how do you prefer to buy your lights?

how do you prefer to buy your lights?

  • choose from a list of several pre-packaged setups

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • select each of the component in the kit individually

    Votes: 8 100.0%
  • Total voters
    8
  • Poll closed .
wgzn

wgzn

Veteran
im in a debate with some colleagues as to how people buy lights...

so my question to you all is - if you were looking to buy a light "kit," let's say a basic three-light setup. would you be more likely to:
a. choose from a list of pre-configured kits put together by the dealer / manufacturer
b. put together your own package by choosing each of the the individual components in your kit

i guess the end result of my question is if the end cost were the same, if a vendor had say 5 different lights. would you prefer to see a web page with 12 slightly different pre-packaged configurations or just the 5 different lights and you add the ones you want to your cart?
 
I'm not big on kits, nor standard 3-point lighting.
But I have put my kit together one piece at a time by selecting both new and used lighting instruments.
 
i wonder if its going to come down to experience. where a seasoned shooter knows what they want. and someone newer to the game wants something someone else has approved as a good combo...
 
wgzn said:
i wonder if its going to come down to experience. where a seasoned shooter knows what they want. and someone newer to the game wants something someone else has approved as a good combo...
Click to expand...

I'd buy that notion.

Using a typical Arri kit as an example. In the "kit" I get 3 lights (in a couple of different possible configurations), the stands, the scrims, the barn doors, the hard case, etc... I could unbox that kit, grab a couple of c-stands and flags, and go shoot 75% of what I do. For the "Knows just enough about grip to be dangerous" guy like me it removes the guess work. I won't get the wrong scrims, I won't get barn doors that don't fit, etc... I know everything I need is in the box and all works together.

As a retailer I'd probably offer both options. ready made and "build your own".
 
I have always bought used lighting equipment, never new. I've bought all singles & one kit--the kit was 4 open face lights &
the price was right. I always buy known names, never knock offs.
 
Agree partially with the experience comment, but I've noticed that the kits usually offer some sort of a discount as opposed to buying them separately... thus if you either a) don't know what you need or b) know what you need and know it's in the kit, definitely get the kit. (I also find the kits to be a good starting place regardless of if you're knowledgeable or not... generally you can find a good one that you know you'll get use out of)
On the other hand, if you are only buying for a specific project or you really know exactly what you will and won't use... get them individual.

I've gone the route of buying by buying individual lights... but that's because a) I'm poor and can't afford a kit b) I'm not doing enough now that an entire kit would make sense... it works out much better for me to pick up a new light as I need it.

That said... I'm surprised that people are buying used lights. Seems to me they'd be more likely to break, or just show up not working at all? And wouldn't it be very difficult to claim them under warranty? I've stayed away from buying used lights for the same reason I won't buy a used computer-- chances are, it shows up and even if it works for a month, it's likely to just die because whoever sold it rigged it to work only long enough for them to take my money. Is this generally not the case with lighting equipment... or are you all just really good at repairing lights?
 
The LEDs I bought were new, and the biax fluorescent lights were new, but my HMIs were used, on Little House On The Praire, all my tungsten lights were used. I also have a case full of new CFL lights and assorted bulbs for use in practicals.
 
sonofaresiii said:
Agree partially with the experience comment, but I've noticed that the kits usually offer some sort of a discount as opposed to buying them separately... thus if you either a) don't know what you need or b) know what you need and know it's in the kit, definitely get the kit. (I also find the kits to be a good starting place regardless of if you're knowledgeable or not... generally you can find a good one that you know you'll get use out of)
On the other hand, if you are only buying for a specific project or you really know exactly what you will and won't use... get them individual.

I've gone the route of buying by buying individual lights... but that's because a) I'm poor and can't afford a kit b) I'm not doing enough now that an entire kit would make sense... it works out much better for me to pick up a new light as I need it.

That said... I'm surprised that people are buying used lights. Seems to me they'd be more likely to break, or just show up not working at all? And wouldn't it be very difficult to claim them under warranty? I've stayed away from buying used lights for the same reason I won't buy a used computer-- chances are, it shows up and even if it works for a month, it's likely to just die because whoever sold it rigged it to work only long enough for them to take my money. Is this generally not the case with lighting equipment... or are you all just really good at repairing lights?
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Your logic is only partially right. If you buy used, quality lights like Mole or Arri, to a lesser degree they will be nearly as good used as new. I have bought dozens and dozens of used Moles over the years. They are built like tanks. About the only thing that ever breaks or wears out on one is the switch and it can be replaced for $20 or so.
 
