Please help to buy a first-time light kit

L

LearningVideo

Well-known member
Hello. We really need for a very good fluorescent light kit for the HVX. We are also looking into buying a second HVX. Lighting Budget is about 2k, if more money needed 3k is max.

90% of production will go to TV. But they really want good lighting and they really want good colors. We will be shooting indoors at night 60i. I was thinking with starting with shooting DV and then upgrading to DVCPRO50.

The shooting will be in my home and tripping the hardware breakers is always a possibility, hence the need for the fluorescent. Currently, we do not have any kind of professional lights. So I am looking for complete professional easy to store and carry kit that allows for transfer. We will be shooting interviews, discussion group and one talent lecturing. In the future, we will also be shooting With Geen Screen and also shooting music video.

I heard of kino flo Diva 400 and 200 series. Also there is the flolight series from http://flolight.com. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.


Kino flo Diva Versus Flolight

1) Kino flo more expensive: Diva 400 complete kit is about $1200, Diva 200 kit is about $700. FloLight 220 is $549 while 110 is $349.

2) Kino flo kit includes a stand and a case without bulbs. FloLight includes bulbs without a stand and a case. I do not know where to order the stand or the case for the Flolight

3) Kino flo kit is made of aluminum and is less in weight than FloLight that is made of steel.

4) More people like the Kino flo, those who tried the FloLight thought it was a decent and good replacement for Kino flo.

5) both are dimmable.

some also suggested the following that goes with the above lights:

1) several 650W Britek focusable.

OR

2) 300 or 650 fresnel for backlight + 150 fresnel for hair light

OR

3) 200 - 300w incandescent fixtures: maybe like those: LTM Peppers 200w, 300w;

Any ideas or experiences? Thanks a lot.
 
Look at a small Arri Kit with rolling case that includes fresnels and chimera softlights. You can add a Kino-flo 400 to that if you have the budget.
That is a good basic start without blowing the bank or breakers. Stay away from Britek, and I can't stand LTM peppers.
 
Just picked up a diva 400 with daylight and 2900 bulbs. It's great. For some interviews I key with the Kino and bounce/reflect the stray light for fill. Its very flattering and easy to vary the degree of modeling. Check out Lastolite sunfire reflectors. They are amazingly punchy and may not be right for everything, but they really bounce a lot of light. I would get a few types of reflectors to get the effect you're looking for. Cheap lights when you think about it! Get the $50 stand mount arm. Much easier an cheaper than a C-stand.

Check out Dedos. Expensive, but wow, I've gotten some nice rims and kickers from mine. I like the quality of the light, and its easy to daylight balance with gels. (hmmm is it a whiter light than the arris? Haven't given it much thought, I just keep reaching for it...think I'll get another one for father's day...that'll go over well)

A couple Arri /Mole 650s on dimmers and maybe a 1k to give you options. I picked up a Kata bag. Arri box is nice but I have to travel light, and my Kata bag is nice.

Kits are nice, but try to be selective about your purchase. There's no one kit that does it all. Invest in options.
 
powerdog said:
Punch, could you clarify stand mount arm vs c-stand for reflectors? What do you mount the arm on?
Click to expand...
I use Avenger D700B. http://www.adorama.com/AED700B.html

It mounts to any light stand. It holds the reflector firmly by the edges (a little tricky to get the relflector in there at first...but once it holds its very sturdy) so you can easily swivel and position the reflector.
 
Punch,

Thanks for the input. Would size and accessories do you suggest for the reflector? Shall I get a medium or large panel? Shall I get a complete kit that has the handle, grip, diffusing fabrics, and others?

something like this?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=215573&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


What do you think of in addition of getting DIVA 400, also getting DIVA 200? Have you checked out the Flo-lights?

http://flolight.com/products.htm


for the Arri 650, do you mean something like this?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ls&Q=&sku=72020&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
I use these with a holder and a light stand. I guess it depends on how much light you have to disperse. You can bend reflectors like a pringle chip to get spot or flood type effects, I'm not sure how easy that would be with the one you're looking at.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...986&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Getting another Diva is a good thing. I'd probably opt for another 400 becuase you can operate it as a 2 bulb or 4 bulb fixture and the price is almost the same. (shop around..You'll see that they get pretty close) Never checked out flo-lights.

Yep, those are the arris.

Check into the Dedos. I think they're overpriced, but then I use mine all the time-so go figure. Don't let the 150 watt rating fool you. Fully spotted they're suppose to be like a 650 and fully flooded they're suppose and to be like a 300. Haven't tested that theory, but they're defiatley a lot punchier than a 150 fresnel.
 
After corresponding with many people, I find out that almost each person have their own lights and their own recommendations. In fact, many suggestions contradicted other suggestions. Nevertheless, I have found that actually there is a common thread among most of those who gave me advice: Kino flo Diva.

So I am thinking of order Kino flo Diva 400 kit and 200 kit and a Reflector. I hope that this will be a good start for lighting a modest set.

Any last thoughts?
 
You got soft lights covered-which is really good, but I think you are going to want some hard light that you can focus and control with barndoors.

I'm thinking about another Kino. Is your decision to buy a 200 vs another 400 purely economic or do you feel the 200 gets you some capability. I'm thinking the the 400 does have a dimmer, and if you're worried about color shift, you can operate it in 2 bulb mode. Shop around for a deal. They're out there.
 
just read your original post...shooting mostly at night. Yeah I can imagne wanting to create some shadow effects with hard lights. You may even want to push some light through a window.

Don't forget about cheapo Lowes shop lights. Great for puking light all over the place when you need to get some light in a background. Throw some black foil on them for a little control...Saves the expensive lights for real work. The ol chineese lantern is another good one
 
Punch,

The reason for this is because of budget but also diversity. So I thought that 400 and 200 can be good.

Concerning fill lights, can I use normal home lights for that? The problem is that there is a large room filled with people, and they need lights as well. Would that work?
 
That's cool, I'll probably pick up a 200 instead of a 400...my reason would be space in my car! I rent when the project gets bigger.

Hmmm a large room filled with people. Well, if budget wasn't a concern I might set up 2-4 Kino 4'x4s, which leads me think you might want to reconsider that 200 and get a 400. Sorry to keep pushing you on that, I haven't worked with the 200 so I can't say that it would cover you, but it sounds to me like you've got a lot of space to light.

As far as the shop lights (500w Halogen), I wouldn't light anything important with them (like people) They're too hard to control (no fresnel lens, no barndoor) and they're very harsh. I think of them as quick, cheap little options to kick up the light on a wall or in a corner. Build a dimmer for them. Maybe you could shine a couple through a window, gel it and get some kind of amibiant street light effect. (night time right?) If you're buying reflectors, you might be able to use one of these as a source. Just keep color temperature in mind, and pick up some cc gels. I just like to use these when I'm short on instruments and I don't want to use a $400 light to make a pattern on the wall.

Good luck, be sure to post some frame grabs when you get this up and running.
 
Get a diva 400 -- less than 2 amps per light, the lights will work with both 2900k and 5500 bulbs, the room will definitely be cooler, lights cool faster, it's very portable and easy to use, you won't get harsh shadows and yet you can mold the lights a little bit for specific lighting, and samy's sells it in l.a. for around $1,000. As for a big room with, go to the kino flo website
http://www.kinoflo.com/sales_catalog_2004/diva_system/001_dls/diva_system.html#fixspec
to see the exact foot candles at different distances.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top