Here's a peek at what I've been working on...
- Thread starter MattinSTL
- Start date
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
I'll have to show the pics of the barndoor system tomorrow I guess... my larger clips didn't come today... but I'm 95% there... as soon as the clips get here I'll be able to wrap up each light in 5 minutes.
The larger stand is one of my favorites... the 3398b... but the smaller stand is a Bogen 8' stacker... a pretty small $69 stand. Either one can hold these with no problems... on a busy set you may want to sandbag the stands... but the lights weigh about the same as a Gyoury... I need to scale 'em to get an exact number for you, but they're pretty light considering the construction.
The larger stand is one of my favorites... the 3398b... but the smaller stand is a Bogen 8' stacker... a pretty small $69 stand. Either one can hold these with no problems... on a busy set you may want to sandbag the stands... but the lights weigh about the same as a Gyoury... I need to scale 'em to get an exact number for you, but they're pretty light considering the construction.
Last edited:
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
The additional mount I added on the side allows the light to position at any angle with just a Manfrotto 2905, which is $28 from B&H. Previously you had to have a double-ball to accomplish this. The gel clips are nice too... they can be pushed out of the way or utilized... and the barndoors will swing around those.
Last edited:
Luis Caffesse
Admin
SWEET!
Those look great Matt!
Those look great Matt!
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Thanks Luis... I'm pretty happy with 'em. The barndoor system pushes them over the top in functionality. If you've ever used a flo then you know the aggravation of the included barndoors... even on the Diva they don't cut it. Why? Because the ONLY way a barndoor on a flo can be 100% effective is if it's AS WIDE AS THE FIXTURE! So who wants to engineer a 20-24" deep barndoor? It would ruin the look of the light... so they give you 12" and under barndoors... with my system you just pop in a piece of black foam core and you're set.
You can still use 6" or 12" foamcore... or whatever you like. I'm going to include 6" and 12" black coroplast doors with each light... but foamcore is better. I have a ton of black coroplast from my KinoFlo experiments last year... when I thought I'd just make fake-Divas... so I cut that up into shipping friendly bites. This coroplast does not like to be out in the sun though... so I want to issue the disclaimer now that the included black coroplast is a temp BONUS for you to play with until you have to buy black foam core.
At this point I think I have 6 still available.
EDIT: Looks like 3 or 4 left as of 7am, Feb 16th. Hemophilia... thanks... that's what it's all about!
You can still use 6" or 12" foamcore... or whatever you like. I'm going to include 6" and 12" black coroplast doors with each light... but foamcore is better. I have a ton of black coroplast from my KinoFlo experiments last year... when I thought I'd just make fake-Divas... so I cut that up into shipping friendly bites. This coroplast does not like to be out in the sun though... so I want to issue the disclaimer now that the included black coroplast is a temp BONUS for you to play with until you have to buy black foam core.
At this point I think I have 6 still available.
EDIT: Looks like 3 or 4 left as of 7am, Feb 16th. Hemophilia... thanks... that's what it's all about!
Last edited:
hemophilia
Well-known member
Matt- That looks absurdly fantastic. I'd buy one but I'm flat broke at the moment. Looks like an awesome creation for an awesome price though, so I hope you're getting piles of orders and inspiration to keep this up. I don't imagine those 6 will last very long (before being sold that is).
Kinoflo Diva 200 ~ US$550
Lowel Caselight2 ~ US$750
St. Louis Special ~ US$200
Seriously! Obviously there are some pros & cons to each of these lights and they're different-style products that aren't exactly comparable... but it looks like Matt's has its own pros where the others do not (like they look like they could survive a direct hit from the combined might of the entire U.S. Military-- flexibility of his barndoor set-up, etc...). And value-- whew!
Well keep up the good work and if I'm lucky you'll still be cranking these out in a couple months when I can offer you more than just kind words of encouragement.
Kinoflo Diva 200 ~ US$550
Lowel Caselight2 ~ US$750
St. Louis Special ~ US$200
Seriously! Obviously there are some pros & cons to each of these lights and they're different-style products that aren't exactly comparable... but it looks like Matt's has its own pros where the others do not (like they look like they could survive a direct hit from the combined might of the entire U.S. Military-- flexibility of his barndoor set-up, etc...). And value-- whew!
Well keep up the good work and if I'm lucky you'll still be cranking these out in a couple months when I can offer you more than just kind words of encouragement.
Last edited:
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
I just want to remind anybody who bought lights before this current generation that I'll either perform the improvements or sell you a kit to do the barndoors, etc (it's easy) at cost...
As I try to improve each generation of this light I want previous buyers to remain just as happy with the ones they bought. Since you'll notice that the price MUST go up to pay for changes... it's not like somebody else is getting something for free that you didn't get... and that's why I said I'll help you in any way you like. I will FULLY support every person who buys something from me. I just want that statement to be in this thread.
