Putting together cheap light kit (under $600) at DVinfo.net

Travis Wilber · October 23rd, 2011, 07:24 AM

So I'm trying to put together an inexpensive light kit. Just looking for advice or suggestions. My main use is interviews. Most of my interviews are quick set up and I don't have time to flag or move things around too much. The 2nd use is just general, throwing some light in a room to just get it exposed better, narrative promos, real estate. I'm hoping to start off with this, then see how it performs and what expensive lighting I want next.

I'm pretty much looking at this combo:
(3) Red Head 800w (w/ softbox's): $270
300W Ring Light: $133
500 LED Panel: $210
-------TOTAL: $613

My thinking is the red heads should be fine for just throwing light when I need it. And then maybe using the LED and Ringlight as my normal-use interview lights. Probably the ring light when I'm run and gun. I go into the city alot to shoot business' so its nice to have lights that I can travel with nicely. Also it would be nice not to worry about wattage in business' offices.

I was also looking at these to substitute or throw in the mix:
As Arri 650W: $219
As Arri 300W: $180
(3) light CFL softbox: $200

Thanks. Using DSLR (T2i).

Alex Payne · October 26th, 2011, 12:44 AM

there's a lot of naysayers out there, but for my money, if you just want to throw some light up go down to your local hardware store and pick up one or two 300 watt or 150 watt (depending on your needs) scoop lights. Twenty bucks a piece or less, and they really do work great for just getting a little more light over everything, or backlights and the such (though if you want to control them at all they're a pain in the ass...). Still, for twenty bucks, incredibly useful.

October 23rd, 2011, 07:24 AM	#1
Travis Wilber Regular Crew Join Date: May 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 68	Putting together cheap light kit (under $600) So I'm trying to put together an inexpensive light kit. Just looking for advice or suggestions. My main use is interviews. Most of my interviews are quick set up and I don't have time to flag or move things around too much. The 2nd use is just general, throwing some light in a room to just get it exposed better, narrative promos, real estate. I'm hoping to start off with this, then see how it performs and what expensive lighting I want next. I'm pretty much looking at this combo: (3) Red Head 800w (w/ softbox's): $270 300W Ring Light: $133 500 LED Panel: $210 -------TOTAL: $613 My thinking is the red heads should be fine for just throwing light when I need it. And then maybe using the LED and Ringlight as my normal-use interview lights. Probably the ring light when I'm run and gun. I go into the city alot to shoot business' so its nice to have lights that I can travel with nicely. Also it would be nice not to worry about wattage in business' offices. I was also looking at these to substitute or throw in the mix: As Arri 650W: $219 As Arri 300W: $180 (3) light CFL softbox: $200 Thanks. Using DSLR (T2i).

October 26th, 2011, 12:44 AM	#2
Alex Payne Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: new york Posts: 94	Re: Putting together cheap light kit (under $600) there's a lot of naysayers out there, but for my money, if you just want to throw some light up go down to your local hardware store and pick up one or two 300 watt or 150 watt (depending on your needs) scoop lights. Twenty bucks a piece or less, and they really do work great for just getting a little more light over everything, or backlights and the such (though if you want to control them at all they're a pain in the ass...). Still, for twenty bucks, incredibly useful.