Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs at DVinfo.net

Brian Brown · February 6th, 2013, 12:24 PM

Hi Gang:

I'm looking at various Kino Flo knock-offs, the 2x 55w daylight-balanced fixtures, and wondered if anyone had experiences with any. Coollights, Flolight, and DigitalJuice have similar fixtures. eBay has plenty of knock-offs, too.

I'm shooting mostly tight headshot interviews in various places, and am looking to finally get out of tungsten. I have a couple of Lowel Omnis and an old Rifa66. While the quality of light is great from them, the heat and the tungsten balance creates challenges for interviews in mixed-lighting situations. A lot of my interviews need a 15 minute setup in various living rooms and tight spaces. The umbrellas on the Omnis and the big softbox often touch ceilings, cheat into the shot, etc. and are too easy to kick over in tight quarters.

I'm going to hold off on LEDs for another generation or two. The flos seem to be a good bang-for-buck right now. Eventually I'll migrate to a 1x1 LED setup, I think.

Here's several examples of what I'm doing:
Ski Hidden Valley Estes Park's Videos | Facebook

Thanks a bunch!

Shaun Roemich · February 6th, 2013, 12:50 PM

I've been renting THESE:

DVeStore - Search Results for "stellar"

lately from my local rental house, who purchased them from Guy Cochrane at DVEStore, a DVInfo.net sponsor, and have been suitably impressed in the OVERALL quality, especially at the price.

The only caveat is that the yoke material is a little soft and if you aren't careful, the threads for the post mount set screw can strip out. Again, these were rental items and film students are PARTICULARLY hard on gear so in an ownership scenario, they should hold up acceptably at the price...

PS. I moved away from RIFA 55 and Lowel pro Lights for the same reasons you list...

Brian Brown · February 6th, 2013, 09:59 PM

Thanks, Shaun, I'll check those out!

All the best,
Brian

Oren Arieli · February 6th, 2013, 10:04 PM

I'm a big fan of the Alzo Pan-L-Lites. Other than being a bit bulky, they're my go-to light for single-person interviews. I can bring them in real close to get a soft key/fill without worrying about melting the talent. I've posted a video review here:

Brian Brown · February 6th, 2013, 10:31 PM

Wow, what a fantastic video review, Oren. Thanks much for the link!

All the best,
Brian

Shaun Roemich · February 6th, 2013, 11:40 PM

Oren: how do you find the evenness of the Alzo? The distance between the tube sets LOOKS like it would create a bit of a "hole" in the light output. Do you see that in practice on a solid background or when used vertically?

PS. I DO like the idea of being able to move the yoke mount between the long and short sides...

Mark Bolding · February 7th, 2013, 06:12 AM

I have been very happy with what I call my kino faux's from Cool Lights. I have 2 four bulb lights, one with dimmer and 1 two bulb fixture with dimmer. I usually put light grid cloth on them when I want a nice soft source for talent.

mb

Jase Tanner · February 7th, 2013, 10:59 AM

Oren, Looks like a good find. Some interesting looking lights. Their HID caught my attention which they claim use identical technology to HMI. I thought I saw, but now I can't find it again, that they had a CRI of 85. If so, that wouldn't be identical. Anyway, do you have any of their HIDs or any other product? Would like to know what you think.

Thanks

Jase Tanner · February 7th, 2013, 01:35 PM

I emailed them.

"The CRI of our HID HMI is about 87."

Brian Brown · February 7th, 2013, 05:43 PM

Thanks, all!

Based largely on Oren's video review, and some nice things I read about Alzo on other forums, I ordered two of their 2-light Pan-L-LITEs today. And looks like they've already shipped! Seems like a good bang-for-buck, and perfect for the static indoor headshot interviews that comprise about 95% of what I shoot.

Thanks again for the input,
Brian

Chanon Wangtrirat · February 10th, 2013, 07:19 PM

I've experienced some Flouro tubes. Osram various StudioLine and Dulux L ,GE Cinema55,And almost ordinary Fluorescent , TL950 Graphica from Philips for made DIY Kino Flo Fixture.

However I got the result that StudioLine from Osram has very good amount of Light and Skintone both 5600 and 3200 even specs said it's CRI=86.

If you planned to use with nature daylight. It's some what get more Magenta when use with Canon 60D in my case. but even it's get hot no green tint appear. Skintone still there. What a great bulb! maybe plus green gel needed.

in other hand GE Cinema has very pure looking daylight , for eyes object lit by this thing is gorgeous but to camera it's get green cast. and similar case on Dulux L.

I've never experienced on Real Kino tube. maybe get the best result? Who know. But for me just buy any fixture 55W and get Osram is Awesome result. Plus buy some +green gel for case use in building where temperated glass may got green!

