Ushio ColourMax LED retro fit tube bulbs for the Kino Flo Diva

thekreative said:
any chance Kino Flo helped kill the product...... It was a $100 led option that "was" as bright as some their new lights
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This is also what came to my mind.

The product is released and used by professionals, for over half a year if I'm not mistaken, without any issues that I heard of and then very suddenly disappears without a trace and gets discontinued without any proper explanation?

Smells like a company put under pressure by someone else to me.
 
If anyone wants to sell me one bulb, I have a friend that builds LED installations and I'd love to see his take on the design and if it is possible to source the components and see if there is an issue to address........could be a great little side job.
 
Erik Naso said:
I’ve recently learned that the Ushio tubes in the review are not compatible with the ballast of the Diva. Apperantly the tubes don’t meet the wattage of the Divas. While I’ve been using them for several months without issue I felt I needed to let you know about the potential issue.
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Hmmmm... Just because these particular bulbs didn't meet the wattage/specs to make the Diva ballast happy doesn't mean they couldn't redesign a new bulb to meet those requirements. Obviously, Ushio did see this as a potentially profitable segment of the market... maybe they'll redesign and release an update. The question I have is what they'll do to address customers like myself who spent hundreds of $$$ on the bulbs that might wreck our equipment. I wonder if they'll issue a recall...
 
Talking to a bunch of gaffers, If Kino gave Ushio $1 million Ushio would have to sell 100,000 bulbs to make up not taking a payout. Kino would love the Diva and Parabeam to disappear and have customers reinvest in new lights
 
thekreative said:
Talking to a bunch of gaffers, If Kino gave Ushio $1 million Ushio would have to sell 100,000 bulbs to make up not taking a payout. Kino would love the Diva and Parabeam to disappear and have customers reinvest in new lights
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That's exactly what I did. My new lights are called Gemini's and Astra's...
 
Sorry for all the issues guys. As soon as my article went out things got a little crazy.

I'm still using them in five Diva 401 fixtures without issue. What could happen? Maybe burn them up? Burn up the ballast? Start a fire? I really don't know. I haven't heard of the bulbs doing any of those things. I've been using mine for 8 months now.

Ushio developed and marketed them as a direct replacement for the Kino bulbs and other broadcast lights. I'm not sure how they got the wattage wrong on the lamps as that would seem obvious coming from a light bulb company. Then they started marketing them as architectural lights and not broadcast bulbs. It's a mess and they had to pull the plug.

Ushio told me they are developing a Diva bulb and would be ready this year. Possibly around NAB time. If I hear more I'll update here.
 
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I think there may be something beyond the Diva connection. I've been trying to source those Biax stlye led lamps with the 2g11 base for a while. On Amazon they come and go. I can't seem to find the same product for more than a couple of months and it just disappears. Hyperikon made the first ones I bought, now gone. Then Lunera. Maybe the market just won't support led versions of those folded tube lamps or maybe somebody holds a patent on that form factor and is forcing manufacturers to cease and desist.
 
I remember Kino Flo overdrives their ballast.
But I have used these LED tubes in Kino Flo and Biax clones without issue since Erik made me aware of them.
 
Erik Naso said:
Sorry for all the issues guys. As soon as my article went out things got a little crazy.

I'm still using them in five Diva 401 fixtures without issue. What could happen? Maybe burn them up? Burn up the ballast? Start a fire? I really don't know. I haven't heard of the bulbs doing any of those things. I've been using mine for 8 months now.

Ushio developed and marketed them as a direct replacement for the Kino bulbs and other broadcast lights. I'm not sure how they got the wattage wrong on the lamps as that would seem obvious coming from a light bulb company. Then they started marketing them as architectural lights and not broadcast bulbs. It's a mess and they had to pull the plug.

Ushio told me they are developing a Diva bulb and would be ready this year. Possibly around NAB time. If I hear more I'll update here.
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So I just bought a Diva 401 at a steal and I would love to buy these Ushio since it seems that they can still be bought. Erik, you've been using them extensively and you said there's till not a problem with the Ushios with the Diva? I probably won't be using them as extensively as you are, so I wonder if it'll be safe enough to use.

And any update news from Ushio? NAB's done and I haven't seen anything
 
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