All 'Round Light Kit

Take_1

Take_1

Well-known member
OK... I've been reading for the last two weeks, threads from this board (thanks), articles from ARRI, EFP Lighting.com etc. etc. I must say that I am alot more educated than when I started. However, I still am having issues creating a light kit that will work for me. So... hopefully someone will be able to help me make the right choices for what I need this kit to do.

Applications:

- Interview lighting
- Tabletop product lighting (in studio and on location)

I initially thought that the ARRI Softbank IV (5 light kit) would be the ticket. Now I'm second guessing that choice as most of the really nice looking light setups for either of the two applications I listed above are using up to 3 Chimeras plus additional Fresnels. I know that you don't have to light with 3 Chimeras but from the samples I've seen it sure looks beautiful. LINK 1 LINK 2

Additionally, if I was to build a more customized light kit, how do I choose which wattage Fresnels to go with? Do you really ever use the 150 very often? Or are you better off going with more 650's (or some other lamp) and getting a few different wattage bulbs to swap out when you need less light?

Any insight into this would be very appreciated.

Thanks for the help!
:)
 
I use a 150 fresnel quite often as a hair-light, or eye-light. I find that you can get away without using chimera's pretty effectively by using foam-core and bead board to bounce with. That being said, it takes more grip gear to effectively rig foam-core to bounce with, so if you're going to be using a lot of soft light, you may as well go with chimeras. The ARRI Softbank IV kit looks like a great starting point for what you want to do, but you'll probably want to add on miscellaneous accessories to really accomplish what you want.

As for building a custom kit, I would say the more wattage, spread the most ways, is usually the way to go. You don't want to blow all your money on a 1K, and a 150. Spread it out, maybe a 650, a 300, and a 150. You'll be suprised how handy those little 150's are.....
 
I cannot get enough 150's. They are excellent for little spaces behind the interviewee . Re-lamping, while on paper sounds like a good idea (save space and money) for me is just a hassle on location. It's so much easier to just grab another light out of my bag and rig it up.
 
Also remember to not forget about things like c-stands , flags , silks , etc because it's not always about how much light you can put on but about where can you take it off
 
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