Here is some test on my friend

February 6th, 2013, 12:24 PM	#1
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs Hi Gang: I'm looking at various Kino Flo knock-offs, the 2x 55w daylight-balanced fixtures, and wondered if anyone had experiences with any. Coollights, Flolight, and DigitalJuice have similar fixtures. eBay has plenty of knock-offs, too. I'm shooting mostly tight headshot interviews in various places, and am looking to finally get out of tungsten. I have a couple of Lowel Omnis and an old Rifa66. While the quality of light is great from them, the heat and the tungsten balance creates challenges for interviews in mixed-lighting situations. A lot of my interviews need a 15 minute setup in various living rooms and tight spaces. The umbrellas on the Omnis and the big softbox often touch ceilings, cheat into the shot, etc. and are too easy to kick over in tight quarters. I'm going to hold off on LEDs for another generation or two. The flos seem to be a good bang-for-buck right now. Eventually I'll migrate to a 1x1 LED setup, I think. Here's several examples of what I'm doing: Ski Hidden Valley Estes Park's Videos \| Facebook Thanks a bunch!

February 6th, 2013, 12:50 PM	#2
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs I've been renting THESE: DVeStore - Search Results for "stellar" lately from my local rental house, who purchased them from Guy Cochrane at DVEStore, a DVInfo.net sponsor, and have been suitably impressed in the OVERALL quality, especially at the price. The only caveat is that the yoke material is a little soft and if you aren't careful, the threads for the post mount set screw can strip out. Again, these were rental items and film students are PARTICULARLY hard on gear so in an ownership scenario, they should hold up acceptably at the price... PS. I moved away from RIFA 55 and Lowel pro Lights for the same reasons you list... __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

February 6th, 2013, 09:59 PM	#3
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs Thanks, Shaun, I'll check those out! All the best, Brian

February 6th, 2013, 10:04 PM	#4
Oren Arieli Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 919	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs I'm a big fan of the Alzo Pan-L-Lites. Other than being a bit bulky, they're my go-to light for single-person interviews. I can bring them in real close to get a soft key/fill without worrying about melting the talent. I've posted a video review here: Alzo Pan-L-Lite Case light review - YouTube

February 6th, 2013, 10:31 PM	#5
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs Wow, what a fantastic video review, Oren. Thanks much for the link! All the best, Brian

February 6th, 2013, 11:40 PM	#6
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs Oren: how do you find the evenness of the Alzo? The distance between the tube sets LOOKS like it would create a bit of a "hole" in the light output. Do you see that in practice on a solid background or when used vertically? PS. I DO like the idea of being able to move the yoke mount between the long and short sides... __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

February 7th, 2013, 06:12 AM	#7
Mark Bolding Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 109	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs I have been very happy with what I call my kino faux's from Cool Lights. I have 2 four bulb lights, one with dimmer and 1 two bulb fixture with dimmer. I usually put light grid cloth on them when I want a nice soft source for talent. mb

February 7th, 2013, 10:59 AM	#8
Jase Tanner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 346	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs Oren, Looks like a good find. Some interesting looking lights. Their HID caught my attention which they claim use identical technology to HMI. I thought I saw, but now I can't find it again, that they had a CRI of 85. If so, that wouldn't be identical. Anyway, do you have any of their HIDs or any other product? Would like to know what you think. Thanks

February 7th, 2013, 01:35 PM	#9
Jase Tanner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 346	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs I emailed them. "The CRI of our HID HMI is about 87."

February 7th, 2013, 05:43 PM	#10
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs Thanks, all! Based largely on Oren's video review, and some nice things I read about Alzo on other forums, I ordered two of their 2-light Pan-L-LITEs today. And looks like they've already shipped! Seems like a good bang-for-buck, and perfect for the static indoor headshot interviews that comprise about 95% of what I shoot. Thanks again for the input, Brian

February 10th, 2013, 07:19 PM	#11
Chanon Wangtrirat New Boot Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Bangkok Posts: 11	Re: Flo 2x55w Kino knock-offs I've experienced some Flouro tubes. Osram various StudioLine and Dulux L ,GE Cinema55,And almost ordinary Fluorescent , TL950 Graphica from Philips for made DIY Kino Flo Fixture. However I got the result that StudioLine from Osram has very good amount of Light and Skintone both 5600 and 3200 even specs said it's CRI=86. If you planned to use with nature daylight. It's some what get more Magenta when use with Canon 60D in my case. but even it's get hot no green tint appear. Skintone still there. What a great bulb! maybe plus green gel needed. in other hand GE Cinema has very pure looking daylight , for eyes object lit by this thing is gorgeous but to camera it's get green cast. and similar case on Dulux L. I've never experienced on Real Kino tube. maybe get the best result? Who know. But for me just buy any fixture 55W and get Osram is Awesome result. Plus buy some +green gel for case use in building where temperated glass may got green! Here is some test on my friend Osram Studioline 55w 5600K + 60D 5600K WB - YouTube Last edited by Chanon Wangtrirat; February 10th, 2013 at 08:04 PM.