So many Lighting Options at DVinfo.net

Subbu Vedula · March 6th, 2009, 05:05 PM

[
Quick Summary :
Shooting : Short Films; Budget : ~$600;
Considering : Lowel Tungsten Portrait Three Light Kit or
(Coollights 650k fresnel and Coollights Softbox Kit)
Looking For : Suggestion
]

I have read almost every post concerned with buying lights as a beginner. The moment I think I have nailed the lights I need to get, I read something different. I understand each need is different and there is no single light to accomodate all.
My intention is to shoot short films (lights are to be used indoors, mostly 3200k balanced).
Budget is $600 (I understand it is very very low).

Originally thought of getting the following kit from B&H:
Lowel Tungsten Portrait Three Light Kit(
Lowel | Tungsten Portrait Three Light Kit | 401440 | B&H Photo)

I read conflicting opinions about totas and omnis (Like tota's are almost never used except to light a factory types, the otherhand tota's can be used as fill inside a softbox or with an umbrella or to raise the light level in a given room). Same goes with omnis. DP is the only light almost all people seem to like to some extent. Other recommendations were Rifas, Arris and are little over the budget.

Current consideration is :
Coollights CL-TF0650 650w Compact Tungsten Fresnel
Coollights CL-SFT1 Softbox Kit 3200K (With Stand)[CL-SFT1KST56]

Any suggestions are welcome. If I don't get any, I can understnad why as this question has
been beaten to death several times. :-)
Had to ask this here just before I hit that "order" button.

P.S: I am sorry for the long post.
P.P.S: Sorry if it felt like a dejavu (Newbie comes by asking the same question over and over. I know, But I spent 100 hours on reading posts and more confused than ever.)

Thank You

Perrone Ford · March 6th, 2009, 08:13 PM

You know the answer to this.

There is a reason that light kit is called a portrait kit. It's for subjects that are not moving. If that's how you shoot your movies, you're golden. If your subjects are moving, then you're in trouble.

Trying to light a movie with $600 of lights is like trying to shoot a movie on a camera with no lens. You can point them at things all day, and you'll never get the image you want.

Maybe take that money and buy one GOOD light, and a stand. And buy more as budget allows. You could maybe get a couple Lowel Pro lights with stands and maybe a c-stand with the money. That would be better than nothing.

Subbu Vedula · March 6th, 2009, 09:23 PM

Thanks Perrone. I guess, was in denial :-) Thanks for the advise. I am surprised how you never get tired answering the same questions over and over from newbies like me ;-). That sure is amazing to me. Thanks again.

David W. Jones · March 7th, 2009, 06:08 AM

Another option is to buy good quality used lights.
There is always a steady stream of them for sale on places like ebay from rental houses freshening up inventory, and wanabe film makers who have found out making movies that people want to watch is harder than it looks, so they sell all their gear.

Subbu Vedula · March 9th, 2009, 08:10 AM

That's what I did, picked up used arri 650 fresnel, lowel pro and a Metthews cstand.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Ralph Keyser · March 10th, 2009, 10:55 AM

And don't forget china balls as a soft light option. They're dirt cheap, and give a nice light with the larger sizes.

Subbu Vedula · March 11th, 2009, 08:26 AM

I am looking around to get a soft box option to add to my kit.

Michael Liebergot · March 11th, 2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subbu Vedula

I am looking around to get a soft box option to add to my kit.

I will say for softbox options, for me, nothing beats the Lowell Rifa Lights (44,55,66,88.).
The reason being that there is no faster way to setup a softbox than the Rifa lights, as they are all self contained. So you simply pull the light out of the bag, pull the rear rod out, which opens the soft box, attach the diffuser and you're done, just mount it on your light stand.

Also nice is the new EX line lets you switch out light assemblies, so you can run Tunsten lighting, as well as one or double florescent fixtures to convert your light source to soft cool flos.

I use a Rifa 44 and Rifa 55 all of the time with a reflector for my interviews and ahve been very happy with the results

Greg Laves · March 11th, 2009, 09:51 PM

I have a Lowell Rifa 66 with the standard diffusion and an egg crate and I absolutely love the look. But mine is like every other Rifa light I have seen, it is separating at the seams down the side. But it looks so good I will try to patch it and keep it going as long as I can. And like Michael said they are super fast to set up and take down. I would easily recommend them, even though they are not perfect.

Perrone Ford · March 12th, 2009, 04:04 AM

Interesting. Mine is not separating at all. Got any pics?

