nice little light kit..

N

Neil Rowe

Rowe Cine LLC
$2995 Complete or $3295 for green screen setup

http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/eye/csp.html

aside from alot of light control hardware(scrims-flags-ect..), this really looks like a nice little package
anyone had any experience with any of these units before. i was thinking about picking this up to use for projects on the go.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

I may be way off, but that just seems pricy to me.... allthough you're getting 2 softboxes.

I got a greenscreen for 294.00 from B&H, and the support system for 109.00. So that right there leaves 2892.00 if you're comparing to that safer seas kit. You could get a killer arri setup for that. I've used the Lowel kits before, and some may disagree, but I didn't like em. They reminded me of fishtank lights on stands (although really bright fishtank lights).

I keep harping on it, but an arri kit like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=72162&is=REG

...and then tack on another Chimera, and you have a nice lil setup. That's only $2397.00, so you're 500 bucks under the safer seas setup.

Just my 2 cents...
 
Re: nice little light kit..

Yeah, that Safer Seas setup seems overpriced by about $1600.

You could get a simple Lowel kit for around $750, add a JTL Everlight kit (three softboxes) for $500, and a background system for $400, and have about the same system for a total of $1650. Not that I'm recommending that system, mind you, just pointing out that it seems massively overpriced.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

..just the input i was hoping id hear.. seemed a bit marked up, but a nice setup none the less. i didnt know if there was something that made these particular light worth selling my right arm. kai..thanks for the link. i was looking into getting an arri kit like that. thanks for the info barry. do you by any chance have any links for this stuff by the way, ill check b+h and see what i can find.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

hey kai .. i dont get why that kit shows a softbox in the picture, but i cant find one listed in the included items.. am i missing somthing here.

hey  have you guys worked with the jtl kit before.. id like some input on the quality-

ive got about 2-3000.00 to spend on a portable light kit, and if anyone has any suggestions id be much appreciative. I of course already have somthing in mind, but id like to hear other view/opinions to see if perhaps theres things i hadnt thought about. i should mention that i need at least 2 soft lights for key, fill-some flood work. other lights as needed. evryone has diffent thoughts on lighting so id just like to hear what people would get and why to perhaps better my own theories on the subject.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

It's in there, it's called:

1-Chimera Video Pro Bank-small (571159)
1-Chimera 7-1/4" Speed Ring (571158)
 
Re: nice little light kit..

thats what i was thinking, but wasnt sure . couldnt find item as singular sale item to read on - so you think its a pretty good all around kit though? arri is always a bit overpriced cause of the name- but it come with alot of control too so it seems to be worth the tag.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

Arri is one of those names that may be overpriced, but worth every penny, as you never have to worry about it.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

I have the Arri softbank one kit. I love it. I am thinking about buying a Kino flo Diva light to go with it. If you are going to be doing a lot of greenscreen stuff you might want to check out www.reflecmedia.com I saw them at the DV Expo there system worked great with just there one camera light and there special reflective cloth. A bit pricey but when you think of the time you would save with the one light it was amazing! 8)
 
Re: nice little light kit..

hey that was pretty cool little demo they had there wasn't it.. seemed to work amazingly well.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

Yeah I had the guy walk back at least 50 feet from the light and it still worked great. But for 2 grand it better! 8)
 
Re: nice little light kit..

im thinking about the ARRI softlight 2 package that Kai suggested-which is almost same as  the 1 of course, and then getting the jtl kit to use for  extra soft boxes for flood filling a scene with soft light, or background soft lighting and such. thanks for all the input. no green screen stuff- yet at least .

i agree that arri is a solid brand..much more so than others, but it still bites me that somthing made with outstanding quality is the exception  you havre to pay extra "royalties" for rather than the standard that one can expect from a modestly priced peice of equipment.
..welcome to the world..
 
Re: nice little light kit..

but hey, the arri kits come with free leather gloves and clothespins! :) :) :)
 
Re: nice little light kit..

well .. just the fact that they say "ARRI" on them demands respect and attention on the set. and ive learned that that really makes a big difference with the cast/crew. although it shouldnt influence their level of proffessionalism(professsionamamlsmism...), somehow it does..also gives good impression to clients when doing commercial work- what can i say.. we are human.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

For softlights, if you can afford them, look closely at the Kino Flo Diva 400's. They're about $1000 or so, and they have a lot of significant advantages. Tungsten lights are inexpensive, but they're HOT, and they draw a tremendous amount of power. A good 2k softlight will draw 2,000 watts of power, enough to blow a circuit in an older house, and will pour out a tremendous amount of heat. Fluorescents are smooth, very cool, and won't blow house circuits. If you're doing interviews, your subjects would love you for using fluorescents.

Lowel is pretty much frowned upon in professional circles, and they're not cheap. Lowel's main advantage is in that their units are all very small, and thus quite portable. Arri and Mole-Richardson are the standards in tungsten heads, and Kino is the gold label in fluorescents. Lowel Caselights look pretty good, but they're about the same cost as the Diva.

If I were you, I'd try to build a kit that included a couple of Diva lights, maybe a 400 and a 200, and then supplement it with a few tungsten heads, maybe even used ones off ebay. They probably don't have to be very strong, a few 300's to maybe 650's at the most. Some gaffer's tape and black wrap, some good cases for all of it, some lightweight stands, a selection of gels, and you should have a portable and flexible kit that could handle most circumstances.

I've used the JTL Everlights. Not bad, and an amazingly inexpensive way to get three softlights -- all for $500. But they're no Chimeras. They get hot, they have motorized fans in 'em, and they have vent flaps that tend to leak light. But for the price it's an amazing deal.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

..thanks for the input barry. i would of course love to go with some kino/diva flouros, for the soft lights, but i have to see what i can peice together to complete the setup...(perhaps a small arri tungsten kit) the downside is the pricetag on the kinos /divas..although they are plenty worth it- i just dont know if i have the cash to cough up flouros for this travel kit. ill probably tag on the jtl kit to do the background, or flood fill soft lighting like i mentioned when in larger areas.
 
Re: nice little light kit..

Iamaloser,

You mentioned JTL, I have not used their lights or light kits for that matter but I do own 2 heavy duty light stands that are air filled and I love them. I also have a boom arm that I usually use to place a back light or "hair" light as some of the network guys call them above the talent's head and I use a gel on the light to give it that look like the moon is shining on their head...I work in TV News so the JTL stands work well with what I have to do on a daily basis. They are 10 times better than those flimsy Lowell stands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top