Lights from Lowel?

D

Derrick_SA

Veteran
Hi there, I've been reading the lighting threads, and I'm now ready to buy some lights of my own (tired of renting). your help and advice will be appreciated.

Arri is not really available in South Africa, and a mission to bring into the country.

Lowel on the other hand is available, so best to go with them.

MY NEEDS:

To light interviews, and to light for short movies.

ME THINKS:

1. Ok, I'm gonna start a bit backwards, I think to have the "L-light Mid-L Kit" - http://www.lowel.com/kits/l-lightMid-L.html as an EXTRA kit to make the scene interesting is a nice Add-on ?

2. then to have the "Rifa Big Triple Soft Kit" - http://www.lowel.com/kits/rifaTripleBig.html seems to be nice? Do you have to use the softbox on it all the time, or will you have hard light taking off the softbox? if you can take of the softbox and add normal barndoors, this kit would be extremely usefull I suppose?

Maybe to start with those two kits could work?

thanks,
Derrick
 
Hi Derrick,

Depending on how serious you are (and your budget), I recommend you purchase Doug Jensen's (Vortex Media) excellent DVD:

How to Setup, Light, & Shoot Great Looking Interviews

Below is a list of the gear Doug recommends (substitutes are fine and additional equipment is useful on occasion). I could recommend higher/lower end gear and associated DVDs but since you're into Lowel, this should be about right for you. If you were to buy a pre-assembled kit, you'll have unneeded gear for interviews unless you plan to do other shoots.

Warm Regards, Michael

-----

LIGHTING GEAR

Manfroto Avenger A630B Light Stands (2)
Manfroto Avenger A625B Light Stands (2)
Manfroto 3398 Boom Stand
Small Photo SilverDome Softbox
Photoflex Fabric Grid
Photoflex Swivel Mount
Photoflex Speed Ring
LowetTota 500 watts
42 inch Collapsible Reflector
Flexfit Adjustable Holder
Lowel Pro Lights (2)
Lowel Snoot
Lowel 4-way Barn Doors
Impact 600 watt Dimmers (2)
Several 15 foot Electrical Cables
Rosco Cinegel Sampler Kit (10x12)
Warm Cards White Balacing System
Black Foam Core (for cookie)
Matthews 2-1/2 inch Grip Head
C47, Clamp, Gaffers Tape
Empty Lowel Light Kit box
 
Hi there, thanks for the response.

The Lowel Pro Lights seem to be 250W, that's a bit weak isn't it?

And I assume the dimmers are for the pro lights?

And the Photoflex Fabric Grid for the softbox?

It's probably better to assemble your own kit, compared to a pre-made kit, I think you right.

thanks,
Derrick
 
Can´t praise the Lowel Rifa lights enough for interviews and anywhere you need a softbox!
Easy to set up, beautiful light and light enough for easy booming!
 
I use the photoflex softbox on a tota and its awesome. Great for the price.

I love the Lowel stuff for single shooter set ups. I have worked with just about every fixture out there and for the price and portability the lowel stuff is great. It may not be as rugged and sexy as the Arri and Mole stuff, but remember no one who watches your content will know what instruments you used.

The Lowel 250 is a great light...It sounds small but if your key light is a 500 or 750 tota with softbox they are actually very balanced.

Check out my site at www.dreamoncreative.com 99 percent of everything on my demo page was lit with a small lowel kit.

I have

Tota 750 w/ Photflex Softbox
2 Omni 500s
3 Pro lights (250s)
4 Impact Stands
1 gobo Arm
A mess of gels and foamcore

A very inexpensive light kit that has more than paid for itself.
 
Derrick_SA said:
Hi there, thanks for the response.

The Lowel Pro Lights seem to be 250W, that's a bit weak isn't it?

And I assume the dimmers are for the pro lights?

And the Photoflex Fabric Grid for the softbox?

It's probably better to assemble your own kit, compared to a pre-made kit, I think you right.

thanks,
Derrick
Click to expand...

Rehi,

We could get into low-light applications as backlight/highlight, cookies and mood lights, catchlighting, kickers, etc., but reverse engineering all the gear isn't as efficient as getting the training. Begin with the knowledge which will help both your technique and how to use your tools.

Good luck, Michael
 
Rifas are great lights, but you can't use them without the softbox - they're very much like an umbrella with a naked bulb inside. No lenses, so without the softbox, they're a bulb and a power cable.
 
Angus_Findlay said:
Rifas are great lights, but you can't use them without the softbox - they're very much like an umbrella with a naked bulb inside. No lenses, so without the softbox, they're a bulb and a power cable.
Click to expand...

I left the diffusor off two times and the Rifa88 then puts out a lot of light, BUT never do this for illuminating persons, there´s no security mesh over the Rifa´s bulb...!
But for washing a background, building, piece of interest it works...
As said, more of a "desperate meassure"...

I always do a soft key, so carrying around an fresnel or openface with an attachable chimera is versatility I´m willing to sacrifice for easy of use and portability...
 
thanks people, I appreciate the input.

Looks like there isn't really a magic perfect light kit. I suppose to start off with at least three lights, were one of them can have a softbox is a starting point, and then build it from there.

- Derrick
 
Here's one to start with...

Here's one to start with...

I bought the Lowel TO GO 98 kit last month, and augmented it with a Pro-light with barn doors. I thought this made a pretty flexible kit. No soft box but an umbrella comes close...

Anyone feel I made a good choice for my first 4 lights? Most of my use is going to be standing or head shot stuff (of myself) for podcast/DVD promotion and the like, but this kit is VERY portable - I'm amazed at how small the soft case it came with is.

Roger
 
we got the lowel omni set, it comes with three 500 w omnis a brolly, gel frames and lots of cool tools to attach lights in difficult places like door frames, only complanit is the spill its difficult to tame it at times
 
PhantomVideo said:
we got the lowel omni set, it comes with three 500 w omnis a brolly, gel frames and lots of cool tools to attach lights in difficult places like door frames, only complanit is the spill its difficult to tame it at times
Click to expand...

That's why we use barndoors, snoots, flags, scrims, black foil, cookies and the like.

Regards, Michael
 
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