Thanks to everybody who has been supportive of this project.
As I try to improve each generation of this light I want previous buyers to remain just as happy with the ones they bought. Since you'll notice that the price MUST go up to pay for changes... it's not like somebody else is getting something for free that you didn't get... and that's why I said I'll help you in any way you like. I will FULLY support every person who buys something from me. I just want that statement to be in this thread.
Thanks to everybody who has been supportive of this project.
Luis Caffesse
Admin
Envision said:Matt, you're a DIY fiend!Last we PM'd I thought you were going to get me pics of some XLR cables you were working on as well, but never heard back.
I've got one of Matt's cables and I can tell you they are bad ass.
Grade A construction - this thing feels like a tank could run over it and it still wouldn't short out.
If these lights are anything like his cables - then they're MORE than worth every penny.
I was reading the thread and I must say I like how you feel about making things. I think I'm not bad making stuff. I think your lights are great and I would like to make something like yours. If you don't mind I'm not clear about the Ballast used on your lights. I see you are using videssence fluorescent biax lamps. Where did you get the connectors and the ballast used. I am using briteck lights and I would like to use fluorescents but I want to build my own. Just in case I don't like the results. This way I won't go broke trying something new.
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
They are Kino Flo TRUE MATCH 21" flos... I've linked them several times. $21.50 from B&H ($23 shipped at my price which is all I charge... I'm not big on Videssence. These come in the brand new Kino Box and the tubes are clearly marked as KINO)... as for the rest I'm sorry but I've put a LOT of time and a LOT of money into this... I'm charging a super-low price, but I have no interest in disclosing everything I've learned over the last year just for the asking. I've taken great pride in this project and it has been a TON of work to get to this point. Many parts had to be bought with 500 piece minimums! You can't just buy this stuff by the each... or even 10 at a time... or even 20 at a time. Nothing I'm using (except the parts from B&H, which I've fully disclosed) had minimums under 250 pieces. That's saying nothing of all the specialty tools I've bought to do this. It costs me $140-150 to sell a $199 light. I'm working on ways to constantly improve the lights as well as lower the price... because it's a lot of work at this point... but I truly feel like it's a benevolent gesture and I'm having fun building them (as long as people are happy)... and I want to eventually evolve this into something big. So far there are some people who I've given information, parts, or units to... and I'm lucky if I get a quick thanks.
If you open a restaurant because you want to share a dish that you really enjoy and you put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into it (not to mention $)... and even if you open and you aren't making much on anything you sell... would you be keen on just handing your recipe over to some guy that comes in and buys a soda? Please don't take this as rude... but you'd be surprised at how many PMs I get from people who just want me to dump a parts list on them... half of the light couldn't even be made unless I either supplied some of my own parts... or unless you want to do all the legwork I did and then buy 500 piece boxes of stuff. I appreciate the guys who are showing us some cool DOF adapters and what not... but the one guy who is going to SELL them to us (as reasonable prices) isn't hooking us all up with his Asian suppliers. I hope you understand where I'm coming from on this... I'm pretty easy-going and helpful guy 99.9% of the time on these boards... it's just that I've had a lot of people asking for parts lists and blue-prints.
If I ever get sick of this I'll dump parts on the marketplace and disclose everything I've learned over the past 2-3 years... but between you and me... I hope that one day I can make a living on all the various DIY stuff that I do... even if it is just $40 profit at a time. (10 items = $400) No REAL business can operate with these margins... but as you have read in this thread... I'm not a real business... I'm just a guy who means well and wants to make everybody happy as I reduce my dependence on the suck-work I've had to do to make ends meet for the past 12 years.
Anyway... here's the barndoors everybody... sorry for the blabbering on.
If you open a restaurant because you want to share a dish that you really enjoy and you put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into it (not to mention $)... and even if you open and you aren't making much on anything you sell... would you be keen on just handing your recipe over to some guy that comes in and buys a soda? Please don't take this as rude... but you'd be surprised at how many PMs I get from people who just want me to dump a parts list on them... half of the light couldn't even be made unless I either supplied some of my own parts... or unless you want to do all the legwork I did and then buy 500 piece boxes of stuff. I appreciate the guys who are showing us some cool DOF adapters and what not... but the one guy who is going to SELL them to us (as reasonable prices) isn't hooking us all up with his Asian suppliers. I hope you understand where I'm coming from on this... I'm pretty easy-going and helpful guy 99.9% of the time on these boards... it's just that I've had a lot of people asking for parts lists and blue-prints.