I think for a first light purchase, a kit makes sense, especially if you're relatively inexperienced and want to make sure you will get components that work together properly right out of the box.

As you gain experience, you'll have more of an idea about what exactly you want or need to do with your lights, and the limitations of what you've been using up to that point. Then, you'll probably want to buy individual pieces to address specific needs.

I'm at a point now where I basically consider each part to be a separate purchase, and I look for the best model (or best deal consistent with my budget) for every individual item. So I might get light heads from one place, stands from another, grip heads and such from a third, a case for it all from yet another. The only "kits" I've bought in the last ten years or so have been when I wanted multiple lights of the same type and they were available in a package at a discount.

But, when I was relatively new, I bought a big do-everything kit of Lowel lights, parts of which served me in one form or another for almost 30 years. It was a lifesaver when starting out.

- Greg
 
I haven't bought much used (lights) just because for the quality names (Arri, Mole, etc...) they hold their value so well it's not a huge savings over new. It's possible I haven't stumbled across the right deal yet, but to save say 20% off new, it's marginal whether it's worth the risk and lack of warranty.
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
...I haven't stumbled across the right deal yet, but to save say 20% off new, it's marginal whether it's worth the risk and lack of warranty.
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Very interesting, the deals you haven't been finding. In the past couple of years I've picked up 20,000 watts of tungsten kit bit by bit, mostly because the deals are too good to pass up. I'd be surprised if I paid more than 20% of new, especially on the 2k fresnels. People have been dumping tungsten left and right for new technologies easier on the grid and the back, but they still make the prettiest light.

As far as warranty, lights are just a metal shell with some wires and a globe inside, maybe a lens. The wires and globes are easily replaceable and the shells are nearly indestructible (assuming good brand name, I only buy Mole). If something went wrong with my lights, I'd rather fix it myself than send it off and wait, even if I had a warranty (warning: you must know what you are doing to do this, I don't mean to imply that everybody should be rewiring their lights - let your bestboy electric do it if you are unsure of your electrical knowledge).

mmmmmmmmm Mole :)
 
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I am patient and buy good deals when I find them, kit or individual.
Have bought used kits and then turned around and sold what I didn't want out of it.
 
There are tons of great deals right now on tungsten. Most people seem to be moving to LED's, Kino's or HMI's. This leaves the market for tungsten very soft.
 
Paul Hudson said:
There are tons of great deals right now on tungsten. Most people seem to be moving to LED's, Kino's or HMI's. This leaves the market for tungsten very soft.
Click to expand...

I thought I was close to getting a deal with a still photographer friend who was considering dumping his Arris for LED, but then he tested some LED out and changed his mind pretty quick.

You guys are probably right, I haven't looked hard enough for the right deals. I've spent the last nine months on Lens deals (and have done VERY well) probably haven't devoted enough time to looking for lights. They don't pop up very often here locally in Nashville. MAYBE one or two lights a month on Craigslist.

Not to mention a $3K Arri kit rents for $75 a day. Not extreme motivation to stop renting and buy.
 
sonofaresiii said:
That said... I'm surprised that people are buying used lights. Seems to me they'd be more likely to break, or just show up not working at all? And wouldn't it be very difficult to claim them under warranty? I've stayed away from buying used lights for the same reason I won't buy a used computer-- chances are, it shows up and even if it works for a month, it's likely to just die because whoever sold it rigged it to work only long enough for them to take my money. Is this generally not the case with lighting equipment... or are you all just really good at repairing lights?
Click to expand...
Lights are different from computers. They're simple, and they don't become obsolete within a few years. I've had to do something to fix up all the lights I've bought (all of which I bought used), but they were all really pretty easy to do except for sandblasting the inside of my softlight. Even that wasn't hard, it just requires you to have, or have access to, a sandblaster. I wound up paying WAY less than I would have if I bought them new.
 
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