices of good light kits! Also check out B&H's used department, I think right now they have a decent used Mole kit for sale, and I've seen some Arri kits on there occasionally as well.

*Edit: Ya kno, I just realized the D4 has a Chimera as well. but still the wattages are a bit low in that kit. Don't get me wrong, I use my inbetweenie 200w mole all the time, but it's very nice to have a 1k with a chimera and still have use of a 650 for other purposes.
 
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Moles are more expensive, but they're also tougher. The blonde in my softbank 1 kit keeps breaking (it's mostly plastic), and finding replacement parts (like screws and knobs - they're metric) is a pain the ass.

And although I love the guys at EVS, because you're in New York, I'd recommend B&H or a local dealer that buys directly through Arri. I knocked about 500 bucks off my kit that way.
 
I have that kit and you are not paying for the name. You are paying for a well built light. These lights are awesome, you need to call rush and buy them. I got if from him have had it for about 2 months and have used it for everything, Everything from green screen to interviews to everything. The only thing I wish it had was a 1k.
Arri makes the softbank IV it comes with 2 150W 1 300W 1 650W and one Arrilite 1000. plus everything elts. I would call rush and see what he could get this for. This is what I would buy.
 
I have the Arri Softbank IV kit and the smaller Softbank D1 kit as well. There's not much I can't do with these two kits, but most of the time all I need is the Softbank IV kit. The Arri's might seem a little pricey, but they will outlast your next ten cameras, and they have a pretty nice resale value. You just can't go wrong with any of their kits.
 
Hi all:

I will chime in here as I own three Arri kits plus some assorted other loose Arri lights as well. Our most used kit is the Softbank IV, having all of those options in one kit is really handy.

IMHO, you can never have too many Arri 150 fresnels, they are the greatest, easiest to use most versatile light available. In interview setups, I often use one for a hairlight, one with a dimmer for an eye light and two or three as nook lights for the background. For tabletop shoots, 3-5 Arri 150s with dimmers, some cinefoil and some C-Stands with 40" arms and I am in heaven, I can make anything look cool.

The little Arri 150s are expensive, I think $228.00 ea. from B&H plus you need to buy the scrims and barndoors but they are the best.

The Arri 1k through the small Chimera that comes with the kits is okay, although in my opinion, a little too focused and intense unless you are shooting with a lighting slug like the Z1, then it's perfect. I have been using the Arri 650 Fresnel through my medium Chimera with no extra diffusion screen and an egg crate for the HVX-200 and that's a happening setup. The Arri 300 is nice for backgrounds and patterns but it's too wimpy to key through a Chimera and it's too heavy to float as a hairlight unless you have a dedicated matte boon pole and a heavy duty stand. The 150 at the end of a C-Stand arm is an ideal hairlight.

Arris are the best on the market although the Moles are just as good, but heavier. Most grip and lighting trucks have Moles, Arris are a little too easy to damage but if it's you working with your lights and not professional gaffers, the Arris are great. If I owned a lighting truck though, I would have Moles, they take more abuse without breaking.

The plastic yoke tightening screws on the Arris are wimpy. Try holding a small Chimera on an Arri 650 without it sagging downwards. I have a homemade way of mounting an Arri light and a speedring for a small or medium Chimera on a C-Stand that just requires an extra 20" arm, works like buttah.

Dan
 
That's a great kit! We have pretty much the exact same kit at NBC, but with two 650s (which we never use). We use a Lowel Rifa-Light as our primary key. Would actually prefer a KinoFlo DivaLite 200 to replace the Rifa, though.
 
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Well I splurged and bought the Arri Softbank IV kit, should be here Thursday. Thanks for the comments guys, I think these will serve their purpose and then some.
 
svf1972 said:
Hello all, I recently ran into some extra cash and was going to buy a decent mic as well as a quality lighting kit. I've done research throughout the site as well as some other places and I came up with the ARRI SOFTBANK D4 TUNGSTEN LIGHT KIT for $2299.00
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=571963

It is a bit pricey and I do need some other accessories as well so if there is a kit comperable for less I would definitely go for it. I light primarily for film and lighting is very important as we all know:) If anyone has any suggestions on decent lighting kits they have used that have worked well I would greatly appreciate the advice. Also any gel kits for decent prices would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
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arri kits are nice but the freznell lights can be very dificult if you dont have profesional lighting technices. One light kit would be good for you and you will get more for the money is a lowell kit. its about half the price of a arri light kit.
 
