FilmGear fresnel.... lamp down possible?

legrevedotcom

legrevedotcom

Veteran
I already have a 330w FloLight soft lamp, an 800w ArriLite and two Bowens flash units that can act as 250w open face tungstens so

basically I'm about to buy:
1k FilmGear fresnel
2 x FilmGear 650w fresnel

I was going to get a 300 instead of one of the 650s but then I thought that I might as well get as much wattage as possible for that little extra cash.
And if I'm not mistaken I can lamp down the 650w by just using a 300w lamp instead right? Atleast from their website it says that the 650 and 300 have the same lamp holder, so I take it I just exchange the bulbs and that's it?

Any ideas are welcome as well...
 
The CP81 and CP89 lamps are the same size (a 90mm envelope) and physically the only real difference is the filament shape - which may make a small difference, but in a Fresnel, I'd be quite happy running either in the 650W housing.
 
I relamp fresnels all the time, if I don't want the warmth of a dimmer. Just get the correct socket and don't go past the rated power of the fixture.

I have a brief-case style plastic toolbox a portable drill came in - I cut out the dividers and filled it with foam, and slotted the foam for various globes. Mark the wattage on the ceramic base with a pencil (sharpies fade from the heat) and you can grab various wattages at a glance. I also tend to stick blue tape on the yoke and sharpie the current wattage on the light, makes it easier to grab the correct light.
 
"I was going to get a 300 instead of one of the 650s but then I thought that I might as well get as much wattage as possible for that little extra cash."

Good idea. Might as well have that flexibility for a little extra cash.

"And if I'm not mistaken I can lamp down the 650w by just using a 300w lamp instead right? "

You are correct.

Q: where are you buying from, direct from Filmgear, Birns and Sawyer or another source?
Reason I ask is that B&S has never responded to me after multiple attempts to get quotes on a 1K so I
have given up on them. Seems like if you are not "with somebody" they don't want to deal with you. I love the Filmgear quality though and wouldn't mind picking up another 650.
 
To be honest I just browse around EU shops for prices. So far I've found a few shops I like that also offer VAT free sales within EU.

www.videogear.co.uk
www.uklight.co.uk
www.creativevideo.co.uk (although I'm about to cancel an order with them because the "<2 weeks" mark was changed to 4-6 weeks over email... not acceptable)
www.proav.co.uk

www.fotobrenner.de - They by the way stock the Heliopan 72mm Var ND filter for those who need it :D Mine got from Germany to Denmark in approx. 6 days.
 
I recommend to also check the Cinelight brand with their Junior 650W Fresnel. They are from EU and offer VAT free sales and also you my find them cheaper than FilmGear.

Personally I own several of their fixtures and I'm very happy with them. Even had the chance to compare my Fresnel 1K with a 1Kw Filmgear and I find the Cinelight brand better build than Filmgear.

There are other forum users who own equipment from Cinelight and are pleased with.
Here is a link from a video review made by another forum user for a Fresnel 650: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CogIAkXbSUg&feature=player_embedded
And his personal thoughts: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...luLine-300w-Fresnel/page3&highlight=Cinelight

I can confirm that it will work just fine to install a 300W lamps inside a 650W fixture.
 
I'm interested in the VAT comments. Inter-EU state sales can have VAT-less sales if a valid VAT number exists, but I've never found anybody willing to sell things within the UK to another trader or user without the VAT?

In the UK, as I think I mentioned in another topic is to make sure that any lamps are the correct voltage. In Europe we have so-called harmonised voltage - so all calculations and comments talk about 230V everywhere in Europe, however, the UK nominal voltage is still 240V, and in mainland Europe still 220V. The spec allows a handy +/- percentage to be used, meaning we're the same - which clearly we are not. Many manufacturers of the lamps, especially in China, are making genuine 230V lamps, which when overdriven here in the UK, are a bit brighter, a bit higher in CT and last a LOT less time - especially when switched on and off frequently.

The other thing I've seen in a few vides's is that people are actually touching the glass with their fingers when re-lamping. Something that is really bad news with Tungsten Halogen lamps. Theatre people, world wide are always talking about this problem, but video people far less so. The cost of lamps isn't exactly cheap, and anything that cuts down lifespan is a really simple thing to save you money!
 
Yes you are correct... VAT free can only occur inter-EU. I'm from Denmark and despite having several decent dealers around, I can't be bothered having to put out VAT when I can order the same things (often cheaper) without VAT in fx the UK or GE. I get the feeling that not a lot of shops promote this as there should be... it would good for their sales imo.
Only time I deal locally is if I need to lease something larger. Then the whole invoice to leasing and so on gets a bit complicated.

About the touching the lamp thing... back at photography school, we had a nice little "rental" office with loads of gear we could use freely for school projects. One of the "show and tell" things they had hanging was an old chimera with little holes in it. Hanging next to it was the shattered bulb. Nice reminder :D
Obviously things like that only happens one time and never again.

I don't think I've ever touched a useble bulb with my bare hands.

Thanks for the CInelight links. I'll give them a look. Seems like there's a holdup in the stock of the FilmGear lamps :(
 
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