Flourescent Light Kit - how many watts?

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kentc

New member
I want to buy a flourescent light kit with daylight balanced bulbs but am not sure how many watts I need and would love any suggestions. These won't be used for close interview style lighting but will be needed for low contrast full body lighting.

If I need a flourescent light equivalent to a 1000 watt tungsten light what wattage would I need (i.e., what's the definitive conversion ratio)? I like the Westcott Spiderlite TD5s but I don't think their 115 watts is enough for a key light.

I'm leaning towards buying one or two large flourescent light panels and maybe a couple smaller and cheaper flood lights or softboxes that have multiple bulbs.
 
Something like a 4 X 55w unit which draws 220w and puts out almost 1000w worth of light. The Cool Lights CL-455 is such a unit:

http://www.coollights.biz/cl455-cool-lights-watt-fluorescent-video-soft-light-p-31.html

Our CL-655 has six tubes draws 330w of power and puts out almost 1300w equivalent light.

You can do the same thing with two or three of the CL-255 2x55 watt units too but that gives you the flexibility of spreading the sources out more. Let me know if I can help at all.
 
Take a look at the ARRI Studio Cool fixtures.
I have just bought 4 of them. Up until now I have not owned anything apart from Kino. I am now specing them on my gigs in place of kino and looking to buy more.
They are an extremely punchy unit. Great light, great control, great dimming.

With Osram studioline tubes I am getting about the same output as a 1.2 Hmi softlight. (or there abouts.)
No, I don't own shares in arri, its just that its rare to find a light thatis so surprising in its output and control for its size.
Cheers
Chris
 
cshaks - how many tubes and total watts per your Arri fixture cause I see they come in 2 or 4 tubes.

Cool Lights - I took at look at your units and read about them on other threads. Did I read right that you don't have adapters for c-stands, etc. but only if you buy your rolling light stand? Also, what do you recommend as far as a portable carrying case for taking them out on locations?
 
kentc said:
cshaks - how many tubes and total watts per your Arri fixture cause I see they come in 2 or 4 tubes.

Cool Lights - I took at look at your units and read about them on other threads. Did I read right that you don't have adapters for c-stands, etc. but only if you buy your rolling light stand? Also, what do you recommend as far as a portable carrying case for taking them out on locations?
Click to expand...

As of last week we have the adapters in stock just haven't had a chance to put them on the site yet. Up until now people either bought our stand or they adapted another TVMP adapter to work with the yoke.

As for a portable carrying case I don't have one yet but I have one user that's getting a custom road case and I'll post info on that when we have. It depends upon what level of protection you want. There are the soft sided cases that don't provide much other than paint scratch protection and there are ATA Road cases for air travel and such.
 
kentc said:
cshaks - how many tubes and total watts per your Arri fixture cause I see they come in 2 or 4 tubes.

Cool Lights - I took at look at your units and read about them on other threads. Did I read right that you don't have adapters for c-stands, etc. but only if you buy your rolling light stand? Also, what do you recommend as far as a portable carrying case for taking them out on locations?
Click to expand...


Kent, I have the 4 tube version, vertical not the 2 + 2. I am pretty sure I am running 55 w tubes. Osram Studioline .
Mine also have the 29mm spiggot, but I am just going to by a couple of long baby pins to use with them as well. Weight will not be a problem for me to get them on a cee stand.
 
I worked with Bosindy in Cambridge MA. We used it for a few shots in his Spyfest entry Frozen River. I havn't been able to buy them yet. I just quit my job to do this full time and I have to build up some continuing clients before I can afford to buy anything.
 
Ah, yes Bosindy.

On quitting your job: congratulations! Pretty scarey when you first jump off but you've got to do it sometime or you'll regret it later if you don't at least try. Good luck with whatever you do!
 
Thanks. I'm having fun so far. Got a lighting design gig on a feature, DP on a music video, shoot and edit a webasode for a few magazines so far. Its going ok and I love meeting new people.
 
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