Did I make a mistake?

D

DevonH

Well-known member
So I was a bad nerd and got caught up in a gear buying frenzy the other day. After seeing a review on Cheesy Cam for this light kit, I grabbed one thinking it'd be a great starter kit, but after going through some threads here I'm a tad worried that I'm going to roast my talent (about to start work on a documentary with my interviews taking place in people's homes and offices).

The specs are as follows: [FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]2000 watts/45 watt fluorescent light bulb = 200 watt Incandescent lights[/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I can turn individual lights off, which does help, and they seem to be fairly cool. (Though I'm assuming I'll have my interviewee's turn the AC off when I come in to interview them, so that may change rather quickly). Have I made a mistake here, and what would your thoughts be on a way to save my tail a bit in the lighting corner until I get some more funds allotted for the project? I'm thinking a reflector and some halogen lights with gels from the hardware store.

Thanks
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They're fluorescent lights, so they are unlikely to roast, toast or bake anybody. They will produce very soft light but probably won't have tremendous "throw" or range. The color quality and presence/absence of flicker will depend entirely on the bulbs included with the kit. This is pretty difficult to judge without actually using them. To make a complete kit, you'll probably want another, harder light source or two for use as key or back light. Finding one of those in the same price range that is also daylight balanced may be a challenge. If heat is your major concern, you definitely do not want to add halogen lights to your setup -- they'll be much hotter than these flos.

But I don't think these are terrible, given the price, and you'll probably find them useful. I do hope you read the customer reviews on Amazon, which detail some of the weaknesses with the kit. In particular, it sounds like they would work best if you can set them up in a studio and leave them there, assembled, because taking them apart and putting them back together again for a location shoot sounds like a major pain. And the quality of the hardware is not all top-notch (which I'd expect at this price).

- Greg
 
Hey Greg,
Thanks for your input. I did some more testing with the AC off (around 80 in the house), and they didn't add any considerable amount of heat. I think I'll nab something harder for my back light, and use these as the key lights, I actually really enjoy the light they throw.

I did read the reviews, and my solution is simply that for now they'll take up space in the car fully built out so that the wear and tear is minimal. In a few months I plan on upgrading them. I will say that these are a decent value, and the stands are actually somewhat sturdy.
 
IMHO, fluorescent lighting offer one of the most beautiful 'look' for interviews. The only drawback I see if when you want a more 'creative' lighting, specially for narrative productions. But for documentary and interviews nothing beats a soft light.
 
They look dandy to me, just not well made. Take care of them, especially don't let other people touch them, and you'll be fine.

I have only professional gear and it still amazes me how unknowing crew or people in a rush can trash sturdy stuff.
 
DevonH said:
So I was a bad nerd and got caught up in a gear buying frenzy the other day. After seeing a review on Cheesy Cam for this light kit, I grabbed one thinking it'd be a great starter kit, but after going through some threads here I'm a tad worried that I'm going to roast my talent (about to start work on a documentary with my interviews taking place in people's homes and offices).

The specs are as follows: 2000 watts/45 watt fluorescent light bulb = 200 watt Incandescent lights

I can turn individual lights off, which does help, and they seem to be fairly cool. (Though I'm assuming I'll have my interviewee's turn the AC off when I come in to interview them, so that may change rather quickly). Have I made a mistake here, and what would your thoughts be on a way to save my tail a bit in the lighting corner until I get some more funds allotted for the project? I'm thinking a reflector and some halogen lights with gels from the hardware store.

Thanks
Click to expand...

You're NOT gonna roast yer talent! I bought Fluorescent lighting kits, and I no longer think in the hyperbole that the marketers wish us to read. If it says 5 bulbs that are 45w out, then thats how I judge them, and I think you'll find thats how they'll respond. These'll be enough to whet your appetite for light, and thats about all. There are others out there that come with 85w and even 105w bulbs. I find the 85w's in a 7 bulb arrangement to be about right heat/light ratio. I haul mine all over hell and creation and have had no problems. treat your stuff well and it'll be no issue!
 
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