Need a replacement kit for interviews - suggestions (on the cheap?)

[Ken Hull]

Hi dishan,
I also am a big fan of Lowell Rifa's. I have a Rifa 55, but have replaced the 500W bulb with a 250W (requiress a separate socket which Lowell sells). 250W is plenty for most of what I do. If you're just doing interviews, the Rifa 44 (which takes a 250W bulb) might be a good choice. It's smaller and less expensive.

I think the following might make a good "kit" for you:
1 Rifa 44.
1 or 2 LTM Pepper 100w spots, for hair light or background highlight. (They're really tiny)
1 or 2 reflectors (either collapsable or foamcore) in white for fill, and black for negative fill.
Several lightweight aluminum stands, such as Impact.

Note: If you go with foamcore reflectors, you might like one of these forks, so your stand can hold the foamcore:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5182-REG/Manfrotto_143F_143F_Fork_for_Magic.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/153419-REG/Avenger_F1504_Foamcore_Fork_with_5_8.html

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents worth
-- Ken

 

[M. Gilden]

What about "readheads" like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Continuous-...085?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d090da1a5

I was actually looking for pocketlight 650s because I was intrigued by the price, but this seems like a nice option for 3 lights + stands, at under $100 each?

I've been intrigued by those cheap lights myself- 800w each is a lot of power in a small cheap package. But I recall someone on the forum here calling them fire hazards and dangerous.
Truth be told, it appears the folks over at Cheesycam don't think they're too bad:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...-interviews-suggestions-(on-the-cheap-)/page3

Sounds like they are using it in mostly the same way you are planning to. I might consider replacing the 800w bulb with a 500 for less heat if I were you. In close quarters for interviews, I don't think you'd need 800w from any single source anyway.