wgzn
Veteran
there is a LOT of talk out there about "affordable" lighting setups. for the last few years for basic interview situations, i have rented a kinoflo setup of two diva400's and a diva200. it rents for + or - $400 a day. which considering its nearly $5000 price to buy, isnt too, too bad.
but these days, we need to consider clients with "challenged dollars" - for clients that cant afford proper light gear, i just bought (and dont laugh) a britek THREE head kit that costs about $650 to BUY. now its not as good nor nearly as easy to move, set up, break down or USE as the kinos but when you have budget clients, it beats the HELL out of the "home depot" route. or worse - losing the gig!
the two VERY MAJOR caveats are:
- the included diffusers SUCK ASS! they are nearly USELESS. you could throw them away
- they only come with (TWENTY) daylight bulbs.
so what you will have to do is saunter down to your local pro video rental house and buy 11 feet each of 48" full diffusion, and daylight to tungsten gels (which will get you 2, 40" and 1, 30" each) for the supposed "soft boxes" - so add another TWO HUNDRED BUCKS (plus clothespins) for that.
if you are looking for portability, it IS. but only "kinda"
the included bags kinda work, but not really. i think a couple (or 3) well-chosen sterilite boxes from your local target or biglots will remedy that! ; )
still, what you are left with is a workable fluorescent, pseudo-dimmable, daylight/tungsten kit for about $850 which is about the cost of two kino kit rentals.
i dont propose that this will supersede the need to rent proper lighting. but we all sometimes have clients who might pay our daily rate but cant afford proper lights.
buy this, and you might get a few gigs you may have missed otherwise.
links to the kits: i used the first one and the kit arrived a day BEFORE the UPS tracked date.
http://www.lincoinc168.com/40fllikitwib.html
http://www.briteklighting.com/
top right kit (they dont have a direct link. see above link to compare)
but these days, we need to consider clients with "challenged dollars" - for clients that cant afford proper light gear, i just bought (and dont laugh) a britek THREE head kit that costs about $650 to BUY. now its not as good nor nearly as easy to move, set up, break down or USE as the kinos but when you have budget clients, it beats the HELL out of the "home depot" route. or worse - losing the gig!
the two VERY MAJOR caveats are:
- the included diffusers SUCK ASS! they are nearly USELESS. you could throw them away
- they only come with (TWENTY) daylight bulbs.
so what you will have to do is saunter down to your local pro video rental house and buy 11 feet each of 48" full diffusion, and daylight to tungsten gels (which will get you 2, 40" and 1, 30" each) for the supposed "soft boxes" - so add another TWO HUNDRED BUCKS (plus clothespins) for that.
if you are looking for portability, it IS. but only "kinda"
the included bags kinda work, but not really. i think a couple (or 3) well-chosen sterilite boxes from your local target or biglots will remedy that! ; )
still, what you are left with is a workable fluorescent, pseudo-dimmable, daylight/tungsten kit for about $850 which is about the cost of two kino kit rentals.
i dont propose that this will supersede the need to rent proper lighting. but we all sometimes have clients who might pay our daily rate but cant afford proper lights.
buy this, and you might get a few gigs you may have missed otherwise.
links to the kits: i used the first one and the kit arrived a day BEFORE the UPS tracked date.
http://www.lincoinc168.com/40fllikitwib.html
http://www.briteklighting.com/
top right kit (they dont have a direct link. see above link to compare)
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