Best light kit for $400??

brock2621

brock2621

Well-known member
I need a lightkit and was wondering what anyone would suggest for about 400? I know it's not much, but it's my budget for lights. Also, i have a machine shop now it's it's easier to build them does anyone have any links to suggestions?
 
400...wow that's a tight budget. Reeeeally tight.

I'd say the lights to consider are:
-A MattSTL flouro (~$200)... look at his other threads in this forum
-A rostronics.com open-face light with barndoors and a softbox (~$160... is there still a DVXuser discount?)
-e-bay auctions of amvona.com's stuff. They make sell softboxes REALLY cheap on e-bay. But they don't work as open-face lights like the rostronics, so they're really limited.

You should be able to pick two of those for 400... remember to leave enough money for stands/cords/etc.
 
yes u still get the 5 percent discount on rostronics.com. when you check out make sure to type out dvxuser in the coupon section
 
My first light kit cost $400. I used it for one shoot and now it sits in the closet.

Unfortunately, I just don't think you can get decent lights for $400. If you need to go cheap just go to home depot, buy work lights, and some foil. They won't be great, but they will be comparable to the $400 lights IMHO.

Then save your money and buy a cheap light kit (like a Lowell) when you have a little more money.

Chris
 
You can always check with Carlos at Miami Film Connection. miamifilm.com
Sometime he has deals that you just can't pass up. I've know him for years and have never gotten a bad deal. Some of his gear is old, but he won't sell it if it is crap.
 
Alright, great ideas guys. I really appreciate it. All my money has gone into the camera and now a micro35 and a lens and cases, so it's getting tight. Thanks again!
 
Having a nice camera and especially one with a micro35 does you no good if you don't have decent lighting... with $400 you cannot buy decent lighting, well maybe a single fixture. I would strongly suggest renting, I've gotten a 4 light Arri kit for as low as $45 a weekend. This is the best bet until you can afford real lighting. Seriously, what good does an awesome camera and lenses do if you can't control your lights? Its like buying a $6k camera and putting it in on a $40 tripod... not a good idea.
 
Well... i guess technically i could squeeze it to about 900, but that would be the absolute maximum, i was leaving about 600 open for like stupid random stuff that pops up, but i could spare some more... So can i get anything better for about 900 or 1000?
 
Rostronics has kits in that price range -- I've been very pleased with mine. 300/600 duals with softboxes as well as barndoors for under $400 if I remember correctly.
Local TV outlet videographer asked the other day if I would be interested in renting -- which validated the professional look of the kit for me.
 
Buy some Par-Cans off of Ebay...cheap.

I got a 1K Par-64 for $70 w/bulb, a couple of Par-38's for $20 each, one of those has a 100w spot and the other has a 65w flood (I know those numbers sound low but they're bright! I usually have to dim them down).

I bounce the 1K into foamcore as the key, the 100w as a backlight and the 65w as the fill and there's your 3-point lighting for an interview.

I use a c-stand for the backlight, and a couple cheap light stands from Amvona.com for the other two.

There you go, under $400..way under.

Works for me.

-Bill
 
BillP said:
Buy some Par-Cans off of Ebay...cheap.

I got a 1K Par-64 for $70 w/bulb, a couple of Par-38's for $20 each, one of those has a 100w spot and the other has a 65w flood (I know those numbers sound low but they're bright! I usually have to dim them down).

I bounce the 1K into foamcore as the key, the 100w as a backlight and the 65w as the fill and there's your 3-point lighting for an interview.

I use a c-stand for the backlight, and a couple cheap light stands from Amvona.com for the other two.

There you go, under $400..way under.

Works for me.

-Bill
Click to expand...

Wow! It's not the prettiest kit in the world, but it should get the job done!

You can NEVER have too much foamcore, by the way!

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV
 
BillP said:
Buy some Par-Cans off of Ebay...cheap.

I use a c-stand for the backlight, and a couple cheap light stands from Amvona.com for the other two.

There you go, under $400..way under.

Works for me.

-Bill
Click to expand...
How do you like the c-stands from Amvona.com? I was just thinking about getting a Combo Light Stand from them to hold a 2k Fresnel Baby, but they just didn't seem strong and hefty enough.
 
DP StrangeLove said:
How do you like the c-stands from Amvona.com? I was just thinking about getting a Combo Light Stand from them to hold a 2k Fresnel Baby, but they just didn't seem strong and hefty enough.
Click to expand...


Actually, I have a Matthews C-stand.
Just my light stands are from Amvona.

But I've heard the Amvona C-stands are alright.

The Amvona light stands I have, aren't that great.
The collars slip a little.
You get what you pay for.

I would get a C-stand for your 2K.


-BillP
 
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