What's the best offer ? at DVinfo.net

Bart Wierzbicki · July 9th, 2009, 02:56 AM

Hey guys,
I'm looking for a nice video lighting kit. I have 2 options :

- I can buy 3 Redhead lamps (800 Watt & 3200 K) with barn-doors

Or

- 3 video Softbox lamps (5500 K)

They both have a very good price.
What do you suggest ?
I really don't know what to choose :
I would prefer the Redheads with the Barn-doors because of the better control of light, but the softboxes are really good for a nicer light ... hmm ...
What about the K-value ?
Is 5500 K better then 3200 K of doesn't it matter if you just put it right in your camera ?

David W. Jones · July 9th, 2009, 05:15 AM

I would suggest that you do a little more research.
You do have more options than just those two kits you listed.

Bart Wierzbicki · July 9th, 2009, 05:44 AM

Yeah, I know there is a lot more to find, but these 2 I can have them for a cheap price.

Marcus Marchesseault · July 9th, 2009, 02:34 PM

I wouldn't put all your money into one type of light. If I were you, I would buy one of each except that they are different color temperatures. Honestly, the only cheap lights I would recommend are those from coollights.biz and Lowel pro-lights. The two kinds of light you need are "hard" and "soft" for accent lighting with the "hard" and key lighting with the "soft" larger source like the softbox. You also need to choose whether or not you will be shooting where sunlight can come into your shots. If you use daylight temperature fixtures, you can shoot where there is available sunlight.

Bill Pryor · July 9th, 2009, 03:29 PM

You really need to get some basics about lighting before you buy anything. I'd get the Lowel book about lighting they sell on their website. The 5500ºK lights are for when you want to use daylight, 3200 is tungsten obviously, much warmer color temperature.

You're also looking at two different types of lights entirely. The softlights are nice for shooting interviews, closeups of people. The open face hard lights have a longer throw but can be diffused for closeups. Since the softboxes are daylight, I'd assume they're probably fluorescents, which means a nice soft cool light, but not much throw at all.

Also, if those 3 tungsten lights are under $1K and are 800 watts and you're in the U.S., they're probably not real Redheads, more likely the Chinese knockoffs. They're OK but they aren't really Redheads, which are made by Ianiaro and are readily available most anyplace except the U.S.

John S. Cooper · July 23rd, 2009, 01:01 PM

Don´t be to stingy. It´s better to spend a little more money on something really good, than to just buy something for is low price

July 9th, 2009, 02:56 AM	#1
Bart Wierzbicki Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Zonhoven Posts: 153	What's the best offer ? Hey guys, I'm looking for a nice video lighting kit. I have 2 options : - I can buy 3 Redhead lamps (800 Watt & 3200 K) with barn-doors Or - 3 video Softbox lamps (5500 K) They both have a very good price. What do you suggest ? I really don't know what to choose : I would prefer the Redheads with the Barn-doors because of the better control of light, but the softboxes are really good for a nicer light ... hmm ... What about the K-value ? Is 5500 K better then 3200 K of doesn't it matter if you just put it right in your camera ?

July 9th, 2009, 05:15 AM	#2
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	I would suggest that you do a little more research. You do have more options than just those two kits you listed.

July 9th, 2009, 05:44 AM	#3
Bart Wierzbicki Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Zonhoven Posts: 153	Yeah, I know there is a lot more to find, but these 2 I can have them for a cheap price.

July 9th, 2009, 02:34 PM	#4
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	I wouldn't put all your money into one type of light. If I were you, I would buy one of each except that they are different color temperatures. Honestly, the only cheap lights I would recommend are those from coollights.biz and Lowel pro-lights. The two kinds of light you need are "hard" and "soft" for accent lighting with the "hard" and key lighting with the "soft" larger source like the softbox. You also need to choose whether or not you will be shooting where sunlight can come into your shots. If you use daylight temperature fixtures, you can shoot where there is available sunlight.

July 9th, 2009, 03:29 PM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	You really need to get some basics about lighting before you buy anything. I'd get the Lowel book about lighting they sell on their website. The 5500ºK lights are for when you want to use daylight, 3200 is tungsten obviously, much warmer color temperature. You're also looking at two different types of lights entirely. The softlights are nice for shooting interviews, closeups of people. The open face hard lights have a longer throw but can be diffused for closeups. Since the softboxes are daylight, I'd assume they're probably fluorescents, which means a nice soft cool light, but not much throw at all. Also, if those 3 tungsten lights are under $1K and are 800 watts and you're in the U.S., they're probably not real Redheads, more likely the Chinese knockoffs. They're OK but they aren't really Redheads, which are made by Ianiaro and are readily available most anyplace except the U.S.

July 23rd, 2009, 01:01 PM	#6
John S. Cooper Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London. GB Posts: 29	Don´t be to stingy. It´s better to spend a little more money on something really good, than to just buy something for is low price