Help! Minimum lights to Buy for Interviews? at DVinfo.net

Earon Kavanagh · March 16th, 2005, 11:29 AM

Hi all,
I'm about to make a Rostronics purchase for some Britex, lights primarily to be used for meetings going on between 3-4 people. The 2 meeting rooms will be either 12' x 12', or 12' x 16'.

My absolute top budget is $500 USF.

If I purchase Britex lighting what do I need as a minimum?

Also what exactly is the meaning of "focusable"?

I've gome through umpteen lighting posts here and couldn't get the meaning, and I've gone thru some stuff by Walter Graff - still no clear definition.

thanks,
earon
vancouver, bc

Richard Alvarez · March 16th, 2005, 11:34 AM

"Focusable" means that the lamp's distance from it's reflector may be altered by moving it foward or backwards in it's mounting. This has the effect of widening or narrowing the beam.

Samuel Birkan · March 16th, 2005, 12:52 PM

If you do buy please fill us in on both Rostronics and Britek experiences as I am also considering them. By the way I also found Britek here
http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/eye/1500W.html

Tim Brown · March 16th, 2005, 01:43 PM

Greetings,

The aforementioned reseller (SaferSeas) has left quite a few people unhappy with their customer service. If you plan on buying, I would suggest using one of this sites sponsors - I use B&H and have never had an unhappy experience. If not, please do a considerable amount of research before spending your hard earned money.

-Tim

Earon Kavanagh · March 16th, 2005, 02:14 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Tim Brown : Greetings,

The aforementioned reseller (SaferSeas) has left quite a few people unhappy with their customer service. If you plan on buying, I would suggest using one of this sites sponsors - I use B&H and have never had an unhappy experience. If not, please do a considerable amount of research before spending your hard earned money.

-Tim -->>>

Thanks guys. It was helpful. I'll buy from BH or Rostronics.
The guys at DVXUSER are all raving about the Briteks for the $$$.

OK - but what to buy? I'm thinking about 2 600 focusables with softboxes and a 200 focsuable with b-doors.

Or: 1 500/1000 with softbox. 1 200 focusable with b-doors and a reflector.

What do you guys think? Remember, it's for some meetings of 3-4 people and interviews with only one person on camera (similar to the one person commentaries in Mario van Peebles' "Badass" film).

Let me kniw what you think. When I try them out I'mm let you all know.

cheers,
earon

Jack Smith · March 16th, 2005, 06:03 PM

FWIW I think if your using softboxes the ability to focus the light is not needed.I use the dualpower 500/1000 with softbox (32")
For interviews I think its great.It does have barn doors if you dont use the softbox for other lighting.For what you want to do, I would suggest 2 of the 500/1000's and either a 300/600 or a 200 or 250 This would be a good starter set. You could add additional lights to tune the hair light and/or backlight and/or background light.Tom at Rostronics seems fine to deal with.
Suggest you order the 8' HD stands

Richard Veil · March 20th, 2005, 11:07 AM

I have some thoughts but I would try to get something with a lightbank or Umbrella.

I have a student discount and if you want an 8000 kit I may be able to hook you up through a dealer for a little over 500 dollars

The 8000 has one light with bank, stand, grids, carrybag

Other than that I would get two tota's, stands and umbrellas and they you can get lightbanks later

Richard

March 16th, 2005, 11:29 AM	#1
Earon Kavanagh Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 65	Help! Minimum lights to Buy for Interviews? Hi all, I'm about to make a Rostronics purchase for some Britex, lights primarily to be used for meetings going on between 3-4 people. The 2 meeting rooms will be either 12' x 12', or 12' x 16'. My absolute top budget is $500 USF. If I purchase Britex lighting what do I need as a minimum? Also what exactly is the meaning of "focusable"? I've gome through umpteen lighting posts here and couldn't get the meaning, and I've gone thru some stuff by Walter Graff - still no clear definition. thanks, earon vancouver, bc

March 20th, 2005, 11:07 AM	#7
Richard Veil Chimera Lighting Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Santa Cruz CA Posts: 293	Chimera 8000 kit and are you a student? I have some thoughts but I would try to get something with a lightbank or Umbrella. I have a student discount and if you want an 8000 kit I may be able to hook you up through a dealer for a little over 500 dollars The 8000 has one light with bank, stand, grids, carrybag Other than that I would get two tota's, stands and umbrellas and they you can get lightbanks later Richard __________________ Strength and Honor RLV

March 16th, 2005, 11:34 AM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	"Focusable" means that the lamp's distance from it's reflector may be altered by moving it foward or backwards in it's mounting. This has the effect of widening or narrowing the beam.

March 16th, 2005, 12:52 PM	#3
Samuel Birkan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Posts: 79	If you do buy please fill us in on both Rostronics and Britek experiences as I am also considering them. By the way I also found Britek here http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/eye/1500W.html

March 16th, 2005, 01:43 PM	#4
Tim Brown Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 263	Greetings, The aforementioned reseller (SaferSeas) has left quite a few people unhappy with their customer service. If you plan on buying, I would suggest using one of this sites sponsors - I use B&H and have never had an unhappy experience. If not, please do a considerable amount of research before spending your hard earned money. -Tim

March 16th, 2005, 02:14 PM	#5
Earon Kavanagh Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 65	<<<-- Originally posted by Tim Brown : Greetings, The aforementioned reseller (SaferSeas) has left quite a few people unhappy with their customer service. If you plan on buying, I would suggest using one of this sites sponsors - I use B&H and have never had an unhappy experience. If not, please do a considerable amount of research before spending your hard earned money. -Tim -->>> Thanks guys. It was helpful. I'll buy from BH or Rostronics. The guys at DVXUSER are all raving about the Briteks for the $$$. OK - but what to buy? I'm thinking about 2 600 focusables with softboxes and a 200 focsuable with b-doors. Or: 1 500/1000 with softbox. 1 200 focusable with b-doors and a reflector. What do you guys think? Remember, it's for some meetings of 3-4 people and interviews with only one person on camera (similar to the one person commentaries in Mario van Peebles' "Badass" film). Let me kniw what you think. When I try them out I'mm let you all know. cheers, earon

March 16th, 2005, 06:03 PM	#6
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	FWIW I think if your using softboxes the ability to focus the light is not needed.I use the dualpower 500/1000 with softbox (32") For interviews I think its great.It does have barn doors if you dont use the softbox for other lighting.For what you want to do, I would suggest 2 of the 500/1000's and either a 300/600 or a 200 or 250 This would be a good starter set. You could add additional lights to tune the hair light and/or backlight and/or background light.Tom at Rostronics seems fine to deal with. Suggest you order the 8' HD stands