Lighting Kit for Interviews

R

Reptorama

Member
This is my first post so apologies if I'm doing anything wrong asking here.

I'm looking to put together a small lighting kit initially for some interviews. I would like to use something similar to the kit recommended in the 'How to Setup, Light, & Shoot Great Looking Interviews' DVD i.e. a Lowel Tota and two Lowel Pro Lights.

I've found the lights for a reasonable price here in the UK but I can't find the Impact dimmers that are recommended in the kit list. I could order these from B&HPhotoVideo but I imagine they are for US power sockets. In the UK we have 240V 3-pin sockets.

Does anyone have any suggestions how I could solve this problem? I thought about getting the Dedo lights which have dimmers but they are x3 as expensive. I also wondered if I could survive without dimmers and use lower power bulbs or ND gels on the lights.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Those Dedo's are a beautiful thing.

ND works, and the benefit is that it wont change your color temp. The negative side is you cant dial the output as easily as with a dimmer.
 
Reptorama said:
This is my first post so apologies if I'm doing anything wrong asking here.

I'm looking to put together a small lighting kit initially for some interviews. I would like to use something similar to the kit recommended in the 'How to Setup, Light, & Shoot Great Looking Interviews' DVD i.e. a Lowel Tota and two Lowel Pro Lights.

I've found the lights for a reasonable price here in the UK but I can't find the Impact dimmers that are recommended in the kit list. I could order these from B&HPhotoVideo but I imagine they are for US power sockets. In the UK we have 240V 3-pin sockets.

Does anyone have any suggestions how I could solve this problem? I thought about getting the Dedo lights which have dimmers but they are x3 as expensive. I also wondered if I could survive without dimmers and use lower power bulbs or ND gels on the lights.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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If you can afford dedos, don´t hesitate and buy them.
For dimmers, check this one: http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_ns_2003_handdimmer_2000w_ohm.htm
 
I worked AC for a guy who had some Kino Flows. The portable packaging was really nice for traveling to interview sites.
 
That's a common model you can find quite often in China--so many factories produce it and it generally always looks the same. Steven's Studio on eBay also sells that as a "Kino Flo". Personally I think they need better glasses if they think it looks like a Diva.

That model is made of aluminum extrusions, weighs around 15 to 18 pounds and it's output will be about the same as any other 4x55 given good bulbs and if they used a good ballast too which that always varies from model to model and factory to factory. You will generally feel its cheap looking though. Its just basic light for an inexpensive price.
 
Reptorama said:
I found this auction for a light fitting that is err.. 'inspired' by Kino Flo lights...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=150286476528&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

I'm not sure about its quality and I'm a bit worried it might blast my subjects in light (as some of the places I would like to interview people are small offices) but it might be an option.
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You can carry those metal fixtures around but personally I wouldn´t do it...
I wonder how they can call this standard studio flo fixture a "Diva" at all, this is totally misguiding and probably a TM infringement or simply fraud.

If you´re interested in KinoFlo Diva like fixtures check out CoolLights portable flo models...
 
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Thanks for the advice.

I think I'll avoid the eBay Kino Flo copies and maybe stick with some Lowels and a softbox for now. I can always add a Dedo or other bits later if I find I need them or as I get more into lighting.

I just want to say that I would also be looking at Cool Lights if there was a way to buy them in the UK. Import tax can be horrificly expensive over here. The other day I ordered Season 5 of the The Wire and was almost charged as much again in tax and 'clearance fees' by the Royal Mail.
 
I'm definitely not an expert on taxes in the UK, however we've sold a lot of stuff into the UK and not one has yet told me that the taxes were horrible. We use the proper commodity code and use "stage lighting" as the description and that never draws any unusual tariffs or "anti-dumping" fees. I could ask one of my customers for a detail if you like.
 
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