Fresnel or Flourescent?

[Gohanto]

I'm debating back and forth though on investing in a 650W Fresnel and some diffusion for both hard and soft light or a 2x55W florescent from cool lights. At the moment, I've got a 250W Prolight, 2 300W el-cheapo lights on stands (blackwrap acting as barndoors), 2 china lanterns, reflector, and a set of decent gels.
I'm in school and I likely will only be able to get one of these for the next while, so any advice on which you think would be better for me would be great.

 

[slondon]

You get a lot more light from the fresnel, you can soften it by bouncing off a card or flexfill or through a silk and its color temperature is compatible with your other lights.

What projects are you trying to do, light a single room? You need just key, fill, back and background to start and with the 650 and the rest of your stuff, you'd be in great shape.

IMHO

 

[Cool Lights]

Of course, we'll be carrying the 650w fresnel as well and don't totally rule out our new CL-MF0150 CDM 150w fresnel which is the equivalent of a 650w, puts out hard light, has focusing knob, all that you expect from a fresnel but only draws 1/4th the power to put out the same light. Also available in daylight color too which you can't do with the 650w fresnel without gelling up which will cause light loss. Just another option to think about...