Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
can I buy cheaper impact stand for under $10 instead of those $30 creative light. Anybody here use impact's brand ?
how good are lowel lights?
- Thread starter Victor Nhat Nguyen
- Start date
starcentral
Veteran
I swear this this exact thread was started earlier this year, regardless, I have to say lowels were the first lights I ever bought and now after owning fresnels and flou's - they rarely get used at all.
I think part of the biggest problem when you start lighting is you don't know how to light, or different methods to light so you are not even sure what tool can be used to achieve what kind of look.
Are you sure you want lowels, or more to the point "open face" lights? If so, make sure you get barn doors with them or other ways to flag all the spilling light they will have. I recommend using a softbox with them or umbrella even (just don't start any fires).
I second what Paul H has suggested, for the money, if you are poor enough you can't afford the real deal then buy yourself some chinese lights off ebay and you will at least have better light quality to work with. Fresnels can be bounced off a ceiling to raise ambient lighting without looking light you "lit a scene". You can also aim fresnels against large white cards or even muslin hanging on a wall to add key or fill to a scene. I use this method to date when there is no time to fiddle faddle (is that a real word?) with lighting setups and softboxes, etc.. just bounce, adjust, and you're off. I also suggest getting scrims for them and a few dimming boxes you can build yourself of buy so you can adjust the intensity. 150W to 300W is all you need these days for a small scene, eventually get yourself a 650 and even 1000.
Good luck, let us know what you decide on and which way you go.
I think part of the biggest problem when you start lighting is you don't know how to light, or different methods to light so you are not even sure what tool can be used to achieve what kind of look.
Are you sure you want lowels, or more to the point "open face" lights? If so, make sure you get barn doors with them or other ways to flag all the spilling light they will have. I recommend using a softbox with them or umbrella even (just don't start any fires).
I second what Paul H has suggested, for the money, if you are poor enough you can't afford the real deal then buy yourself some chinese lights off ebay and you will at least have better light quality to work with. Fresnels can be bounced off a ceiling to raise ambient lighting without looking light you "lit a scene". You can also aim fresnels against large white cards or even muslin hanging on a wall to add key or fill to a scene. I use this method to date when there is no time to fiddle faddle (is that a real word?) with lighting setups and softboxes, etc.. just bounce, adjust, and you're off. I also suggest getting scrims for them and a few dimming boxes you can build yourself of buy so you can adjust the intensity. 150W to 300W is all you need these days for a small scene, eventually get yourself a 650 and even 1000.
Good luck, let us know what you decide on and which way you go.
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I think you are referring to Impact umbrellas instead of the Creative Light umbrellas. I recommended the Creative Light umbrella because there are no other 25 inch black-backed umbrellas made for very hot tungsten lights that B&H sells. It's very important to get black-backed umbrellas, otherwise the light goes everywhere. And it's important to have at least one small umbrella, because larger sizes create very soft ( sometimes too soft ) light and is harder to control. So yes, I would keep with the Creative Light 25 inch umbrella.
Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
if you guys seriously think that arri is worth that much money then I'll just bite the bullet and get the Arri 650. How much better are Arri over lowel because for the price of an arri 650 I can probably get 2 to 3 lowel lights. Star Central can you give me the link to the thread?
Keep in mind that they are different lights. The Lowel Pro light is 250 watts, very small ( 2 lbs ), and it's easy to transport. The Arri 650 is a lot brighter, quite a bit bigger ( 7 lbs ), and requires more space to transport.
If it was me, I would take 3 Lowel Pro lights over just one Arri 650. I can do a lot more with 3 lights than I can with just one light.
wgzn
Veteran
thats pretty good advice. i mean a craftsman drill, saw and sander will get you much farther than just one dewalt drill.
id bet that few (if any) people would ever be able to look at your final piece and say "oh man, you used lowel lights. it would have looked so much better with arris!"
thats just not going to happen.
lowel lights are more than fine. its just a matter of choosing the right fixture for the right need.
i have 3 250 prolights and theyve never disappointed me.
with those and some $10 home depot dimmers and a collection of gels and diffusers, you'll have a great little starter kit.
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gonzo_entertainment
Veteran
It's all about control and durability. That spot/flood, scrims, and proper 4 way barn doors on a fresnel are awfully awfully nice.
Also, throw a lowel around the way a mole gets abused on a movie set and see which one lasts longer.
That being said, you can sure make it work if price is a deciding factor and those type of lights absolutely have their uses, but I'd take a beat to hell used mole over a brand new lowel any day of the week.
Also, throw a lowel around the way a mole gets abused on a movie set and see which one lasts longer.
