Cool Lights Tungsten fresnels... any opinions?

eiker_ir

eiker_ir

Well-known member
I'm putting together small kit right now, i've already decided on a couple of soft light sources from Cool Lights but would also like to get some hard light to have more options.

I was gonna get some Lowel lights for this purpose (something like a DP and some smaller Pros), but then found the Cool Lights Tungsten Fresnels at a very attractive price compared to the Lowel stuff (including accesories, barn doors, etc.) so i would like to know if anyone has any opinions on their built quality, control over the light, etc.?

How do these compare to the Arris or Lowel lights like the DP, Pro or Omni lights?

http://www.coollights.biz/hardlight-fixture-series-tungsten-c-28_30.html

Any opinions or comments are welcome.
 
Well I've owned the Lowell dp lights for a few years now, and I'd take the fresnels over them. For open face lights, the Lowell dps are pretty good, but like all lensless lights, they still need lots of diffusion or scrimming. If you can get a fresnel for a competitive price, I'd go for it
 
I have a couple. I love them and (for the moment) wouldn't trade them for several reasons that may make their prices a little higher (Arris etc).

Temperature wise they run cool to the touch. You can unplug and pack immediately.
They throw low-temperature light, which allows you to put 6+ on talent (especially non-actor types like I shoot) and they don't get super uncomfortable and sweaty. This also means you can use cheap accessories, like taping paper or cardboard directly to the housing to bounce things without fear of bursting into flames.
You never have to worry about blowing a circuit. You can plug 6 into a single 110 without thinking about it. This also means they can run off batteries (12v via DC/AC converters) rather than requiring generators.
You can swap bulbs between 5600 and 3600k.
Tech support and warranty is really good. Richard has been wonderful.

Build quality is good. It's not Arri, but understand that it's because it doesn't need to support/dissipate the high operating temperatures, so it's made of aluminum and plastic. They're easy to disassemble and fiddle with.

Fresnel control is good... as decent as Arri. Smooth coverage without much of a center hotspot at either end of the zoom.
I personally haven't attempted to mix them with Omni's or Lowells, so I can't speak much of color casting. I've been pampered by them and given the choice, will always use them over the others.
 
eiker_ir said:
Are you talking about the tungsten fresnels or the Metal Halide/HDMI they also sell? http://www.coollights.biz/hardlight-fixture-series-metal-halide-c-28_29.html

From your description it seems to be the second option, they seem like a good choice too (although out my expected budget at the moment) but i'm right now i'm interested in getting some tungsten ones like the ones linked in the first post.
Click to expand...

He is talking about the flo fixtures I suppose.

The cool lights certainly look nice. Depending on what size fixtures you are looking for, but I would look for used lights. For example, I just got 2 1k fresnels (the brand is Strand) for 250 bucks, shipping included. I will have to replace the stage pin (bates connector) with an edision plug and the clamp with an adaptor to put it on a stand. Even with those and bulbs, I am still right about 150 per light, which is a good deal (IMO) for a 1K.

I haven't been able to find smaller watt fixtures for good deals unfortunately. There aren't as many out there I suppose.....
 
My only beef with Cool Lights is their cheap hardware. I bought 2 cdm fresnels and a 6 bank flo light; all 3 of them had hardware failures within 8 months of quite minimal use. The screw that tightens the yoke on the fresnels both stripped to dust, and same with the 6 bank lollipop adjustment screw. And the lollipop got chewed out pretty easily. I have a feeling the 6 bank is too heavy for a support like that. Might be why there's no 6 bank Kino Diva? A separate ballast might have been a better design.
I should add, CL sent hardware replacements every time.
They make nice lights that perform well, but in my experience their hardware doesn't live up to the task. I'd happily pay a little more for high grade hardware. Your light depends on it.
 
JPM Photography said:
He is talking about the flo fixtures I suppose..
Click to expand...

The OP subject was the Tungsten Fresnels. I own two of the 300 watt models - they're really very good for the $$. The focus knob keeps popping off one of mine - not broken, there's just not a set screw to hold it on, next time I mix up some JB Weld I'm thinking that may hold it. But they have good barn doors, I like the lamp they use (and the socket will take a 150 I believe so you can lamp down vs. dimming). I'd recommend the 300 for sure.

I do love fresnels; you can find very good deals on used theatrical fresnels on eBay if you poke around; I have 4 or 5 of the L&E 6" models which take lamps from 500 - 1k. (These are re-branded for Altman's theatrical line - they're stamped steel vs. extruded aluminum but they work well). The L&E/Altman 8" is also a nice light. These all take the larger twist-in globes which aren't as convenient as 2-pin, but they're plentiful. I've converted one to work with the Alzo bulb & ballast setup and I'd like to do another at some point.

If you research, you'll find many posts comparing the Cool Light fresnels to the Chinese "BLue Line" stuff - people generally find the CL product to be a much better build, and Richard's great with the customer service.
 
Yeah that's one of the things i like about Cool Lights, it's easy to communicate with them either via email or in any of the forums where they post. I've already received a fast response from them on a few e-mails that i've sent so that's a plus, and also one of the reason why i'm not too interested in the Chinese stuff from eBay.

I'm still looking around for different options since i'll be making the purchase in the next two or three months, so any other recommendations or comments are welcome.
 
I got a few tungsten lights for cheap a few months ago and fitted them for video work.

You can check out the thread that I started for them - Reviving Old Stage Fresnels

Michael and Paul helped me figure out what I needed to get them up and running. It's worth it if you can find some that work. When struck, you can cook a pizza on them, but they still work great and are built to last.
 
Mike H. said:
My only beef with Cool Lights is their cheap hardware. I bought 2 cdm fresnels and a 6 bank flo light; all 3 of them had hardware failures within 8 months of quite minimal use. The screw that tightens the yoke on the fresnels both stripped to dust, and same with the 6 bank lollipop adjustment screw. And the lollipop got chewed out pretty easily. I have a feeling the 6 bank is too heavy for a support like that. Might be why there's no 6 bank Kino Diva? A separate ballast might have been a better design.
I should add, CL sent hardware replacements every time.
They make nice lights that perform well, but in my experience their hardware doesn't live up to the task. I'd happily pay a little more for high grade hardware. Your light depends on it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I recently received some of their quick release plates and lollipops for a DIY build. No matter how I screwed them together they wouldn't go in their receiver plate... luckily I ground down the offending screws to be plane with the countersink. Dremel = best $50 I've ever spent. However, for lollipops, there's really no other options. Kino doesn't even sell their mounting plate--you'd have to buy a whole fixture and THEN the mounting plate too.
 
For that matter, I really really wish that Cool Lights made a 4 foot 4 bank comparable model. Still a softer light with a better wrap than the Diva.
 
DaneCannon said:
For that matter, I really really wish that Cool Lights made a 4 foot 4 bank comparable model. Still a softer light with a better wrap than the Diva.
Click to expand...

There are some Chinese knock offs of the Kino 4X4 made. I see them on Ebay from time to time. I have never taken a chance on them. If anybody has I would like to hear a review.
 
speaking of the fluorescent banks, has anyonte tried the Alzo's Pan-L lights?


They looks pretty good and seem very comparable to the ones from Cool Lights at an overall lower price. Any opinions on them?
 
My little 300 Fresnels are still going strong. I use the heck out of them, video and still shoots. For the $$, I'm super pleased. 300 keeps being a just-right accent light power level, and I've been using them for some artsy black & white film shoots lately, where I'm pushing Ilford HP5+ fpr grain. Really pretty light.
 
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