Difference between a Kino Flo Diva-lite and a regular system with external ballast?

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dtjohns1

Well-known member
I'm looking to get a kino flo unit and I can't figure out which one is right kind for me to get. I do music videos and most of my setups are butterfly or clamshell lighting with a high frontal soft key light-good example is 1:02 here
Does the internal ballast of the diva-lite effect the weight of the unit and make it harder to hang from a field goal post light stand than the regular kino flo (the description of the this one says its "light enought to tape to a wall")? Also is there any differences in output, etc.?
 
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Here are the photometrics for the two lights.

4x4
http://www.kinoflo.com/Lighting fix... Double, Single/4bank select/Photometrics.htm

Diva
http://www.kinoflo.com/Lighting Fixtures/Diva-Lite/Photometrics.htm

They're very comparable, but the 4x4 puts out a little bit more. I'd also say it's softer because of the fact that it's a bigger source..4 foot tubes instead of 2 foot.

The external ballast is fantastic for rigging and the lightweight unit is almost reason enough to rule out the diva. The diva has a dimmer, while the 4x4 has switches for each tube..It also is a bit more compact and better for travel, but I honestly don't like working with them because of the weight and the baby receiver backing plate...just makes rigging a little more difficult.

It's sort of up to you to decide what is better for you, they're both good lights that will last you quite some time, but they're just better for different things.
 
I would like to add some thing to what RyanT said, the diva's color changes when dimmed. It turns very magenta.

I don't like the diva because of the color shift, besides that I have no dislike of it. As far a rigging goes you can swop out the pin on the back for one you like. You can't take it apart like you can a regular kino. Your video shows a lot of loose bulbs hanging here and there. The diva has fixed bulbs that can't come out of the housing. An image 80/85 has the same limitation.

I think the light in the video at 1:02 is an image 85 with built in ballist. It has 8 bulbs and is softer than a 4x4 or a diva.
 
another benefit of the 4x4 is that if you rig it high you can still have the balast (and therefore you intensity controls to a certain extent) within reach on the ground instead of having to go up to the light itself.
 
I agree with the two above. I found the 4 ft tubes much softer.

I found the external ballast particularly handy when I directly toplit a subject using only a c sand and several sandbags. I don't know if I'd trust the extra weight on a fully extended boom above actors.
 
Seems like the consensus is to go with the external ballast. Is the cable that connects the ballast to the fixture pretty long? For some reason it seems like the ballast would be annoying and get in the way.
 
25' I believe. It doesn't get in the way. Ballasts are just a natural sort of thing that you have to deal with in lighting. You'll get over it. If anything it's nice if you have a few 4x4's to have the controls of all the lights in one place.
 
Agreed...go with the 4x4. As mentioned, the color shift on the dimming ballast is unusable. By turning on and off tunes on the ballast, and changing the power phase switch, you should be able to get the desired amount of light out of external ballast fixtures.
 
Put in my order on b&h today! I appreciate everyone's help. Does anyone know where to get red colored tubes for these? @Patryk_Rebisz lol! I doubt I'll get anywhere close to the example video I listed in my lifetime but hey I have fun doing it to the best of my ability.
 
No clue, but try out some blacklight tubes! 12 dollars a pop at home depot. They're very fun.
 
Will do! They won't mess up my ballast or anything will they? Can't afford to mess up this $1200 I just spent lol
 
A 4' 4Bank is twice as long as a Diva, so I don't consider them that comparable. In most applications they aren't interchangeable, so a better comparison would be a 2' 4Bank.

And while the Diva is roughly the size of a 2' 4Bank, it's about as bright as a 4'. That alone is an advantage, as is it's ability to come out of the case already built with no need to attach cables, or ballast.
 
@Arceric Yeah I received it today and I'm kind of let down. This unit is WAYYY to big for me. Whoever said this could be "taped to a wall" must have had some really good gorilla tape. I think I would have been better off with a 2 ft 4 bank.
 
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