Light kit for the financially impaired ($50)

mainstreetprod

mainstreetprod

Veteran
For several years I've been using softboxes with large CFL mogul base bulbs for interviews and other soft light applications. Unfortunately, the 3 expensive ($80 each) Chinese CFL bulbs have each died within 6 months to 2 years after purchase. My softboxes do not assemble easily, so I thought I would look around for something easier to set up. Just for kicks I went to Ebay, put in "video softbox kit" an plugged in "lowest price plus shipping". What came up was this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300604607337?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

It's two 24" umbrella style soft lights with CFL bulbs and stands. The bulbs are 85 watts (equivilant to about 300 watt incandescent). The kit comes with individual bags for everything and a nice bag to carry it all in.

I bid the minimum amount ($50 plus $10 shipping) and got them with no competition. In a few days they came and I used them the next day on a job. They popped open like an umbrella and set up in a couple minutes. They are daylight balanced and worked great for throwing extra light on an interviewee that was seated on a front porch with daylight on their left side.

I think these would work great for struggling movie makers and part time video guys. Obviously they won't hold up to constant use - but they are 50 bucks! (The bulbs alone sell for 20 apiece on Ebay. They are larger than anything found at Lowes or Home Depot). A couple of caveats: Cord is short, bring an extension. Stands are flimsy, use your existing ones or be careful with them and bring a sandbag. The seller runs these all the time, starting prices vary a bit.
 
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WHY?!?!? You already got burned with your crappy bulbs going out sooner then you would expect and then again went ahead to look for cheapest possible???? Are you rich? Do you hove tons of money to burn?? Yes, this kit is only $50 but it's the $50 that you are taking way from the piggy bank that can collect money for your real kit that will last years.
 
I was checking a video on Cool Lights CFL (not so compact, really, the bulb is huge) softbox and I noticed how weird it is to set it up. Was it the one you had before?

I bought one from a local brand that I think is quite nice and easy to set it up:

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It's also nice to have a fixture that works with regular bulbs, if the bulbs break it's easy to replace in a hurry.

I'm sure I'll end up using it more than my tungsten 2000W one that is huge and clumsy.
 
Patryk_Rebisz said:
WHY?!?!? You already got burned with your crappy bulbs going out sooner then you would expect and then again went ahead to look for cheapest possible???? Are you rich? Do you hove tons of money to burn?? Yes, this kit is only $50 but it's the $50 that you are taking way from the piggy bank that can collect money for your real kit that will last years.
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There are two ways to look at this. Yours is, buy it once and not worry about replacement for a long time. My theory is, I'm buying this kit for the price of renting a real kit for one day. It does the same job and mine will last a year or two, maybe longer. Then I can get another $50 kit. And by the way, the $240 worth of bulbs that didn't last came from .. how do I say this without offending the DVX sponsor? OK, I won't say. They were all out of warranty so it was fair I guess. Just expected a bit more life from them (probably no more than 10 hours on time per bulb). I'm pretty sure my $50 kit will be a better deal.
 
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Pietro Impagliazzo said:
I was checking a video on Cool Lights CFL (not so compact, really, the bulb is huge) softbox and I noticed how weird it is to set it up. Was it the one you had before?

I bought one from a local brand that I think is quite nice and easy to set it up:

350m.jpg


It's also nice to have a fixture that works with regular bulbs, if the bulbs break it's easy to replace in a hurry.

I'm sure I'll end up using it more than my tungsten 2000W one that is huge and clumsy.
Click to expand...



That looks like a nice setup. I'm going to enjoy having bulbs with a regular base, easily replaced in a pinch with something from the Depot. My softboxes were not from Cool Lights. The bulbs...well, see my last post.
 
mainstreetprod said:
There are two ways to look at this. Yours is, buy it once and not worry about replacement for a long time. My theory is, I'm buying this kit for the price of renting a real kit for one day. It does the same job and mine will last a year or two, maybe longer. Then I can get another $50 kit. And by the way, the $240 worth of bulbs that didn't last came from .. how do I say this without offending the DVX sponsor? OK, I won't say. They were all out of warranty so it was fair I guess. Just expected a bit more life from them (probably no more than 10 hours on time per bulb). I'm pretty sure my $50 kit will be a better deal.
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Yes, u may only pay the price of renting a good one once, but then you will have the joy of using a crap one for the two years.... then another crap one for 2 years. Then another.... sure its cheaper, but it will look that way to you clients too.
 
I can actually afford the high priced stuff, just choose not to buy it. I posted this for an alternative to Home Depot lighting for those who have almost nothing to spend. If you don't think these CFL umbrellas are a better choice than a quartz work light...
 
TimurCivan said:
Yes, u may only pay the price of renting a good one once, but then you will have the joy of using a crap one for the two years.... then another crap one for 2 years. Then another.... sure its cheaper, but it will look that way to you clients too.
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What kit would you suggest purchasing thats in the $500 or a little more range?
 
mainstreetprod , assuming you do it for a living and not a hobby (in which case yes, buying brand name stuff is an overkill) why would you choose to buy this kit rather then real deal?
 
