T - O - T

Dylan Couper · April 24th, 2004, 01:49 AM

A few questions about the Lowel Tota lights for the gang, if you could indulge me?

a) Does the light have a build in umbrella holder? Ok, a hole that you can stick the end of an umbrella in? Is it a standard hole?

b) What type of bulbs does it take specificaly? If I was going to order them from somewhere, what type would I ask for. I know they come in multiple wattages.

c) Hmm... Thats it I think.

Marco Leavitt · April 24th, 2004, 01:24 PM

Dylan,
Yeah, the Tota does indeed have a hole with a tightening screw that's very handy. I don't know what a standard size would be, but it fits my photoflex umbrellas just fine. Being set to the side, the hole is at an angle so you can use as much area on the umbrella as possible. As far as lamps, I've used 300w and 750w. I believe there's a 500w as well. They are standard size halogens, like you could find at a hardware store, although the ones that are designed for video and film have a color temperature of 3200k.

Bryan Beasleigh · April 24th, 2004, 02:42 PM

Yes the Tota does have a slot for a filter frame or an umbrella. It's wise to buy a "Lobo' bracket to mount the umbrella. It's sometimes tough to tighten the yoke so the light and unbrella don't slide. Lorne Lapham should have them, if not here's the link.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&b=61&shs=lobo&ci=1&ac=&Submit.x=8&Submit.y=12

R7 halogen bulbs The following are 3200K Any R7 lamp will do The cheaper work lite bulbs are very long life (3000 hrs) but 2900-3100 K. Thgis isn't a big deal with manual light balance. Even left at 3200K the scene will just be a touch warm.
US pricing
EMD 750 watt - $18
FWM (HIR) Gives as much light as a 1000 watt bulb 650 watt -$25
FDN 500 watt - $14
EHZ 300 watt -$9.50

Dylan Couper · April 24th, 2004, 08:57 PM

Perfect!

Thanks guys.

Marcia Janine Galles · May 3rd, 2004, 09:09 AM

Dylan, there's also a 600 watt available through B & H.

Mike Rehmus · May 3rd, 2004, 09:16 AM

The lamps also come in clear and frosted envelopes. Makes them a bit softer when you use the frosted-type.

Dylan Couper · May 24th, 2004, 08:52 AM

Hey guys.

I ended up buying three Tota lights (and stands, and cords, and scrims....) to compliment my lighting kit.

Now I need to know...

How do you attach a softbox to these things?

Marcia Janine Galles · May 24th, 2004, 10:18 AM

Dylan, I use the medium Photoflex Silverdome. (I probably could've gotten away with a small, but my thinking was that the bigger size would have a broader, softer light... and it really is a beautiful light at that.) To attach the Silverdome to the Tota you need an adapter ring, available at B & H (and lots of other places). It's a bit of a screwy looking contraption in my book, but it works great, when you have it set up correctly. And I've gotten pretty speedy at it, at this point. My advice though, if you go that route, comes from Bryan Beasleigh on these boards, which is to file a small notch on the brass post the Tota fits onto (on the adapter ring), to add a little additional security as you tighten the screw down. That way the flat top part of the screw is tightening down on a small flat surface on the post, as opposed to an angled edge on the post. Much snugger fit.

Best of luck,
Marcia

Ken Tanaka · May 24th, 2004, 10:20 AM

You will need to buy a "speed ring" for the Tota. Here's one from Photoflex. It's a collar that facilitates insertion of the soft box's stay rods.

Marcia Janine Galles · May 24th, 2004, 11:16 AM

Wow... technology marches on. The new model is a giant leap forward compared to the old one I have. Good to know, Ken. (Course, at that price, I'm keeping my old one for some time to come.)

Dylan Couper · May 24th, 2004, 01:17 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : You will need to buy a "speed ring" for the Tota. Here's one from Photoflex. It's a collar that facilitates insertion of the soft box's stay rods. -->>>

Ah!
Thanks Ken! I looked for one on the Lowel site and didn't find one so thought there might be something else for them.