If I ever get sick of this I'll dump parts on the marketplace and disclose everything I've learned over the past 2-3 years... but between you and me... I hope that one day I can make a living on all the various DIY stuff that I do... even if it is just $40 profit at a time. (10 items = $400) No REAL business can operate with these margins... but as you have read in this thread... I'm not a real business... I'm just a guy who means well and wants to make everybody happy as I reduce my dependence on the suck-work I've had to do to make ends meet for the past 12 years.
Anyway... here's the barndoors everybody... sorry for the blabbering on.
Last edited:
hemophilia
Well-known member
Amen to that. Fight the good fight Matt.
For my own selfish purposes I hope you manage to make a living on all the DIY stuff you do, cause that's great for everyone. Panasonic supplies the valuable camera, MattSTL LLC. supplies the valuable everything else, and by supplying that oh-so-elusive talent us indie folk can make movies technically as brilliant as jokers spending oooodles more $$$.
For my own selfish purposes I hope you manage to make a living on all the DIY stuff you do, cause that's great for everyone. Panasonic supplies the valuable camera, MattSTL LLC. supplies the valuable everything else, and by supplying that oh-so-elusive talent us indie folk can make movies technically as brilliant as jokers spending oooodles more $$$.
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
That TRULY is what it's all about brother.
Everything I do I think in terms of hundreds... EVERYTHING... I always think, "how cheap could I accomplish this if I do a hundred?"
I'm always thinking of something cool that I'd like to use for video... and then I think there must be other people who would enjoy that same tool. One of the guys who is buying a light said that he wanted to do DIY stuff but it always ends up costing him more then if he'd just bought the thing in the first place. I can tell you that I would be thousands ahead if I'd have just bought a set of Kinos at this time last year.
It's all about evolution... I'm working on chinese lanterns and all sorts of other stuff... when I feel confident in those projects I'll sell them for DIRT cheap as well.
Honestly if I made a list of everything and told you exactly where to go, what to buy, and who to talk to... you'd pay MORE then I'm charging unless you did 20 lights and sold the ones you didn't want. Each of my first prototypes cost me about $225... and then I spent money and R&D tweaking until I can say, "I would love to have a light like this!"
Everything I do I think in terms of hundreds... EVERYTHING... I always think, "how cheap could I accomplish this if I do a hundred?"
I'm always thinking of something cool that I'd like to use for video... and then I think there must be other people who would enjoy that same tool. One of the guys who is buying a light said that he wanted to do DIY stuff but it always ends up costing him more then if he'd just bought the thing in the first place. I can tell you that I would be thousands ahead if I'd have just bought a set of Kinos at this time last year.
It's all about evolution... I'm working on chinese lanterns and all sorts of other stuff... when I feel confident in those projects I'll sell them for DIRT cheap as well.
Honestly if I made a list of everything and told you exactly where to go, what to buy, and who to talk to... you'd pay MORE then I'm charging unless you did 20 lights and sold the ones you didn't want. Each of my first prototypes cost me about $225... and then I spent money and R&D tweaking until I can say, "I would love to have a light like this!"
HybridCreations
Well-known member
At this rate the lights I just bought will be vintage-MattinSTL. I could get hundreds more for 'em! JK, I still love them, and it even looks like I could mod 'em up with a nice barndoor solution (stolen from your designs)! Great work Matt.
-Ryan
JK, I still love them, and it even looks like I could mod 'em up with a nice barndoor solution (stolen from your designs)! Great work Matt.-Ryan
Hey Mat
Understood, the internet is a big place and I'm sure asking the right question, I will get the answer. I am in the business of making lights, I just want to do more shooting with my camera and less time building lights. I purchased plans for a steady cam and the plans cost $40.00 dollars. I build the thing and it works well and someday I wil buy a real steady cam but for now I'm able to see how the shoots look. Great lights good work 1000 kodos for your work
Understood, the internet is a big place and I'm sure asking the right question, I will get the answer. I am in the business of making lights, I just want to do more shooting with my camera and less time building lights. I purchased plans for a steady cam and the plans cost $40.00 dollars. I build the thing and it works well and someday I wil buy a real steady cam but for now I'm able to see how the shoots look. Great lights good work 1000 kodos for your work
Lipster_Mansfield
New member
Man I wish I had money to buy a couple. Keep up the good work Matt. I love DIY stuff and your inspiring me to do more!
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Hybrid... you don't have to make your own barndoor solution... I already said I'd sell these to any previous buyers for $15 a set... that's PER light. Now for that I'll go ahead and spill the parts list.
