Basic Lighting Question help?

K

klh121560

Active member
I have been doing video production (writing, filming, sound, editing ...) for the company I work for, and other non-profits for about 2 years now. I also starting doing DSLR photography as well. I have spent most of my $$$ on upgrading via a new Canon 5D Mark III, as well as very good lenses, better sound gear, etc .. Now I need to get started with basic lighting equipment. What would you all recommend as decent starting lighting equipment (names, models, etc ..)??? I'm not looking to buy an expensive Arri lighting system, but enough to get started. I understand basic lighting, but am learning as I go along. Recommendations?

Thanks all,
Ken
 
Alot depends on the space you intend to light in. Large areas might need a lot more light or power for example, smaller rooms you can get away with less power, etc..

In the end I think what you need are good lights as basic tools and then invest in modifiers for them. You can turn a 1k ARRI into a nice softlight by putting it in a softbox or bouncing it off a piece of white foam core. Smaller power lights will be more limiting but can have other purposes like picking out areas of a room you want to light. Diffusion frames are also a good option to soften direct light if you use it. Barn doors are good too to help control spill.

There really isn't a one light fits all kind of thing. Me I'm mostly use fresnels, pars, and flo's. I've never been a fan of LED's but they do seem to be catching on and improving a lot. Who's to say.

In the end I'd recommend an ARRI kit of three lights and a softbox or two. Yes softboxes take up more space but they will work until you figure out more of what you like or need without breaking your wallet.,, and this way you can have hard light to send across a room or softlight for when you might want a flatter look or about another dozen uses softlight can provide.
 
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David W. Jones said:
Do you have a budget you would like to stay within Ken?
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I actually have no idea what lighting costs. I want to stay under $500.00 tops, but hopefully not go that high. I know lighting is important, but than so is lenses, sound, everything... I don't need the best, just a basic starting lighting kit (fill light, back light, rim light). I hope that gives you, and all, a better idea.
 
Lighting is very different from sound and video gear. Treat it like a tool box. Most of us have a selection of different screwdrivers, but after them, tools are very much down to what you do and what you need. Years ago I bought, like lots of people, a redhead kit. Great for doing interviews, but gradually my work shifted into a different area, and I haven't had the Redheads out of the case for years now. I too agree that a Fresnel or two can be much more use. Mainly because they're a precision tool, rather than a blunt chisel like Redheads. They flatter subjects - pimples and zits are softened a little. If you have two, they blend better. The 'quality' of light is better. If space for storage and transport isn't an issue, maybe buy some bigger ones. They don't cost much more and the bigger lenses are even better. Many can have lower Wattage lamps put in them. Old second hand ones are also good investments. I've got a nice Mole that I won't part with, that came out of a skip when my local broadcaster was re-equipping. I even got the heavy duty stand. It just does a great job. I've got quite a few different sized Arris, and even a couple of the Chinese Arri knock-offs, and to be honest, they do a great job too. The Chinese ones will not last as long - that's pretty clear, especially the barn doors, as the metal it too soft and bends easily - BUT - when somebody trips on a cable and they hit the ground and smash, it's not quite as bad!

If you have jobs that always give you a little time, I'd wait for the first one that needs lighting, and buy for that one, rather than guess what you'll need. That's why people often hire lighting kit. No two jobs ever need the same things, so with a lower budget, you could blow it all, be happy, and still have to hire in when you need to, for example, light a big wide open space. Sometimes you plan for everything and then a job comes in that you didn't think about. In my quieter times I got a job to do some training videos for a big factory, and lighting was a real problem. I have lots of lighting kit, and nothing worked. I ended up buying a solution, which with a store of kit really annoyed me.
 
I respect your answer. For now though, I just need a basic starting lighting kit. Basic is the key word. Can you recommend any specific names/models?
 
klh121560 said:
I respect your answer. For now though, I just need a basic starting lighting kit. Basic is the key word. Can you recommend any specific names/models?
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Sorry I don't really have any experience with lighting kits for $500 and under.

My philosophy is likely a little different than the norm these days.... I invest in higher quality lighting instruments which will likely last a lifetime, and purchase cameras which I will likely change every 3 years. My light kit consists of a variety of different instruments which will cover the majority of the shoots I do, and numbers around 70 lights. Being the frugal kind of guy I am, I purchased most of these lights used one at a time. The only lights I own which were purchased new are LED lights, and Biax fluorescent lights. For what I do, mainly shooting TV commercials, I need a well rounded kit to cover all the bases. One day I may be shooting a talking head interior location, the next a green screen shot, or a family picnicking at an exterior park, so forth. So having different lights is a must for me.

In my professional opinion, your ability to shape and control light is much more important than which camera you use to shoot something with.

So, an inexpensive under $500 light kit is better than no light kit at all, but is something you will end up replacing as soon as you have enough money.

If you were so inclined, there are numerous threads myself and others have made real world suggestions to including brands, lighting types, to fit various budgets, which the search function should find for you.

All the best!

Dave
 
These are as basic as it gets and within your budget. You probably won't get any support from the vendor for spares. These are not an investment, but just something to get you started.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/231047756471?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370896934068?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3pcs-x-650W...094?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item461058781e

Make the light soft with a kit like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321194253797?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649



If you'd rather put your money into lights that will last a lifetime, there are plenty of Mole Richardson lights on ebay at reasonable prices.
 
I built up my own light kit for a very reasonable amount of money. I found that most of the "kits" are a bit under stocked and a bit expensive new. I usually use this kit, and rent any kind of supplemental lighting I need for the project.

-Used Storm case
-China lanterns
-box of various wattage light blubs (frosted and unfrosted)
-AC cords
-sheets of foamcore (one side painted black - bounce or flag!)
-collapsable reflector
-cube taps
-AC-lightblub adapters
-roll of gel (1 set of CTO, CTB, various colors, and diffusion)
-C-47s
-small tool kit, most important are a C-wrench, screwdrivers, knife and flashlight
-3 Lowel DP lights, bought used. 2 lamped at 750W, 1 at 1kW
-1 Tota light. almost never use it, but its so small I justify keeping it.
-gaff tape and black wrap.
-LED par house lights (still in testing but so far so good for $40/bulb)
-some clamp lights
-compact light stands

I usually end up renting a couple fresnels, c stands and other stuff for larger projects.

Really, I feel like if you're on a budget like $500, better off assembling your own light kit. I personally use lots of practicals and natural light. I also find using some more "ugly" lights with bounce works well for me. Cheap, open face lights, like the Lowel DPs, are very versatile if you know how to use them.
 
Some of those ebay kits may seem tempting, but you're going to be better off with Andrew's approach above. I've seen some ebay kits that look like they're real lights, but once you get close you see they're just rehoused $12 construction lights and don't give very good results. Look around for some used Lowel's or Arri's to start building a kit that's tailored to your own needs. The better made brand name stuff bought used will outperform and outlast the cheap stuff on ebay.
 
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