Britek Question at DVinfo.net

Richard Alvarez · March 11th, 2005, 11:35 AM

I am looking into the various Britek kits available on the web. And have noticed that SOME of the sites state that the lighting is suitable for SILENT video.

An example of a statement -

"Below you'll find High Powered Focusable Softbox lighting great for digital photography and video (silent). These top of the line Britek Pro Brifocus lights with heavy duty 8 foot stands are similar in design as famous "Brand X" (we can't mention their name here) costing triple the price! With these 600 or 1000 watt lights, the more lights you get the better lighting value! "

This leads me to believe that the Britek lights generate a hum in use? Anyone here use them and care to comment?

Thanks

Samuel Birkan · March 11th, 2005, 01:23 PM

I have also been looking at their products here -
http://www.rostronics.com/products.asp?cat=13.
I dont have any first hand info, but now I looked at their own web site and I am a little concerned, there is very little real info and it looks very amateurish !

Patrick King · March 11th, 2005, 04:34 PM

The Rostronics website has received several favorable reviews here by members dealing with them. I think all their profits go into the Non-profit benefits the company is in business to support, and not into flashy website design.

I'm very close to buying from them and feel very confident based on the reviews I've read here. The lights aren't Arri's or Mole's, but I get the impression they are a good entry level set of lights.

From what I can gather, they are a value added reseller (VAR) for Britek lights, and as such may include slightly different stands, umbrellas, cases, etc, than the Britek packages on their website.

Any Britek owners willing to fill us in?
Any Rostronics customers willing to chime in?

Jack Smith · March 11th, 2005, 11:01 PM

I have the dual head 1000 briteks( has 2- 500w bulbs in them ,you can turn on top bulb or bottom bulb or both).Very good light.No fans no hum no noise. The 32"softbox is quite nice and gives even light.They are made of a composite material.The light runs alot cooler than the redheads and cools off much faster.I have to wait 20 minutes for teardown of the redheads but a couple minutes with the Britek
The Britek has a safety cable and the barndoors are good.The gel clips on them look weak but seem to work ok.The heavy duty 8ft stand is quite solid.The lights have an umbrella mount on them.The one problem I see is that when locking the tiltdown it doesnt seem to bite very well.I added a serated washer and seems better.Tom Rost at Rostronics responded to my emails to him , next day(nobody else seems to do this)and was always helpful.
I'm not sure what the " silent" is all about.What I have is for video
here is another link for seperate lights http://www.rostronics.com/products.asp?cat=27

Richard Alvarez · March 12th, 2005, 08:49 AM

The square lights are not focussable, no? The ones that look like hardware store worklights.

The ones that are focussable, seem to be the ones listed for "Silent" video on some of the various vendors websites.

So, still waiting for someone who has a set of the round, focusable briteks, to weigh in on why they would only be suitable for 'silent' video.

Jack Smith · March 12th, 2005, 01:32 PM

1/The square lights don't look at all like work lights.
2/ Your right,they are not focusable
3/The focusable lights have a slider that moves the bulb in and out.They also do not have fans that could cause noise.
4/An option would be to email Tom at Rostronics and ask him why the term "silent"

Richard Alvarez · March 12th, 2005, 01:50 PM

Jack,

By worklights, I mean they look like the square halogen worklights that can be purchased at some supply stores... same shape, dual bulbs. I have a pair I use for worklights.

I've got emails in to three sites that use the term 'silent'. Will report back.

Samuel Birkan · March 14th, 2005, 07:23 AM

Patrick
My comment was regarding Briteks web site, not Rostronics.
I did find some favorable reviews of the lights and I believe the "Silent" designation refers to the fact that they dont use fans.

March 11th, 2005, 11:35 AM	#1
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Britek Question I am looking into the various Britek kits available on the web. And have noticed that SOME of the sites state that the lighting is suitable for SILENT video. An example of a statement - "Below you'll find High Powered Focusable Softbox lighting great for digital photography and video (silent). These top of the line Britek Pro Brifocus lights with heavy duty 8 foot stands are similar in design as famous "Brand X" (we can't mention their name here) costing triple the price! With these 600 or 1000 watt lights, the more lights you get the better lighting value! " This leads me to believe that the Britek lights generate a hum in use? Anyone here use them and care to comment? Thanks

March 11th, 2005, 04:34 PM	#3
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	The Rostronics website has received several favorable reviews here by members dealing with them. I think all their profits go into the Non-profit benefits the company is in business to support, and not into flashy website design. I'm very close to buying from them and feel very confident based on the reviews I've read here. The lights aren't Arri's or Mole's, but I get the impression they are a good entry level set of lights. From what I can gather, they are a value added reseller (VAR) for Britek lights, and as such may include slightly different stands, umbrellas, cases, etc, than the Britek packages on their website. Any Britek owners willing to fill us in? Any Rostronics customers willing to chime in? __________________ Fear No Weevil!

March 11th, 2005, 01:23 PM	#2
Samuel Birkan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Posts: 79	I have also been looking at their products here - http://www.rostronics.com/products.asp?cat=13. I dont have any first hand info, but now I looked at their own web site and I am a little concerned, there is very little real info and it looks very amateurish !

March 11th, 2005, 11:01 PM	#4
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	I have the dual head 1000 briteks( has 2- 500w bulbs in them ,you can turn on top bulb or bottom bulb or both).Very good light.No fans no hum no noise. The 32"softbox is quite nice and gives even light.They are made of a composite material.The light runs alot cooler than the redheads and cools off much faster.I have to wait 20 minutes for teardown of the redheads but a couple minutes with the Britek The Britek has a safety cable and the barndoors are good.The gel clips on them look weak but seem to work ok.The heavy duty 8ft stand is quite solid.The lights have an umbrella mount on them.The one problem I see is that when locking the tiltdown it doesnt seem to bite very well.I added a serated washer and seems better.Tom Rost at Rostronics responded to my emails to him , next day(nobody else seems to do this)and was always helpful. I'm not sure what the " silent" is all about.What I have is for video here is another link for seperate lights http://www.rostronics.com/products.asp?cat=27

March 12th, 2005, 08:49 AM	#5
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	The square lights are not focussable, no? The ones that look like hardware store worklights. The ones that are focussable, seem to be the ones listed for "Silent" video on some of the various vendors websites. So, still waiting for someone who has a set of the round, focusable briteks, to weigh in on why they would only be suitable for 'silent' video.

March 12th, 2005, 01:32 PM	#6
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	1/The square lights don't look at all like work lights. 2/ Your right,they are not focusable 3/The focusable lights have a slider that moves the bulb in and out.They also do not have fans that could cause noise. 4/An option would be to email Tom at Rostronics and ask him why the term "silent"

March 12th, 2005, 01:50 PM	#7
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Jack, By worklights, I mean they look like the square halogen worklights that can be purchased at some supply stores... same shape, dual bulbs. I have a pair I use for worklights. I've got emails in to three sites that use the term 'silent'. Will report back.

March 14th, 2005, 07:23 AM	#8
Samuel Birkan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Posts: 79	Patrick My comment was regarding Briteks web site, not Rostronics. I did find some favorable reviews of the lights and I believe the "Silent" designation refers to the fact that they dont use fans.