Starting from scratch with lighting

[Bobonli]

I'll try not to make this the 999th "which light should I buy" thread. I'm starting down the road to assembling a light kit. I have nothing except for an on-camera Swit torch. I want to be able to do simple, affordable 3 point lighting. I was thinking of starting with the lights suggested on the Vortex Interview Lighting DVD: a Lowell Tota and 2 Pros (one with snoot the other with barn doors).

I went to the big box store in NYC today to check them out. I did not realize how bloody hot they can get. That got me to wondering: is this old technology? Can the same job be accomplished with an LED kit for the same price plus or minus a few bucks? The only LEDs I saw at B&H were panels for +$1600 each.

I'm just not familiar with the LED products to know whether a 3 point kit can be assembled in the same price range and whether it would do the job as well.

I'd appreciate your input.

 

[gclark]

Check out the thread on the Coolights LED:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=147772

You could assemble a basic 3 light LED kit for about $2000.

It's been said before, but I think you'd be better off building a tungsten kit. The LEDs don't throw as far and the color output is far from perfect. I use a VIDLED as a backlight and love it for on-camera applications, but nothing beats a couple good fresnels and the proper grip equipment. Fluorescents are fantastic and stay cool like the LEDs, but they're not cheap.

 

[Bobonli]

It's been said before, but I think you'd be better off building a tungsten kit. The LEDs don't throw as far and the color output is far from perfect.

Thanks. This is the sort of feedback I'm looking for. As for the color output, that's one of the issues I'm fretting about: my Sony EX-1 isn't kind to tungsten light and black fabrics (as widely reported). Perhaps I'm making more of that then I should. I was wondering if LEDs would eliminate that issue altogether.

I poked around Cooliights. Unless I'm calculating incorrectly three lights by themselves will be over $1000, not including grip. Perhaps that's why tungsten is the popular entry point since I think I can assemble a three light kit with stands and other do-dads for $1500.

 

[PerroneFord]

I poked around Cooliights. Unless I'm calculating incorrectly three lights by themselves will be over $1000, not including grip. Perhaps that's why tungsten is the popular entry point since I think I can assemble a three light kit with stands and other do-dads for $1500.

Bingo.

Tungsten is effective, and inexpensive. It is also very flexible. Able to move from hard lighting to very soft lighting without a lot of effort. Changing it's color temperature is well understood, and generally inexpensive, though it does cause quite a bit of light loss.

If you are going to do 3-point lighting, I'd suggest 4 fixtures.

1. Softbox (Lowel Rifa with the 3 head fluorescent add-on)
2. Lowel Pro-light or something similar
3. Lowel Tota or similar broad light
4. Lowel Onmi or similar 250wt light.

If you add a couple of C-Stands and foamcore or reflectors to this package, you will be able to do some lovely interview lighting, color match your lighting easily, and do most of what you need for small spaces.

Doing the same in all Fluorescent would give you no option of hard light. Doing the same with LED or HMI would cost a fortune.

Yes, tungsten get's hot. That's why I use the Rifa with CFL lamps close to the talent to do my primary lighting. The other hot lights can be kept away from the talent. A reflector can be used for fill in most instances which keeps power use to a minimum and heat to a minimum.