its time to buy lights..what do you guys use?

[Ed Kishel]

I am now looking into a lighting package but I have budgeted myself only $500 for now. I'm not expecting a mole kit for this klind of money, but what would be some good suggestions for a good beginning light kit based on my budget?

Thanks..

Ed

 

[Cryogenic Filmworks]

For starters I would go with the Briteks. (www.rostronics.com). I have several and they do fine for now. You can pick up several lites for that. Also for stands go with Amvona on eBay. I have 6 of their c-stands among others. At this point for lights I am working on finding cheap Arri's and LTM peppers but like I said, I already have 5 Briteks.

 

[snodart]

Ed, below are the main items in our kit (I copied the info from my B&H order history). All of these items together break the $500 limit. If I were to downsize our set up, I would probably go with:

1 Omni-Light with softbox (needs speed ring) ($328)
1 Onmi-Light with barndoors ($210)
2 bogen stands ($110)
1 Collapsible Reflector ($45)

This comes out to be $693, but you could cut some costs by using white foam core in place of the collapsible reflector and by using a DIY softbox or other method of diffusion (ie: white sheet, silk, etc - watch out for the hot light!) You also might be able to find some less expensive stands. It would only give you 2 lights, but the reflector/foam core can work as the fill light in many cases. It would be a good start on a nice kit anyway.


Lowel LOOLL
Omni-Light 500 Watt Open Face Tungsten Light with 500W Bulb REG
($155) X2

Photoflex PHSDMZ
Silverdome NXT Softbox - Medium - 24x32" (61x81cm) REG
($173) X2

Lowel LOBDOL
Complete Barndoor for Omni-light REG ($55) X2 Westcott WESRLO Speed Ring for Lowel Omni REG
($106) X2

Lowel LOPLL
Pro-Light Tungsten Focusing Flood Light (120-230V AC/12-30V DC)
($120) X1

Lowel LOBD4PL
4 Leaf Barndoor Set for Pro and i-Light
($35) X1

Bogen / Manfrotto BO3086
3086 - Light Stand - 8' REG
($55) X3

Photoflex PHLD32WS
Litedisc Collapsible Reflector - 32" Circular - White/Silver REG
($45) X1

Rosco ROCSK

Cinegel Sampler Kit REG​

($32)

Some other goodies to consider:
Black foam core for flag/cookie
Sun diffusion screen (white cloth and PVC)
aluminum foil
Gaffer tape

Be sure and check out this book if you haven't:
Lighting for Digital Video & Television
by John Jackman
Great info about the different types of lights and lighting tools. Lots of technical as well as practical info.

 

[SouthBySoWhat]

I was glued to Amvona eBay auctions and B&H's used section for a while and got some Totas, a 42" softbox, stands, a D Light, a Colortran flood, a V Light and some misc grip for pretty cheap.

 

[dustino]

As someone who owns a couple of briteks and a few lowel totas, I say save up a little more and buy a couple arri 300w fresnels. I make do with the aforementioned lights and am fairly happy with their performance given what they are. However, I look forward to the day when they are gradually replaced by only Moles and Arris. Why not start out with the good stuff? I bought a couple used 200w mole fresnels with snoots and barndoors and it's the difference between mowing the lawn with a push mower (britek, lowel) or a John Deere rider (moles).

Ok, i've never used a john deere riding mower and I live in an apartment complex with almost no grass in Chicago, but you get the point.

 

[Blaine]

And you're going to want some sort of sandbags. It's easy to overlook these but don't.

 

[Ed Kishel]

some good choices guys, thanks. I am interested in this kit by NRG- as they are all focusable and have barndoors, a case, stands. Anyone use them?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...707&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

 

[dustino]

Never used those. They don't have fresnel lenses, but might still be a good starter kit, especially considering you can use 250w lamps as well as 600. I still stubbornly vote for arris and moles (because that what I wish I'd done.)

You could do this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...020&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...234&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Plus barn doors would be another $100 (then you need stands - yeah I guess it is a bit more money). Fresnels look great, though, and really hold their value. If you get the NRG, though, I'd like to hear what you think of them.

 

[HorseFilms]

As a side note, I was playing around yesterday and found that the barndoors for my Britek 200w fit my Mini Mole perfectly. I might send Tom an email and see if I can order an extra set of 200w barndoors before I get stuck spending $60-70 on a set of mole doors (which is crazy when you figure that, for $70, I can get a 200w Britek with the doors included).