Affordable Kino Flo alternatives

I can't answer for those, but I picked up an Alzo video light
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALZO-Dimmable-P...452?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5641a5cd24
http://www.alzovideo.com/alzo_pan-l-lite_quad_dimmable.htm

I chose this because it uses the same T-5 Osrams as the Divas and it was sub $400. I will say that the only dissappointment I've had is the awkward mounting. The mount is on the side. It is secure and has never failed. It is just top heavy. I have considered mounting a baby plate to the back to make the mount more centered like the Diva.

Hope that helps.
 
The Cool Lights products are a lot of bang for the bucks, and the owner Richard, is a sponsor here and very customer oriented. He usually answers questions himself, and quickly! there is a ton of good info about bulbs on his site. The cl455 portable is pretty well made but very light which is good and bad. If I didn't have to pack them around too much, I think I would go for the slightly less expensive studio versions, though they do weigh quite a bit more. For traveling, I can get two cl455 portables in the largest Kata One Man Band Case which works great.

Grant
 
The FloLight link shows a Chinese model (available in 2 and 4 tube) which many importers seem to carry; you should be able to find the same light in a 2 for under $200 and a four for under $300 - check eBay and Amazon. I own 2's and 4's of this thing and they're a steal. Only possible problem is the t-handle/knob that tightens the yoke to the stand - on one of mine, the plastic part became loose. Mine are 6mm and I found replacement handles on line (you could tap & drill it for a US thread knob as well).

The flolights with the goosenecks... one of those is handy to have - they are SO LIGHT you can hang 'em from a ceiling grid. But the gooseneck needs a lot of loctite eventually.

I don't know how much more robust the Kino's are, and people love the Cool Light models. Main thing is to get a decent case - hard to find something to pack the 4-bank biax flos in.
 
I don't know about alternatives, but I shot at a VERY small studio at a car dealership with kino flo divas for the green screen background plus forground and commercial portable work, and now I want them back.
 
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