Anyone do a Cool Lights review?

[Cheesesailor77]

I've visited the site several time. Anyone buy the stuff? I'm really curious how it stands up to the "real" thing.

 

[JasonFox]

I have the CL-455 (4x55 studio model, one of the first models available) and dig it, but I've never used "the real thing," so I can't make the comparison you're looking for. If I were buying now, I'd get one of the portable models. Mine is a tank. Which is good sometimes. But not when moving it.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

I have the 2 bank and 4 bank portable dimmable models. Love 'em. They are equal to Kinos, IMO.

 

[Cheesesailor77]

I have the CL-455 (4x55 studio model, one of the first models available) and dig it, but I've never used "the real thing," so I can't make the comparison you're looking for.

nor have I, so i appreciate the info. I was considering getting a kino 4x4 though, so if anyone CAN compare, that'd be good also.

 

[Drew Ott]

Kinos are higher quality in my opinion. They are more rugged and I don't worry about hurting them when I transport them. Also their bulbs (at least in the ones that I've used) are coated in thin plastic, so I don't ever worry about one of those breaking.

Cool Lights are nice though because they don't require head cables and ballasts to operate. With Kinos, one must gather all of the things needed and put them together before one can work. With Cool Lights, you just mount to your stand and shoot.

I haven't noticed any visual difference at all between the two. If you think buying the Kinos will make your footage look better than buying Cool Lights, they won't. The quality of light is nearly identical, if not exactly the same.

I own Cool Lights though. Much cheaper. If you're on a budget, Cool Lights all the way.

edit: Cool Lights also can't go underwater (I think) like Kinos can.

 

[Barry_Green]

I've got several of the fixtures, including the CL-655, the CL-SFT1, the 150W tungsten, and the 150 HMI.

They're not in the same class as Kino or Arri or Mole at all. Nor are they priced to be. This stuff is not professional gear, it's hobbyist equipment. It works, it puts out light, it's energy efficient, it all goes on professional stands. It's a nice mid-level market niche. But all the fixtures have issues here and there; the SFT1 buzzed unacceptably (Richard swapped out the bulb with one that buzzes much less); the 150W tungsten's light pattern is kind of wonky and its build quality isn't exactly robust, the CL-655s came with numerous shipping problems (including a dislocated ballast I had to re-wire, and barn doors that were unaligned and needed to be whacked back in place with a hammer). The 150w HMI is far and away the best of the fixtures; it does its job and does it right. There is some buzz but not objectionable, and considering the $390 price tag I'm quite happy with it.

None of this stuff would last a week in a grip truck or a rental house. But that's not what it's made for. It's made for the hobbyist/prosumer who can't afford the "real" stuff. If you baby it, it'll all perform and do the job, for much less than the 'real' stuff. I don't like having to go in and unscrew, open up, and rewire fixtures that are brand new, and I asked Richard to please upgrade his packaging to make sure that doesn't happen again (I've heard from multiple people who've had to do similarly). The later packages I received were packed MUCH better than the first ones.

So, summary: don't kid yourself into thinking you're getting something you're not. The Cool Lights stuff is priced much less than Arri/Mole/Lowel for a reason. It is nowhere near as rugged. But, it's a darn sight better than trying to cobble together some Home Depot Worklights and black-wrap jerry-rigged barn doors!

If you want the best, buy the best. If you cannot possibly afford the best, buy the best on the used market. If you can't afford that, Cool Lights stuff fills in nicely -- just be prepared that you may be expected to do some repairs or rewiring or something like that. And don't expect it to be built to the same standards as the premium manufacturers. It doesn't cost the same, so it isn't the same.

 

[Matty_g]

Cool Lights are nice though because they don't require head cables and ballasts to operate. With Kinos, one must gather all of the things needed and put them together before one can work. With Cool Lights, you just mount to your stand and shoot.

The divas have the ballasts on them just like this.
The few times i've used cool lights i've been worried about messing them up.
:/

 

[Cheesesailor77]

I've got several of the fixtures, including the CL-655, the CL-SFT1, the 150W tungsten, and the 150 HMI.

They're not in the same class as Kino or Arri or Mole at all. Nor are they priced to be. This stuff is not professional gear, it's hobbyist equipment. It works, it puts out light, it's energy efficient, it all goes on professional stands. It's a nice mid-level market niche. But all the fixtures have issues here and there; the SFT1 buzzed unacceptably (Richard swapped out the bulb with one that buzzes much less); the 150W tungsten's light pattern is kind of wonky and its build quality isn't exactly robust, the CL-655s came with numerous shipping problems (including a dislocated ballast I had to re-wire, and barn doors that were unaligned and needed to be whacked back in place with a hammer). The 150w HMI is far and away the best of the fixtures; it does its job and does it right. There is some buzz but not objectionable, and considering the $390 price tag I'm quite happy with it.

None of this stuff would last a week in a grip truck or a rental house. But that's not what it's made for. It's made for the hobbyist/prosumer who can't afford the "real" stuff. If you baby it, it'll all perform and do the job, for much less than the 'real' stuff. I don't like having to go in and unscrew, open up, and rewire fixtures that are brand new, and I asked Richard to please upgrade his packaging to make sure that doesn't happen again (I've heard from multiple people who've had to do similarly). The later packages I received were packed MUCH better than the first ones.

So, summary: don't kid yourself into thinking you're getting something you're not. The Cool Lights stuff is priced much less than Arri/Mole/Lowel for a reason. It is nowhere near as rugged. But, it's a darn sight better than trying to cobble together some Home Depot Worklights and black-wrap jerry-rigged barn doors!

If you want the best, buy the best. If you cannot possibly afford the best, buy the best on the used market. If you can't afford that, Cool Lights stuff fills in nicely -- just be prepared that you may be expected to do some repairs or rewiring or something like that. And don't expect it to be built to the same standards as the premium manufacturers. It doesn't cost the same, so it isn't the same.

Thanks Barry. I wouldn't expect them to do more, and wouldn't buy them if they did less lol. I'm definitely going to try 'em out.

 

[gco]

Bought a couple of 300w tungstens and was a bit surprised to find that both had misaligned reflector mounts and some rough handling dings. One had a hole punched through the bezel and one had a chip in the lens. One focus gear was ok the other rough. One barn door frame had a bent mount and the other was fine. I had been following developments over the last year but just hadn't run across anything that would suggest any fine tuning or rework.
Overall I think these would be great budget lights once the quality control issues get ironed out as I expect they will. Regardless, am still considering a couple of 150 cdm's when they come in.