Black Friday Specials

jbregar said:
I’ve put a big soft box on the 500 and it didn’t slip. The yoke holds fast.

The 350 gets as dim as I’d want it to honestly. Anything dimmer and I’ll use the S30s.

The remotes are ok. Bulkier than the Aputure remote and not as nicely designed, but they work. I like that they use AAAs.

I’d do a 500 and a 180 vs two 300s. The 500 is so nice for balancing daylight or throwing out a lot of soft light in a book light setup or the like.

My ideal kit would probably be one more 350W and what I have. That gives me a 500, two 350s, two S30s, two flexi panels (12x24 and 24x24) and a tube light (ice light style). I can do about all I’d ever want to with that.

The reason I jumped on the CLAR gear was moar power. The 500 definitely gives me that.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these. They sound like a great value for the price point. I keep looking for the "gotcha" but haven't been able to find anything -- they sound remarkably solid. It's amazing how far this tech has come in just a few short years.
 
James0b57 said:
Congrats! Always cool when it is something you actually need and a great deal!

As a collective group we are doing pretty frugal this year. What is our total for the weekend, just the $55 bag right?
Click to expand...

In all honesty, I would rather have bought the black Sling. But the Sage version was on sale for less. Probably because everyone wanted black. The sage looks nice. It's just not black.

I also got a used tamron 70-180 for $700 from lensauthority. 2 more off-brand A7SIII batteries on amazon ($40). Impact portascrim kit ($130). And I'm gonna get some "barefoot" shoes for gimbal for $80.

Earlier this week/last week and outside film gear, i bought a blender, vaccuum, couch, 65-inch Hisense (never heard of them) 4K android TV ($250), children's clothes, diaper bag, and a hoodie.

I think it's the best time of year to buy stuff, if you can afford to wait for it

The CLAR 500 is calling to me but I think I will resist... I don't always max out my 330w... they'll have it on sale again next year... come on, abe, stay on target...
 
soarprod said:
Nanlite Forza series is on sale at Adorama. Just grabbed 2 Forza 500s - POWER!
Click to expand...

CRAZY! Haha! That should do it!


Hit me up in the DM's if you want to swap ideas and use cases with those. Man, it's like a bought a 15" subwoofer, and then you got double subs.


I have to resist the urge to get the Forza 200 and the Forza 60B. Those are the ones I want to compliment the 500w, because the 60B is tiny and bicolor, and the Forza 200 can run on a single V mount and still punch between a Aputure 120DII and 300dII in ouptut.

Those Forza 60 and 60B lights are so small, I can put them in any case or bag and the're just there. Sometimes I even leave the AC power supply at home, and just pack a DC to P-Tap cable, so if I need it I just grab an unused brick and flick it on. At lower powers it can run for a couple hours on battery. I have a 60, but it would be so nice to not have to gel them for a basic temp change. Would make them even more versatile. Though, I am assuming the bi-colour units don't have the same output per watt. Might not matter.


And I wonder if this will fit on my quasar tubes? It's that egg crate sleeve for tube T12 tube lights. I think the Chimera version is like $200. This one is $70
https://www.adorama.com/nnbdpt15cec.html
 
James0b57 said:
. I have a 60, but it would be so nice to not have to gel them for a basic temp change. Would make them even more versatile. Though, I am assuming the bi-colour units don't have the same output per watt. Might not matter.
Click to expand...

Well, it should be a similar output per watt, but less watts in use, right? only at max power when all the LEDs are on, so at 4400k or whatever the average color temp is. But at 3200 or 5600 you are only using half. So yes, a 60 only gives you 30 of what a non-bicolor would give you right?

But my feeling is that if you're not putting out daylight, then probably you're not competing with the sun. So maybe a weaker light will suffice?
 
Last edited:
James0b57 said:
Congrats! Always cool when it is something you actually need and a great deal!

As a collective group we are doing pretty frugal this year. What is our total for the weekend, just the $55 bag right?
Click to expand...

Yeah, right...

Let's see, what have I ordered in the last week...

Ordered several pair of pants from Duluth (-20%, I think).

Tilta Nucleus-M remote follow focus (-10%).

Aputure 600d (possible early adopter tax).

Dyson V11 Cordless Vac (-$100).