Thanks to Marcia and Brian as well for the tip on filing down a screw notch. Good idea.

April 24th, 2004, 01:49 AM	#1
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	T - O - T - A Toooota A few questions about the Lowel Tota lights for the gang, if you could indulge me? a) Does the light have a build in umbrella holder? Ok, a hole that you can stick the end of an umbrella in? Is it a standard hole? b) What type of bulbs does it take specificaly? If I was going to order them from somewhere, what type would I ask for. I know they come in multiple wattages. c) Hmm... Thats it I think. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

April 24th, 2004, 08:57 PM	#4
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Perfect! Thanks guys. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 3rd, 2004, 09:16 AM	#6
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The lamps also come in clear and frosted envelopes. Makes them a bit softer when you use the frosted-type. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

May 24th, 2004, 08:52 AM	#7
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Hey guys. I ended up buying three Tota lights (and stands, and cords, and scrims....) to compliment my lighting kit. Now I need to know... How do you attach a softbox to these things? __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 24th, 2004, 10:20 AM	#9
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	You will need to buy a "speed ring" for the Tota. Here's one from Photoflex. It's a collar that facilitates insertion of the soft box's stay rods. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 24th, 2004, 01:24 PM	#2
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Dylan, Yeah, the Tota does indeed have a hole with a tightening screw that's very handy. I don't know what a standard size would be, but it fits my photoflex umbrellas just fine. Being set to the side, the hole is at an angle so you can use as much area on the umbrella as possible. As far as lamps, I've used 300w and 750w. I believe there's a 500w as well. They are standard size halogens, like you could find at a hardware store, although the ones that are designed for video and film have a color temperature of 3200k.

April 24th, 2004, 02:42 PM	#3
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Yes the Tota does have a slot for a filter frame or an umbrella. It's wise to buy a "Lobo' bracket to mount the umbrella. It's sometimes tough to tighten the yoke so the light and unbrella don't slide. Lorne Lapham should have them, if not here's the link. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&b=61&shs=lobo&ci=1&ac=&Submit.x=8&Submit.y=12 R7 halogen bulbs The following are 3200K Any R7 lamp will do The cheaper work lite bulbs are very long life (3000 hrs) but 2900-3100 K. Thgis isn't a big deal with manual light balance. Even left at 3200K the scene will just be a touch warm. US pricing EMD 750 watt - $18 FWM (HIR) Gives as much light as a 1000 watt bulb 650 watt -$25 FDN 500 watt - $14 EHZ 300 watt -$9.50

May 3rd, 2004, 09:09 AM	#5
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Dylan, there's also a 600 watt available through B & H.

May 24th, 2004, 10:18 AM	#8
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Dylan, I use the medium Photoflex Silverdome. (I probably could've gotten away with a small, but my thinking was that the bigger size would have a broader, softer light... and it really is a beautiful light at that.) To attach the Silverdome to the Tota you need an adapter ring, available at B & H (and lots of other places). It's a bit of a screwy looking contraption in my book, but it works great, when you have it set up correctly. And I've gotten pretty speedy at it, at this point. My advice though, if you go that route, comes from Bryan Beasleigh on these boards, which is to file a small notch on the brass post the Tota fits onto (on the adapter ring), to add a little additional security as you tighten the screw down. That way the flat top part of the screw is tightening down on a small flat surface on the post, as opposed to an angled edge on the post. Much snugger fit. Best of luck, Marcia

May 24th, 2004, 11:16 AM	#10
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Wow... technology marches on. The new model is a giant leap forward compared to the old one I have. Good to know, Ken. (Course, at that price, I'm keeping my old one for some time to come.)

May 24th, 2004, 01:17 PM	#11
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : You will need to buy a "speed ring" for the Tota. Here's one from Photoflex. It's a collar that facilitates insertion of the soft box's stay rods. -->>> Ah! Thanks Ken! I looked for one on the Lowel site and didn't find one so thought there might be something else for them. Thanks to Marcia and Brian as well for the tip on filing down a screw notch. Good idea. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com