Help me pick

Just make sure that you know these are Focus FLOODS which means they have no lens, allowing the light to spill over a larger area (this could be a benefit for certain uses) but also means the lights are harder to control, and get EXTREMELY hot near the barndoors. You cannot mount gels or diffusion on the barndoors really as they will burn from the intense heat. You can frame gels and diffusion and shoot these 1K's through them from a further distance, but that is a lot of extra work/space.

Just something to take into consideration. Here is something similar, though a little more pricy will offer you more diversity and control.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/102960-REG/Arri_571886_Soft_Key_Tungsten_3.html
 
Yeah, be careful man, these arent fresnels...

I would actually invest in a Lowel Rifa88 and a Lowel DP focus flood light, that'll be around 1,000 then you have 1600 to spare to pick and choose your fresnels and flouros


I just got a Rifa88, Totalight, DP Light, and CoolLights flourobank and, with a number of different wattage lamps, I can use them for most anything
 
DM:

Gotta say that I disagree with any of this advice because nobody asked you what you are shooting mostly.

Interiors with no exterior light (controllable rooms) or interiors with lots of sunlight/ambient light bleeding in?

Interviews?

Narrative?

Single or multiple cameras?

How big is your grip crew? Are you doing everything yourself or do you even have a crew?

Doing any exteriors?

Night shoots?

Do you own any grip equipment presently? (C-stands, flags, sand bags, light stands, Chimeras?)

Kits are always a compromise of various sorts. Even though it requires more effort and thinking on your part, I am a big advocate of building your own kit from scratch, you will end up with a much more versatile kit than any pre-fab kit. I know of what I speak about, I own two Arri kits and a Lowel kit and I mostly use my own kit that I assembled.

Give us some particulars and what is most important to you and we can make some more precise recommendations that will stretch your dollar farther.

Dan
 
Interviews? Yes

Narrative? Music videos, so yes, sometimes.

Single or multiple cameras? Single

How big is your grip crew? Are you doing everything yourself or do you even have a crew? Myself

Doing any exteriors? YES

Night shoots? YES

I have access to lots of gear where I currently work, but I am trying to become more self dependent when it comes to using gear. I am on a job to job basis where I work and I want to be able to turn down jobs when I have my own freelance work to do. But, without any lights, I feel obligated to pick up jobs where I work over my own freelance work because I can use their lights, mainly because I do a lot of jobs for them.

I'm looking to put together a kit that can handle most situations. I know that one kit can't do it all, but I'm trying to get as close to that as I can. I do a lot of documentary work and I am starting to shoot more music videos. I don't shoot feature narrative films. So really, what I am currently shooting lately has been documentary work, commercial, and music videos. I have a pretty small budget, about $2,600. I just want to be able to stretch that money as far as I can so I can end up with a good, solid kit that can handle most situations. If I ever need more lights, I can always borrow or rent, I just need a good base kit to start with.
 
Get a 650 fresnel, a 1000w softbox, 2 open faced lights, maybe a lil 150, and lots of gels, and accessories

Oh yeah, and get a 4k HMI. (just kidding...wish I had the money)
 
Ok, so I've been piecing together a kit and here's where I'm at.

From cool lights
2 650watt fresnels
150watt fresnel
1,000 watt fluorescent bank
200watt softbox
$1,600

and then from bh
750watt tota with umbrella
1,000watt DP
$583

so right now I'm sitting at $2,200 with around $400 more to spend, which I am thinking about spending on c stands, gels, and anything else I may need.

also, I have about 4 china balls with 500 watt photoflood bulbs that I already own. So looking at that list, I think that would be a pretty nice kit to start with.

any other suggestions here?
 
Hi:

Before you pull the trigger on anything, read this http://www.dv.com/features/features_item.php?category=Archive&LookupId=/xml/feature/2004/graff0404 I own about $100k worth of grip and lighting and most of it has been sitting dormant for years because I rarely use it, except on big shoots. This year, I only did three shoots where I hauled out all of the big gun stuff, all of the rest of my shoots were small crew, usually myself and 2-3 crew and we use a modified version of what Walter has outlined above. I don't use everything he suggests and added a few of my own tricks that he doesn't suggest in that article but his kit is a GREAT leaping off point and MUCH more usable than any pre-fab kit. If you are smart, you could do this kit or at least most of it for your budget and you would be set for most situations.

IMHO, in your suggested budget, you have too much budget sunk into lights and not enough into lighting control.

Also, buy used, you can get a hell of a lot more usable gear for your money, therefore more bang for the buck. I buy used lighting and grip all of the time now, buying new is for the naive who think that they need everything shiny and new. You don't. Lights only need to put out light, not look all perfect. I buy used C-stands used with 40" arms and grip heads for $80.00. These are good stands like Norms and Matthews, not those crap Amvona stands that newbies pay $150.00 plus shipping for.

My main advice would be, think smaller, lighter, cheaper and more efficiently. I would also advise you to lean toward more than one fluorescent, fluorescents are much easier when shooting outside of studios like in bedrooms, living rooms and offices with windows. They are cooler, you will not pop breakers and they are pleasant for non-pro talent. As much as I love my Mighty, I rarely use it because a freakin' 2k heats up a room like an oven very quickly. I like the quality of light with tungsten a bit better but you cannot argue with the ease of use and convenience of fluorescent lights. Coollights equivalent of the Diva 200 is way under $300.00 and is a steal. Also much more usable in situations with a daylight mix, tungsten become inefficient to the point of comedy when used with full or even half CTB to mix with daylight.

Mix in a few small tungsten 150s or 300s for hairs, rims and BGs and you have a nice, very usable package. You need a LOT of the cool little mounting devices like scissor clamps, putty knife, grip clip, Cardellinis, etc. Those are what make life easier.

Dan
 
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That's funny, I was just reading that article. I will definitely re-think my selections. I've been on my computer for the whole day reading, searching, and learning. There's a very large rental house in Minneapolis near where I live that I will stop in at to see if they have any used gear.

There's so much lighting and grip gear out there that it's overwhelming. I feel like if I get one thing, I can't get another.
 
I know how you feel man.


Based on shoots you've done in the past, and based upon what you've learned here and in those articles, make your selection.

Only YOU know what you will most definitely use and what you know you wont use at all.

Some of the guys I know brag about their 2k HMI's that they saved up to get.
yet they still use their Lowel Omis, DPs, and chimeras when they shoot.

Choose what you know you'll need. If you've rented or borrowed lights to shoot with in the past, consider what you used and didnt use those specific times.

this will all help you narrow it down
 
I am that way. I used to own a 1200 watt HMI Par, a Joker. Amazing light but since the rest of my kit was tungsten, I hardly ever used it, so I sold it. Loved the light but you kind of need more than one HMI to make them very useful.

Dan
 
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