Lowel lights

K

Kugar13

Well-known member
Hey guys!

If anyone here is a fan of the Lowel products what Lowel lights do you like to use for lighting interior house locations? Areas no larger than a 2 car garage. I know situations will differ per location, but do you guys have any favs you like regardless of the situation?

I'm looking to put together a few lights I'd like to use for shooting indoors and am wowed by the list of choices.

Thanks guys!
 
I have 2 Lowel DP lights (1k), 1 Lowel Tota (750w), and one Lowel Rifa 88. All are appropriate for their various tasks.

Some don't like the Tota, but I find it imminently useful to raise ambient light levels or for a back wash, or when I just need a broad source. The DP lights are not fresnels, but do have spot and flood settings and I use these as my workhorse lights whether direct, through diffusion, or bounced off walls or foamcore. The Rifa is my interview light, or my product light. It's easy to set up, and with the Exchange system and the fluourescent head, I can change it from tungsten to daylight in just a few moments.

The Lowel lights won't be confused with Arris or Moles. But they do a good job for me in the capacity I need them. If I was shooting features I'd use something else. But for my corporate, instructional, and interview videos, they fit the bill at a very fair price.
 
I like the Pro Lights, they are small and put out 250 watts. My Arri 300S are better, but larger, heavier and more expensive.

I also like the Omnis, they are a good versatile light.

I own two of the V-lights, they are so-so, only useful as a broad source or in a softbox. They are really small but they have this protective glass tube over the bulb that is easy to break so they are limited for travel because it seems like half of the time I use them in checked luggage, the tubes break, even when the V-lights are packed in foam and towels.

For small and cheap, the Lowels are okay. They are all open face, which is less versatile than a fresnel for me. They are also flimsy and in general, will not take as much abuse as an Arri or Mole, other than the Omnis, they can tale a lot of abuse.

Dan
 
My faves are Lowel DPs and Pro Lights. First lights out of my kit, always. The DP can be lamped from 500w - 1k so I've no need for Omnis.

Also, someone mentioned the V-Light. That is another one that I love. Perfect for whenever I need to raise the level of a room.

A good, versatile collection would be a few DPs, a few Pros and a couple of Vs. You can do a lot with that.

Good luck.

~~Dave
 
They may be a cheaper alternative than say a nice Arri fresnel but yes, Lowell stuff is good. The Rifa soft boxes are nice. The newer ones allow you to use either tungsten bulbs or daylight fluorescent bulbs.

The Pro and Omni lights are pretty good as well. I've never used a DP light so I can't account for those. As mentioned previously the DP lights can go up to 1000 watts so one of those might be a better investment than the Omni. I have a Tota as well, which comes with an umbrella. I don't use the Tota as much as the Pro and Omni but it is still a useful light from time to time. Not as soft as a soft box but produces a semi-soft illumination when used with the umbrella.

I do really like the Pro light though. Very small and has some decent control value due to the spot and flood settings. It is only 250 watts though.

For the money the various Lowell kits are not a bad way to go.
 
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If you watch ebay, you can find some great deals. I picked up a full, 3 light omni kit, barely used for $450. They retail for over $1000. If you do go with lowel lights, buy used and build your own kit, your money will go much further, as I have learned.
 
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