Funny enough(or is it), the vacuum is more expensive than the follow focus. And will probably get used WAY more, as well.
 
ahalpert said:
BTW my Peak design 5L sling came in
It's rare to find exactly what you needed...
Click to expand...
Isn't that so true, Abe? And sometimes it's the small accessories that can give you that just-right feeling...

I'm not sure the sling fits my needs, but I'm definitely considering it.
 
firehawk said:
Any recommended V-mouny battery sales for those VL300 or 500watt lights?
Click to expand...

Typically the higher amp rating batteries are better for the 300+ watt lights.

And depends on how fission critical you need the batteries to be.

So many new v-mount brands out, as well.

IDX is reputable and affordable. good middle of the road. but plenty of brands have popped up.

This IDX can handle a up to a 14a load:
https://www.adorama.com/idxcued300.html

Though, if your ballast can take multiple batteries at once, I suppose they don't have to be was beefy.


And these are not particularly cheap by today's standards, but if you are not sure what kind of system you want to build, these allow you to go to any standard mount and flip between 14v and 26v. They also make flight safe block batteries, with removable cells. pretty cool company.
https://blockbattery.com/block-batteries/

But if you aren't worried about mission critical sort of operation from the batteries, take a stab at some of the lesser known brands. Swit may off deals if you call them, but they list the same as all the Western brands, though actually lower once you look at the price to features.
This one is ~200wh with a whopping 15amp constant draw, which is kind of rare:
https://www.adorama.com/swts8183s.h...DcQAiEAQYHCABEgKWAPD_BwE&utm_source=adl-gbase

Some of the cheaper brands start failing, but Shape is making one that looks cheap and high powered.
They are under high capacity and allow for 12amp draw:
270wh
https://www.adorama.com/shv270ts.ht...DcQAiEAQYAyABEgKR1fD_BwE&utm_source=adl-gbase
135wh
https://www.adorama.com/shv135ts.ht...DcQAiEAQYAiABEgKlBfD_BwE&utm_source=adl-gbase


SWX Core whatever has a lot of affordable options. I am not as certain about their sustain power performance, but they seem popular amongst the Reduser crowd. But anytime I have looked at them, they have 8-10amp max, and maybe they have other options, but I need the 12amp for my shoots with monitors and motors and wireless all sometimes coming off one gold mount. So, I don't know much about the brand. Seems a lot of people are migrating to the Bebob minies in the medium budget camera world. I love Bebob, but their high power stuff rivals Anton Bauer in price, so I just stick with ole friend Anton.

A wild card brand, that I have begun to see pop up is FX lion (lithium Ion, I assume?).
They are the lowest cost on my list here, I believe.
https://www.adorama.com/fxlnanoone....N3AHWEAQYCyABEgIocPD_BwE&utm_source=adl-gbase
 
Last edited:
Run&Gun said:
Yeah, right...

Let's see, what have I ordered in the last week...

Ordered several pair of pants from Duluth (-20%, I think).

Tilta Nucleus-M remote follow focus (-10%).

Aputure 600d (possible early adopter tax).

Dyson V11 Cordless Vac (-$100).

Funny enough(or is it), the vacuum is more expensive than the follow focus. And will probably get used WAY more, as well.
Click to expand...


Dang, that reminds me, I need to get a Tilta Nucleus. Crap. I am beginning to cave.
 
groveChuck said:
Isn't that so true, Abe? And sometimes it's the small accessories that can give you that just-right feeling...

I'm not sure the sling fits my needs, but I'm definitely considering it.
Click to expand...

It addresses a specific (and unfortunate) circumstance where I need to carry gear while operating ronin. I need to do it frequently for shooting couples portraits at weddings. I have to keep up with photogs while trekking across scenic landscapes, pausing briefly for shots or shooting on the go. The other circumstance is carrying and monitoring an audio recorder and wireless lavs while operating ronin.
 
So far...

2x ProGrade Digital V90 cards for the new C70 (whenever it shows up)
Audio Technica M50x headphones (for editing)
A video course on the business side of video production (I need all the help I can get there)
Yet another LUT pack (I need to stop, they almost never seem to look as good as they do in the demos)

I am still on the fence about lights. I'm leaning towards letting it slide for another year. I've been making it work so far with my 575w HMIs and Lightstorm LS1s. The C70's cleaner image at ISOs 800 and 1600 should make my life considerably easier (coming from the C200). Plus, my regular gaffer is adding two 600Ds to his arsenal.