That being said, you can sure make it work if price is a deciding factor and those type of lights absolutely have their uses, but I'd take a beat to hell used mole over a brand new lowel any day of the week.
wgzn
Veteran
in general, i'd agree that's accurate. like in a situation of a fall from a stand, getting wapped by a moving jib or especially sitting out in the rain. but my 3 lowel pros have been banging around loose from job to job for years in a sterilite box with stands and stingers and a variety of other junk and the only problem ive had is one broken bulb. $15
and again, its a matter of priorities. i shoot a lot of corporate and ENG stuff, so weight and ease of use are high on my list (which is why i enjoy LEDs) and ive found lowels lighter and more nimble than equivalently powered moles.
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sonofaresiii
Well-known member
It depends on your uses. Are you an aspiring DP who's building a kit that's going to carry you through your professional career? Get the Arri. They're fantastic and their life will be measured in decades. Are you a budding a filmmaker who's looking to make a few great shorts to get experience before you're ready to hire your own crew? Get the lowel. They'll get the job done, be a little rough around the edges, but won't last through serious use over the next few years (I've had my v-light for about two years with moderate use, it's fine but it's obviously not making it the next ten years).
The lowel lights aren't bad lights... and every light has its use. But if you're serious about what you're doing, you're going to want to start building a kit around Arri lights, even knowing that right off the bat, you won't be getting as much done with 1 arri as you would with 3 lowel lights, but in five years, a few arri lights will beat the hell out of any amount of lowel lights.
wgzn
Veteran
the cool thing is that on the used market, lowel, mole and arri can all be had for reasonable prices.
i picked up my used lowel pros, each with stand, barn doors and gel frames (even a few gels) from a local rental place for $125 each.
i think all this talk about lowels not holding up is kind of misleading. certainly, they are not as robust as a mole or arri. but for the first 5-8 years of my career, i used lowels almost exclusively (mainly because it was what i knew) and the only problems i encountered was one cord short out. and the usual (and expected) occasional bulbs burning out
another thing thats a little misleading here is that for a young, budget-strapped shooter, with not a lot of experience, ONE of any kind of light isnt realistically going to be of much use at all. yeah, one light and a bounce card can get many jobs done. but will be kind of flat and limit your creative options.
i picked up my used lowel pros, each with stand, barn doors and gel frames (even a few gels) from a local rental place for $125 each.
i think all this talk about lowels not holding up is kind of misleading. certainly, they are not as robust as a mole or arri. but for the first 5-8 years of my career, i used lowels almost exclusively (mainly because it was what i knew) and the only problems i encountered was one cord short out. and the usual (and expected) occasional bulbs burning out
another thing thats a little misleading here is that for a young, budget-strapped shooter, with not a lot of experience, ONE of any kind of light isnt realistically going to be of much use at all. yeah, one light and a bounce card can get many jobs done. but will be kind of flat and limit your creative options.
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As a working gaffer with a $45K kit I have every brand of movie industry light there is and some that are no more
No knockoffs (though some are fine). They're all pretty durable and you can break any of them if you abuse them. I don't use my Lowel Omnis and DPs much any more because I like the control of fresnels but I own a dozen Lowel Pros and use them constantly, have done for almost ten years. I bought one new and all the rest used. Countless DPs, camera operators, gaffers and electrics have come away with serious new respect for those wonderful little workhorse lights after seeing them used.By all means take care of them and they will last forever.
RyanT
Veteran
I honestly don't like any of the lowel products...They don't usually inspire much confidence compared to most of the gear I'm used to using (Mole/Arri)
However! The Lowel Rifa is a pretty awesome light. Quick setup and tear down, soft light, no stupid poles or speed rings, just a no nonsense 1k softbox. Can't go wrong with that.
However! The Lowel Rifa is a pretty awesome light. Quick setup and tear down, soft light, no stupid poles or speed rings, just a no nonsense 1k softbox. Can't go wrong with that.
Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
a lot of mixed reviews about lowel's on this thread, I think I'll just get a basic arri 650 for a main light and then I'll see what else I need. I did test out a friend's lowel pro and I am disliking how much light it is giving out. Then I try the omni and do like that it gave out a lot of light but dislike that it is not as controllable. I really don't want to buy something that I will not use later in the future. It seems like most people that use lowel switch to arri later on. I'll consider the rifa as a soft light though.
ReelFilmGeek
Well-known member
What about cool lights, don't they make some tungsten lights that are really good and are a little cheaper than arri?