Les Wilson · March 13th, 2009, 11:12 AM

Subbu,
You've gotten good advice here. I would only add that I've been down the same path. I found the 4 light Lowel Omni system I picked up on ebay had two prior owners but is still going and has proven to be a very economical system that is flexible for handling the many situations you will need/want to light. There's also economy of parts when your lights are using the same barn doors, cords, globes, filters, gel frames, soft boxes etc. There's very economical frames and soft boxes for the Omni. ALso, before you go too far with stands, consider a stand/crossbar approach for hanging lights.

March 6th, 2009, 05:05 PM	#1
Subbu Vedula Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 48	So many Lighting Options [ Quick Summary : Shooting : Short Films; Budget : ~$600; Considering : Lowel Tungsten Portrait Three Light Kit or (Coollights 650k fresnel and Coollights Softbox Kit) Looking For : Suggestion ] I have read almost every post concerned with buying lights as a beginner. The moment I think I have nailed the lights I need to get, I read something different. I understand each need is different and there is no single light to accomodate all. My intention is to shoot short films (lights are to be used indoors, mostly 3200k balanced). Budget is $600 (I understand it is very very low). Originally thought of getting the following kit from B&H: Lowel Tungsten Portrait Three Light Kit( Lowel \| Tungsten Portrait Three Light Kit \| 401440 \| B&H Photo) I read conflicting opinions about totas and omnis (Like tota's are almost never used except to light a factory types, the otherhand tota's can be used as fill inside a softbox or with an umbrella or to raise the light level in a given room). Same goes with omnis. DP is the only light almost all people seem to like to some extent. Other recommendations were Rifas, Arris and are little over the budget. Current consideration is : Coollights CL-TF0650 650w Compact Tungsten Fresnel Coollights CL-SFT1 Softbox Kit 3200K (With Stand)[CL-SFT1KST56] Any suggestions are welcome. If I don't get any, I can understnad why as this question has been beaten to death several times. :-) Had to ask this here just before I hit that "order" button. P.S: I am sorry for the long post. P.P.S: Sorry if it felt like a dejavu (Newbie comes by asking the same question over and over. I know, But I spent 100 hours on reading posts and more confused than ever.) Thank You

March 6th, 2009, 08:13 PM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	You know the answer to this. There is a reason that light kit is called a portrait kit. It's for subjects that are not moving. If that's how you shoot your movies, you're golden. If your subjects are moving, then you're in trouble. Trying to light a movie with $600 of lights is like trying to shoot a movie on a camera with no lens. You can point them at things all day, and you'll never get the image you want. Maybe take that money and buy one GOOD light, and a stand. And buy more as budget allows. You could maybe get a couple Lowel Pro lights with stands and maybe a c-stand with the money. That would be better than nothing. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

March 6th, 2009, 09:23 PM	#3
Subbu Vedula Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 48	Thanks Perrone Thanks Perrone. I guess, was in denial :-) Thanks for the advise. I am surprised how you never get tired answering the same questions over and over from newbies like me ;-). That sure is amazing to me. Thanks again.

March 9th, 2009, 08:10 AM	#5
Subbu Vedula Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 48	Thanks David That's what I did, picked up used arri 650 fresnel, lowel pro and a Metthews cstand. Thanks for the suggestions. Last edited by Subbu Vedula; March 9th, 2009 at 08:10 AM. Reason: dp=pro

March 11th, 2009, 08:26 AM	#7
Subbu Vedula Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 48	Thanks Ralph I am looking around to get a soft box option to add to my kit.

March 7th, 2009, 06:08 AM	#4
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Another option is to buy good quality used lights. There is always a steady stream of them for sale on places like ebay from rental houses freshening up inventory, and wanabe film makers who have found out making movies that people want to watch is harder than it looks, so they sell all their gear.

March 10th, 2009, 10:55 AM	#6
Ralph Keyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 287	And don't forget china balls as a soft light option. They're dirt cheap, and give a nice light with the larger sizes.

March 11th, 2009, 09:51 PM	#9
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	I have a Lowell Rifa 66 with the standard diffusion and an egg crate and I absolutely love the look. But mine is like every other Rifa light I have seen, it is separating at the seams down the side. But it looks so good I will try to patch it and keep it going as long as I can. And like Michael said they are super fast to set up and take down. I would easily recommend them, even though they are not perfect.

March 12th, 2009, 04:04 AM	#10
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	Interesting. Mine is not separating at all. Got any pics? __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

March 13th, 2009, 11:12 AM	#11
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Subbu, You've gotten good advice here. I would only add that I've been down the same path. I found the 4 light Lowel Omni system I picked up on ebay had two prior owners but is still going and has proven to be a very economical system that is flexible for handling the many situations you will need/want to light. There's also economy of parts when your lights are using the same barn doors, cords, globes, filters, gel frames, soft boxes etc. There's very economical frames and soft boxes for the Omni. ALso, before you go too far with stands, consider a stand/crossbar approach for hanging lights.