Accessories for light kit

M

Mark-P

Well-known member
I am going to get the following Arri lighting kit for interviews/documentaries. Can anyone recommend any accessories that seem to be missing that would help for my intended purpose. I am looking for umbrellas, gels, softboxes, or anything else anyone can recommend that I may be overlooking. My company has a budget and I want to get as many accessories as I can while we have the money.

http://www.adorama.com/AR571891.html?searchinfo=AR571891&item_no=1

Thanks!!!
 
First I must commend you on purchasing an excellent kit. I bought one myself from adorama a few months back and have been quite happy.

Secondly, it depends on how much grip gear you want to get into for extra gear. Here's some things I've found useful (and I'm sure others will disagree or add on):
- gels, diffusion
- blackwrap
- an additional 50' power cord
- a couple 3 to 2 prong adapters
- a couple cube taps (3 plugs go into one)
- an additional light stand (the kit only comes with 4)
- if possible 2-4 c-stands (you could use one of these as the light stand)
- an assortment of flags & nets
- a baby plate
- some pony clamps
- maybe an additional mafer or cardellini
- add on some half scrims for each light (I like these and find them useful)
- BUY replacement bulbs for each of the lights (don't want to be caught without one)

The Chimera included should cover you for softboxes, it looks great.

Hope this was helpful!
 
Can you recommend any specific models for:

- gels, diffusion
- blackwrap (not even sure what this is?)
- a couple 3 to 2 prong adapters (not even sure what this is?)
- a couple cube taps (3 plugs go into one) (not even sure what this is?)
- if possible 2-4 c-stands (you could use one of these as the light stand)
- an assortment of flags & nets
- a baby plate (not even sure what this is?)

Thanks for your advice!!!!!
 
For brands:

Gel/Diffusion: Either Rosco or Lee. They're really similar in price...

Blackwrap: It's very much like aluminum foil except matte black and very heat resistent. You use this to control spill leaking from barndoors, create snoots and shape the light further, etc.

Cubetaps, adapters, etc: Just got to your local home depot and they should have everything you need there.

C-stands, Flags, Nets, Grip: I like Matthew's stuff the most - www.msegrip.com. You can also look at either Avenger or Modern Studio.
 
Do you live in the US ? You'll want to buy the 120v version instead of the 220...The kit itself is fine, B&H offers both... Double check your order, before they ship..
 
Thanks everyone for the responses!

Can anyone recommend any carrying cases for this kit?

Thanks again.
 
Mark-P said:
Thanks everyone for the responses!

Can anyone recommend any carrying cases for this kit?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...


Did you look at the photo? This includes a wheeled, albeit heavy, travel case. If you want help carrying the kit...get a Magliner..
 
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All the advice above is right on. You'll be doing interviews. That affects your needs somewhat.

For gels you'll need some CTB for those situations where you need to match daylight, such as might be coming through a window. BTW, windows are good, soft keys but can be changing and inconsistent. Lighting a darkeneed room is much more controllable.

You also might want a blue and maybe red party gel to place a little shaft in a blank background wall. If you must do this, do it subtly so it isn't garish.

For interviews you'll want to use one of the small lights directly behind the subject and high, as a hair light, to separate the subject from the background. You'll need a 40" gobo arm with two grip heads to hang this light out there and keep the C-stand or light stand out of the way. (And a sandbag is a must!) You might also want a second light to illuminate the shoulders. Keep these sources off the lens to avoid flare.

For all those boring walls, get a cucolaris (cookie) that will fit your case so you can project it on the background for visual interest.

Dim, golden, out-of-focus table lamps look great in the background. Bring a couple of 40 Watt light bulbs you can swap into whatever practical you find.

Get dimmers for the hairlight, practical and background lights.

Close-to-the-face foamcore makes great fill if you like just enough light on the fill side to read a little shadow detail.

You MUST have a grid for the softbank to keep it off the background.
 
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