Cool Lights
DVXuser Sponsor
Yes we do have the tungsten fresnels both separately and in kit form:
http://www.coollights.biz/hardlight-fixture-series-tungsten-c-28_30.html
http://www.coollights.biz/kits-tungsten-fresnels-c-39_48.html
Scrims and softbox accessories too:
http://www.coollights.biz/hardlight-fixture-series-hardlight-accessories-c-28_41.html
http://www.coollights.biz/hardlight-fixture-series-tungsten-c-28_30.html
http://www.coollights.biz/kits-tungsten-fresnels-c-39_48.html
Scrims and softbox accessories too:
http://www.coollights.biz/hardlight-fixture-series-hardlight-accessories-c-28_41.html
gonzo_entertainment
Veteran
Never, not even once, seen a Lowell on a grip truck or had it offered to me at a "pro" rental house. Arri, yes, Mole, yes, Filmgear, yes, Lowell, never.
A lot depends on what you are shooting and your budget.
I can pack 6 Lowel lights into one medium size equipment case, which works out great for smaller shoots. I could never do this with Arri fresnel lights.
The one light that I almost never use ( I should sell it ) is my Lowel Rifa 66EX. It's too slow for run-and-gun work, and takes forever to cool down for packing.
Lots of shooters are switching over to higher-end LED lights because they are compact, very bright, daylight balanced, dimmable, and generate very little heat. This is where I am moving to over the next year. ( Flolight seems to offer the best bang for the buck in LED lighting right now )
BTW, I've owned my Lowel lights for 6 years now and I still use them on lots of location jobs.
Lowel lights are meant for smaller shoots, where you might have to work as a one or two man production crew for a corporate or documentary shoot.
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
Just as an aside, this thread reminded me of an interview with the great cinematographer John Alcott, BSC ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005633/ ) that I ran across recently where he talks about the making of "Barry Lyndon". When asked about the lighting, he said,
"We used Mini-Brutes and we used a lot of Lowel-Lights - all the time. I used the Lowel-Lights in umbrellas for overall fill. I always use the umbrellas - ever since "A CLOCKWORK ORANGE". I find that the Lowel-Light has a far greater range of illumination from flood to spot than any other light I know of. In fact, it's the only light of its type that gives you a fantastic spot, if you need it, and an absolute overall flood. Also, when you put a flag in front of most quartz lights you get a double shadow - but not with the Lowel-Lights. But then, of course, they were designed by a cameraman."
http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/2001a/bl/page1.htm
That is the thing, if you are in an "Either, or" situation now, you can't go wrong with an Arri (Or other good brand) Fresnel. A Fresnel is very versatile. You can control them from flood to spot, add barn doors, scrims, gels and other modification devices. You can use them as a bounce source or through a soft box for beautiful soft light. You can pull of the lens assembly and use them very much in the manner of an open faced light for a more point source light. HOWEVER, going forward and getting more lighting gear, I would really recommend learning to understand the value of small, powerful open faced lights like the Lowell lights. The Lowell light that I am most familiar with is the Tota Light (I don't own any, but have used them). Yes, it is kind of delicate and fiddly, but, really, having such a compact, light weight light fixture of that wattage that you can throw on a super clamp or baby plate and mount almost anywhere is VERY handy. Wait 'til you light your first low budget night exterior and you will understand.
"We used Mini-Brutes and we used a lot of Lowel-Lights - all the time. I used the Lowel-Lights in umbrellas for overall fill. I always use the umbrellas - ever since "A CLOCKWORK ORANGE". I find that the Lowel-Light has a far greater range of illumination from flood to spot than any other light I know of. In fact, it's the only light of its type that gives you a fantastic spot, if you need it, and an absolute overall flood. Also, when you put a flag in front of most quartz lights you get a double shadow - but not with the Lowel-Lights. But then, of course, they were designed by a cameraman."
http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/2001a/bl/page1.htm
That is the thing, if you are in an "Either, or" situation now, you can't go wrong with an Arri (Or other good brand) Fresnel. A Fresnel is very versatile. You can control them from flood to spot, add barn doors, scrims, gels and other modification devices. You can use them as a bounce source or through a soft box for beautiful soft light. You can pull of the lens assembly and use them very much in the manner of an open faced light for a more point source light. HOWEVER, going forward and getting more lighting gear, I would really recommend learning to understand the value of small, powerful open faced lights like the Lowell lights. The Lowell light that I am most familiar with is the Tota Light (I don't own any, but have used them). Yes, it is kind of delicate and fiddly, but, really, having such a compact, light weight light fixture of that wattage that you can throw on a super clamp or baby plate and mount almost anywhere is VERY handy. Wait 'til you light your first low budget night exterior and you will understand.