(4) 1.25" wide strips of .063 3003 H14 aluminum 5.5" long
(4) HUN2003 Bulldog Clips
(2) 5/16" carriage bolts which must be hand ground so the square part is only as thick as the aluminum shell
(6) 1.25" fender washers with 5/16" hole... and those are impossible to find so you need 1/4" hole and drill it to 5/16" (or use a different outside diameter fender washer)
(4) 10-24 screws 3/8" long
(4) more fender washers size 5/32 x 7/8
(4) nylon lock nuts size 10-24
(2) clamping knobs with female 5/16 thread (or else use 1/4-20 threaded carriage bolts and clamping knobs with 1/4-20 thread)
After drilling ALL the holes I bolt the 4 stips together and grind off the shape of the washers at one end... the other end is filed with rounded corners and smoothed. All sides are buffed and rubbed with a cupped wire brush in a grinder. Next I mark the appropriate end of each strip with a line at 1.125" (but you can make this any length) and then put them all in my break at that line... then I bend the 90 degree angle.
After that it's just a matter of bolting everything up and attaching it to your light... which must have the same sized hole... filed SQUARE for the carriage bolt... and you're all good.
I originally did this w/o a carriage bolt... but the assembly will move unless you hold the inner bolt as you loosen or tighten the clamping knob... this way you never have to reach in the light... and the best part is that you can have the knob snug, but not fully tight, and still move the doors freely while they stay in whatever position you put them in.
If you want to do all that yourself there's the recipe for the barndoor assemblies... and that's all the work I go to for every one of 'em. My actual cost on those assemblies may be about $11 instead of $15... but it takes a while to do them.
(4) 1.25" wide strips of .063 3003 H14 aluminum 5.5" long
(4) HUN2003 Bulldog Clips
(2) 5/16" carriage bolts which must be hand ground so the square part is only as thick as the aluminum shell
(6) 1.25" fender washers with 5/16" hole... and those are impossible to find so you need 1/4" hole and drill it to 5/16" (or use a different outside diameter fender washer)
(4) 10-24 screws 3/8" long
(4) more fender washers size 5/32 x 7/8
(4) nylon lock nuts size 10-24
(2) clamping knobs with female 5/16 thread (or else use 1/4-20 threaded carriage bolts and clamping knobs with 1/4-20 thread)
After drilling ALL the holes I bolt the 4 stips together and grind off the shape of the washers at one end... the other end is filed with rounded corners and smoothed. All sides are buffed and rubbed with a cupped wire brush in a grinder. Next I mark the appropriate end of each strip with a line at 1.125" (but you can make this any length) and then put them all in my break at that line... then I bend the 90 degree angle.
After that it's just a matter of bolting everything up and attaching it to your light... which must have the same sized hole... filed SQUARE for the carriage bolt... and you're all good.
I originally did this w/o a carriage bolt... but the assembly will move unless you hold the inner bolt as you loosen or tighten the clamping knob... this way you never have to reach in the light... and the best part is that you can have the knob snug, but not fully tight, and still move the doors freely while they stay in whatever position you put them in.
If you want to do all that yourself there's the recipe for the barndoor assemblies... and that's all the work I go to for every one of 'em. My actual cost on those assemblies may be about $11 instead of $15... but it takes a while to do them.
Last edited:
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
This pair left today. Anybody who buys 2 or more lights from me (from now on) will be able to mount TWO lights on one stand and use them independently... or of course you can use them the normal way as well.
This is something that I wasn't planning to do until the next run... because it means I have to file down the bumps that are occasionally in the way... but I just like the versatility so much that I decided to do it now. It also helps that all my recent buyers have been very cool about the lights... so I don't mind doing the extra work right now.
The one picture I forgot to take is two verticle... creating a 4' verticle light... they'll do that also. The only thing I suggest when using the lights like this is realize that on a cheap flimsy stand that you can get some serious leverage going if you decide to angle a 4' light out from the bottom... so use your head and pay attention to the leverage that you create depending on the stand you're using. Two lights in different horizontal directions can do anything on even a really small stand... if the bottom light is verticle the top one can do anything horizontally on top of it and again... no problems... if the TOP (or both) lights are verticle... that's when you have to use your noodle and not do something stupid.
Anyway... I'm digging the heck out of these... and so far everyone else is too.
This is something that I wasn't planning to do until the next run... because it means I have to file down the bumps that are occasionally in the way... but I just like the versatility so much that I decided to do it now. It also helps that all my recent buyers have been very cool about the lights... so I don't mind doing the extra work right now.
The one picture I forgot to take is two verticle... creating a 4' verticle light... they'll do that also. The only thing I suggest when using the lights like this is realize that on a cheap flimsy stand that you can get some serious leverage going if you decide to angle a 4' light out from the bottom... so use your head and pay attention to the leverage that you create depending on the stand you're using. Two lights in different horizontal directions can do anything on even a really small stand... if the bottom light is verticle the top one can do anything horizontally on top of it and again... no problems... if the TOP (or both) lights are verticle... that's when you have to use your noodle and not do something stupid.
Anyway... I'm digging the heck out of these... and so far everyone else is too.