Advice on ARRI Lighting Kit

I agree the Softbank IV is a great kit and will definitely suit your needs for interviews and docs. For talking heads stuff I normally carry a 300 and 150 plus a redhead with Chimera. The Arrilite with Chimera in the Softbank kit will be very similiar.
 
These Arri kits are great, the only caution I would say is that lugging these kits around are a back breaker and grabbing a few lights separately might stave off a slipped disk. so much so I have rethought how I plan on building my kit.
 
Although it's already been said, allow me to also say that the Arri Softbank IV is great! It's really versatile and it's always good to have a few extra lights. I will agree that hauling that case up 3 flights of stairs is a little rough, but the wheels make any other transportation fairly painless.
 
Also is cheap insurance as far as traveling, bumping them around, even dropping the case. The case does weight in around 88lbs, with the lights, but the wheels, like mentioned above, at least make the whole unit tolerable.
Sure, I would prefer a lighter case, but it's also almost indestructible..
 
I've had a Softbank IV Kit for about a year - can't live without it. Worth every dime. Arri's are expensive, but you get what you pay for...for instance, I backed over my 300W light the other day with my Durango, and while the light doesn't look new, it still works like new. Oh, and then a gust of wind came by and knocked over the same light, same day. I never even changed the lamp.

If I had a good HMI, I don't think there's anything that I couldn't light properly.
 
high8 said:
I LOVE the Kino Flo diva lights for interviews. they are low power and not hot to sit next to for the interviewee. and they look great on faces.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...lSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t
Click to expand...

1. Can you recommend a model in particular? I know next to nothing about lighting, though my company has a budget and I am trying to make sure I get whatever we may need in the future while I have this limited window of opportunity.

2. Based on what comes with this kit:
http://www.adorama.com/AR571891.html?searchinfo=AR571891&item_no=1

Do you see much value in purchasing the additional snoots and scrims listed on the right of the page for the type of work we will be doing in the future: interviews and documentaries.

Thanks everyone!!!!
 
I use the Diva Light 400 but also use their 4foot 4bulb fixtures as well.
look for the Diva 400 at B&H or possibly adorama. You will need to purchase the tubes (bulbs) as well. They come in daylight balance or tungsten. I have a lot of CTO gels so i just use the daylight bulbs with orange gels when mixing with other lights.

I think youre on the right track with the link to Adorama. those are good lights and I use them all the time. They come with scrims and you can buy a roll of "black wrap" to create a "snoot" ....save your pennies

The ARRI lights and the Kinos differ in the way they produce light.
The KINO's "fall off" faster than the open face 1k and the fresnels in the ARRI kit.
But the kinos seem to wrap around faces nicely and can look like a nice soft window source. However you cant "spot" a KINO on small selective areas

I would say that for interviews and documentaries you might be better off with the ARRI kit. Everything is contained in the box and packs away nicely. a little heavy to lug around but everything you need for interviews is pretty much covered.

hope this helps!
 
Mark-P said:
1. Can you recommend a model in particular? I know next to nothing about lighting, though my company has a budget and I am trying to make sure I get whatever we may need in the future while I have this limited window of opportunity.

2. Based on what comes with this kit:
http://www.adorama.com/AR571891.html?searchinfo=AR571891&item_no=1

Do you see much value in purchasing the additional snoots and scrims listed on the right of the page for the type of work we will be doing in the future: interviews and documentaries.

Thanks everyone!!!!
Click to expand...

Hi,

I'm a site sponsor and we carry fluorescent lighting like this. The CL-255 is a good value for the work you're doing and many DVXusers have this light as well as other larger units too.

http://www.coollights.biz/cl255-cool-lights-watt-fluorescent-video-soft-light-p-30.html

Comes with barndoor intensifiers, 2 free bulbs in either 3200K or 5600K choice for $169 + shipping. If you don't have a stand, we have one or if you use another stand, make sure to get the optional baby stand adapter with the CL-255. If you have other questions you can PM me or send an email to richard@coollights.biz. Hope this helps.
 
Hey, speaking of these Arri Softlight kits, I've been thinking about purchasing one of these. In fact, I've been thinking about purchasing the Softlight Kit I (the one that has the 1k flood w/ Chimera softbox, 2 650s and 1 300), and supplementing it with another 300 and a 150. How does that kit sound?
 
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