I really want to preorder the new Accsoon CineEye 2 (not Pro) but I need to read/watch some reviews first to make sure that it's actually more reliable than the first.
 
QuickHitRecord said:
)
I am still on the fence about lights. I'm leaning towards letting it slide for another year. I've been making it work so far with my 575w HMIs and Lightstorm LS1s. The C70's cleaner image at ISOs 800 and 1600 should make my life considerably easier (coming from the C200). Plus, my regular gaffer is adding two 600Ds to his arsenal.
.
Click to expand...

My gut feeling is that if you weren't shopping around for something already, you shouldn't let a BF discount lure you into buying. But maybe you were shopping for lights already?

The funny thing for me is I've gone from 25% editing/75% shooting before the pandemic to making 75% of my money from editing now (no idea if that will last.)

But I have zero interest in buying new computers, monitors, hard drives or software.

I spent upwards of $13k on camera and sound gear this year but I still get by editing on a 2017 MBP I bought used for $1500 (thank you FCP proxy workflow!) This allocation of resources probably indicates that I'm a bad businessman...

I mean, the computer doesn't slow me down at all. It's totally adequate or I would replace it. I just get no excitement from the prospect
 
ahalpert said:
Just had an idea - LED manufacturers should make the fans super fast so the pitch is higher and easier to EQ out of the audio later. Is that plausible?
Click to expand...

Or, and here is a totally radical idea, why not just make them quiet in the first place?? Hmmmm
 
dadoboy said:
DJI is having some some substantial sales on their Ronins and drones.
Pros of buy at a discount NOW:
-You get a discount
-Tax policy may change (I don't know if DJI is charging tax. Adorama was not last year, but started this year)
-You have time in the pandemic to test the crap out of your gear.
-The US dollar is projected to drop against most currencies over the next 5 years.
-You feel like you're doing something "artistic".

Cons of Gear Acq Syndrome during a Pandemic:
-After you're done testing, it just sits on a shelf.
-Your warranty runs out before you even use it on a real shoot. It breaks on the first day.
-You muse how you never buy anything that appreciates in value. Like a house.
-That hole in your soul is still there when you look down at your chest.
-There's a reasonable chance you could die if not from the virus, then from the debt, and your kin folk will have no idea how much your gear is worth, nor do they give a rat's ass, so they just dump it off to a bulk Ebay seller.
Click to expand...

And if only you'd waited until 2021 then you could have bought that bargain priced piece of equipment from an eBay seller for even cheaper than the Black Friday prices! Which some other sucker had bought today, and was forced to sell off.

QuickHitRecord said:
Haha. I think about this from time to time. Maybe I need to write up an inventory and price list to include in my will.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea! Got to remind my Next of Kin to look at my insurance spreadsheet after I die, so they know what I insured everything for. (which gives a rough proxy for their value at some point in time)

ahalpert said:
does anyone have experience with these peak design slings? the 5 liter version is 45% off - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...design_bsl_5_sg_1_everyday_sling_5l_sage.html

not sure if it's big enough for my purposes. the 10 liter version is 44% off, though maybe it's too big for what I need... https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...10_bk_1_everyday_sling_10l_black.html/reviews

I'm looking for a bag to wear while I gimbal and carry a couple prime lenses (maximum size samyang 85 fe + sigma 24-70 fe), mirrorless camera batteries, a filter case and lens tissues. or a zoom f6 and 2 sennheiser g3 receivers instead of the lenses

I want it to be small, hug close to the body, and not limit my maneuverability. a sling seems like what the doctor ordered, no? a small backpack could do but I think they're too bulky and I don't need that much space. a messenger bag hangs too loosely and can bump into doorframes etc

the lowepro passport sling is also half off - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1032319-REG/lowepro_lp36657_passport_sling_iii_black.html

not sure if it's as comfortable...certainly has less fashionable design but if that's the only difference, then it looks good
Click to expand...

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...race_atv_mixpre6_audio_tactical_vest_for.html

How about a chest harness?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top