Talking about Cool Lights and affordable fixtures, anyone put the Metal Halide fresnels of Cool Lights to the test?

Light output comparable to a 650W fresnel in daylight flavor sounds nice.

HorseFilms said:
Agreed. Save up for some nice stuff that will outlive you. You'll be happy that you did.
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Outlive me? I want to live more than a Kinoflo fixture... :'(
 
What? Are you one of those clean living types? :)

I stick to fresnels. They'll definitely be around long after I'm gone.
 
Pietro Impagliazzo said:
Talking about Cool Lights and affordable fixtures, anyone put the Metal Halide fresnels of Cool Lights to the test?

Light output comparable to a 650W fresnel in daylight flavor sounds nice.



Outlive me? I want to live more than a Kinoflo fixture... :'(
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What do you mean... the Daughter is going to get my Norman strobe equipment, some of which I bought 35 years ago, whether she wants it or not, after I slough off this mortal coil...

Won't it be comforting to know that your great grandchildren will be using your Kinoflos... long after you're dead...

Well, provided there is civilization and a power grid... in that case, showing how to breed a two legged horse, and more importantly, harness a horse to a wagon, may be a better legacy to leave...
 
Pietro Impagliazzo said:
Talking about Cool Lights and affordable fixtures, anyone put the Metal Halide fresnels of Cool Lights to the test?

Light output comparable to a 650W fresnel in daylight flavor sounds nice.
(
Click to expand...

I sold mine a few months ago after owning it for about 3 years. It's a fine fixture, but there are definite limitation. The build quality is not rock solid like Arri or Mole, especially the locking connector to the ballast which can become loose after prolong use; you'll definitely have to baby the fixture a bit. The biggest deal is that it's not a hot restrike fixture, meaning that if you turn it off it will take about 10 minutes to start it back up. Other than that it does exactly what it's advertised: a focusable daylight balance hard light at 650w equivalent for only drawing 150w.

*Note that my comments are based on the models that were sold 3 years ago (their first or second batch) so Cool Lights might have improve the design since then. Richard was always very responsive to questions and provided me pretty good service.
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
What do you mean... the Daughter is going to get my Norman strobe equipment, some of which I bought 35 years ago, whether she wants it or not, after I slough off this mortal coil...

Won't it be comforting to know that your great grandchildren will be using your Kinoflos... long after you're dead...
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Guess I'm still to young, no kids, no such perspective in mind... :)

j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
Well, provided there is civilization and a power grid... in that case, showing how to breed a two legged horse, and more importantly, harness a horse to a wagon, may be a better legacy to leave...
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LOL...

Huy Vu said:
I sold mine a few months ago after owning it for about 3 years. It's a fine fixture, but there are definite limitation. The build quality is not rock solid like Arri or Mole, especially the locking connector to the ballast which can become loose after prolong use; you'll definitely have to baby the fixture a bit. The biggest deal is that it's not a hot restrike fixture, meaning that if you turn it off it will take about 10 minutes to start it back up. Other than that it does exactly what it's advertised: a focusable daylight balance hard light at 650w equivalent for only drawing 150w.

*Note that my comments are based on the models that were sold 3 years ago (their first or second batch) so Cool Lights might have improve the design since then. Richard was always very responsive to questions and provided me pretty good service.
Click to expand...

I've been postponing getting a fresnel kit because it's usually the most expensive investment (in a small light and tight budget scenario). If I get around to buy it in the soon future I'll get in touch with Richard Andrewski to know if things were improved or if there are newer products on the way.

Thanks Huy.
 
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Pietro Impagliazzo said:
Talking about Cool Lights and affordable fixtures, anyone put the Metal Halide fresnels of Cool Lights to the test?

Light output comparable to a 650W fresnel in daylight flavor sounds nice.
Click to expand...

I bought one of the Cool Lights 150W CDM fresnels to try it out and now have more on my wish list. I haven't done any rigorous tests but have been using it the better part of a year now packed in a bag to carry on location, and in a studio-like space from time to time, and do have some impressions you might find useful. In short, I absolutely love the light. It has that beautiful Fresnel creamy smoothness, focuses over a wide range, and is small and light compared to a tungsten instrument of equal output. I like that it's daylight balanced, doesn't emit much heat, and that the bulb lasts a long time and is economical to replace. It's not built as rock solid as the Mole or Arri fresnels I've used, but it's probably good enough, and it is much more portable.

Obvious downsides are that you have to drag the ballast around, it takes a few minutes to reach the correct color when struck, and you have to let it cool down five minutes or so before restriking. That last "feature" has been a bit of a pain a few times, but I can live with it for the price and other positives of the light.

You definitely will want a set of scrims to go with it. Modern cameras are pretty sensitive, and there have been a lot more times I have needed to dim this light a bit rather than feeling like I needed any more output.

This is probably the cheapest and most practical way to get that fresnel goodness in a high efficiency daylight balanced fixture. I really, really don't want to shoot with tungsten again.

- Greg
 
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