Kino Divas, Ive been seeing them as a item of choice for interview lights latley and love the look Im seeing. Im wondering if anyone on the board is using them and what they think...?

M

Used a 400 recently for a shoot for MTV. Worked really well. Strengths: ballast is on board so you don't have to worry about it hanging around, but it also means you have to be able to reach the light to control the dimmer (it has an optional remote out for control, however). That can be a hassle. It can really throw light and spill nicely onto a scene.

weakness: none really that I'm became aware of after shooting 4 days with it.

I used them on a project recently that was partly shot in a studio, but partly shot on various locations. We were doing sit down interview stuff, and the Divas were indispensible in allowing a quick set up on location.

Lots of our locations were in people's homes or offices, so it wasn't exaclty like shooting in the studio. You've got furniture in the way, and much more cramped quarters than we were used to.

By using the divas, I didn't have to match the lighting distance exactly as it was in the studio, and could easily use the dimmer to bring the light up or down to a level that worked for us. This save a whole lot of time, which comes in handy where you're shooting people who are in a hurry.

On this project for example, we interviewed Lance Armstrong and we were told we only had him for 10 minutes (a similar thing happened in the mayors office). If I'd been trying to light with conventional lighting, it would have taken me much longer. But with the Divas, I was able to throw them up quickly, dim to the right level, and shoot.

So, depending on your application, they can be great tools.
It also came in handy to switch out the bulbs between dayling and indoor setting (although swapping those out isn't nearly as fast).

I use the Gyoury Lights (www.meansst.com), which are based on the same technology as the Kino Divas but have more flexibility, in that they can be configured many different ways (including a nifty China ball kit, single or double reflector, car visor mount, etc.

for all the responses sort of what Ive seen and heard, now I just have to start saving and charles thanks for the link to gyoury they are another option.

M