Should I buy these lights?

B

Burlington Films

Member
I am really impressed with the 4 foot kinoflo lights and I love them for interviews, fill light and a light that looks great on peoples skin.

I was about to buy a set, but then noticed that kino is now selling LED lighting. I then saw the price, so I thought maybe on ebay there is a better option.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/140966550275?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-LED3000-...LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f23561e8e&_uhb=1

I am thinking the above light for the price, LED is bright but I think I could add a lot of diffusion to get a soft look, the option battery attachment would be great for outdoor setups, no bulbs to change and cool to the touch.

I know these lights are from China, but what isn't from China these days. Also I understand LEDs can sometimes have a green tint, but I have a gel kit.

Anyways, do you guys think this is a good deal? Do you see any pros/cons that I am missing?
 
Yep, nobody has tested these, while we do have quite a bit of feedback on the F&V lights. Also CRI:82 - is kind of a fail. Note that $1550 + $176 shipping = $1726... I think one of F&V's 3 light kits is a much, much better deal. There are a lot of people jumping into the LED light business, and the product is all over the place. This is where the saying "Caveat Emptor" ("Buyer Beware) really applies. YMMV.
 
In my experience, LED lights are to harsh on faces to ever work nicely. Even with a lot of diffusion they always make the skin tones look off to me. When I use them I try to avoid using them directly on people's faces and instead opt to use them as backlights. Whenever I shoot interviews, I prefer to use Kino's as key and fill and then throw in the LED as a backlight if needed. Though in saying that, some of the new high end LED's that Dedo has been making have some nice characteristics. It just depends on if you are willing to spend more money to get the higher quality LED's then if you just want to go with the cheap Chinese versions. Though I'd go with a Kino and save the LED for backlighting or background.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Maybe I will go with the kino flo diva 401. I like the look and it looks like it will be too difficult to match the same look and softness with LED lights for a cheaper price.
 
I did a ton of research on LED's and unless 1) Money is not an serious factor 2) You need to be able to power by battery 3) Portability is major concern 4) You don't need soft diffused light 5) The throw of the light is not worrisome you are much better off with Kino Flos or Coollights version (which are very reasonably priced). Like Liam Hall said right now you are comparing apples and oranges. This is changing, especially at the higher end but I don't trust the knock offs. There are way too many things which can go wrong.
 
I love my el-cheapo LED lights, but that's because they happen to suit my studio set up (stop motion animation in a small room).

Since you already know and like the kinoflo lights, they're almost certainly a better choice for your set up.
 
The Kino celebs are a nice unit and will replace the diva for me and the 4x4s. A couple of reasons. Inventory is a big deal and anything to slim down the boxes of 4' tubes is a great thing. The diva is just a horrible light. It is fast and easy with on-board ballast and dimming, and to be honest i reach for it often, but the color is unacceptable. I've had to remove it a couple of times and its embarrassing. Also if someone breaks another diva tube im gonna beat them with a dead cat.

For LEDs i use light panels and no other brand yet for any light that hits an actor. i have a few throw-away battery units for bookshelves etc. I really only use the LP as an eyelight and not for direct lighting anyways. You have to be really careful with the chinese units. A friend/competitor of mine has a couple and not only are they different colors magenta/green but they are uncorrectable with gel. The light that they output biases green in one direction and magenta in another. No matter what you put on, minus green/plus green, they are off in one direction or another. I paid a lot more but no one questions the LP color. I recently did a japanese job where they wanted UV gel on the lamps because 1/8 CTO was too much. This is how particular they can be and one of those chinese panels would have been briskly removed. Next to be added will be the Arri L7Cs and Moles LED tweenie and babys.
 
Fratis said:
The Kino celebs are a nice unit and will replace the diva for me and the 4x4s. A couple of reasons. Inventory is a big deal and anything to slim down the boxes of 4' tubes is a great thing. The diva is just a horrible light. It is fast and easy with on-board ballast and dimming, and to be honest i reach for it often, but the color is unacceptable. I've had to remove it a couple of times and its embarrassing. Also if someone breaks another diva tube im gonna beat them with a dead cat.
Click to expand...
You really think the Celeb offers better color than the Diva?
 
Spartacus said:
You really think the Celeb offers better color than the Diva?
Click to expand...
Yes the diva with kino tubes does have a magenta tint especially with the 3200 tubes. This get exacerbated by dimming it. This is why they added the 2 tube/4 tube switch. I wont be getting rid of the unit but for an adjustable fill i think id call for the celeb over it.

Instead of buying another flathead id like to stack celeb 400s. Again carting around boxes of tubes just sucks.
 
Tolin said:
Even the cheap fluorescent lights on Ebay work better than those crappy LED fixtures.
Click to expand...

Probably. Before i had Kinos i used regular homedepot shop lights. i cut the Kino plate pattern into the back of them. They worked well for lower end jobs where you are under a fluorescent base anyways.
 
Speaking of LED technology in lighting you should all check out Fill Lite. http://fill-lite.com/

It's the first LED based light that I seem that does not need heavy diffusion to or chimera to offset multi point LED shadows... Power need for each panel is only 52watts.
 
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