Hey NBC Shooter...Diva vs Rifa?

Hey NBC Shooter...Diva vs Rifa?

Just curious why you would go for the diva vs. the Rifa. I find Kinos are not as flattering to people as a rifa or better yet a chimera. (just doesn't wrap as nice.)

Would love to here your thoughts.
 
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I can't imagine how a fresnel could possibly be harder to use then an open face light for any one. Arri fresnels compared to Lowell, well there not even in the same class of light. An open face light does not cast an even light pattern so the best you can get out of a lowel is a soft bounce. With the fresnel you have an even light pattern you can create a specular light or you can soften it with either diffusion or bounce.

Every light has itts purpose, the lowel kit is ok for small commercail production, but I wouldn't want to try lighting A dramatic scene with them. The fresnels are the work horse of the industry for good reason, they give you an even and predictable light pattern.
 
svf1972 said:
Well I splurged and bought the Arri Softbank IV kit, should be here Thursday. Thanks for the comments guys, I think these will serve their purpose and then some.
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Excellent choice....I bought mine a few months back. Add a couple of dimmers, and start stocking up on diffusion materials..Like OPAL, and of course, add some color correction gels. You'll need for most applications:1/2 and full CTB(color temp Blue) add some 1/4 and half CTO (color temp orange) as well as some other colors
(party gels are what most folks call 'em) for changing background color. Add a couple Mafor clamps(aka- Bogen super clamps-get the ones with a pin) C-47's-aka clothes pins, for holding your gels. Enjoy your new kit, it was worth it.
 
puredrifting said:
you can never have too many Arri 150 fresnels, they are the greatest, easiest to use most versatile light available.
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Poppy cock. Sorry, have to agree to disagree (theres a surprise, I hear you all say). The dedo light system blows the 150's, 300's and the 650's fresnels out the water. Cost for cost, YES the arri's are a hell of a lot cheaper but to say they are the easiest and most versatile light available is somewhat an over statement.

I've used arri fresnel for the last 10 years and think they are pretty versatile but until you work with some dedo's frankly the arri's don't come close.

You get what you pay for and boy are dedo's super sweet (but very expensive)

regards

Rich
 
steadicamsteel said:
Poppy cock. Sorry, have to agree to disagree (theres a surprise, I hear you all say). The dedo light system blows the 150's, 300's and the 650's fresnels out the water. Cost for cost, YES the arri's are a hell of a lot cheaper but to say they are the easiest and most versatile light available is somewhat an over statement.

I've used arri fresnel for the last 10 years and think they are pretty versatile but until you work with some dedo's frankly the arri's don't come close.

You get what you pay for and boy are dedo's super sweet (but very expensive)

regards

Rich
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Perrrrty strong words there partner.."Poppy Cock".. lol

It is hard to beat a set of dedo's....Especially for a harder edge light, and their size. Their accesories are fantastic, especially the micro -spot attachments.
The cost is WAY out there though. I know, I know, you get what you pay for. But The Arri's can also be placed further apart, unless you add the additional expense of more extension cables. Dollar for dollar, I disagree for what you can get in an Arri Softbank IV kit. 1-1K(open face) w/softbox,1-650 fresnel, 1-300 fresnel and 2-150 fresnels, stands..yadda, yadda. The dedo stands could be knocked over with a huff and a puff. Sure you can get heavier stands, but just another bag to carry. No doubt, Dedo's are a better light, but more bang for the buck with a set of Arri's... MY .02 cents..
 
Good decision SVF! You are gonna dig the kit, the Arris really a cut above most everything else (except the Moles, which are just as good).

Dan
 
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