In need of a lighting kit and some advice at DVinfo.net

Eric Wotila · February 10th, 2006, 11:07 PM

I've been slowly but surely improving my shooting kit, and the next thing on the list is to improve the lighting.

The problem is, I have no experience with lighting whatsoever. OK, well, I've shot with an on-camera light for some news interviews, but that's it.

I'm trying to figure out what sort of kit I should put together. Most likely, I'll be using the kit mostly to light interviews, stand-ups, and other shots of people talking. I'd like to be able to light a green screen shot decently as well.

My budget is about $1000 - I was looking at this Lowel kit:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

but I'm open to suggestions. As I said, lighting is not my strongest point. Thanks in advance for any input!

Andy Graham · February 11th, 2006, 04:35 AM

Hi Eric,
One of the most common kits which are industry standard all over the world is the Redhead kit shown below.

http://www.alangordon.com/s_lighting.html

I use it for all purposes from indie films to interviews, its a great bit of kit...very strong and durable.It is also a bit under your budget.

The other kit which is very similar is the Arri kit

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

This kit i also very good but a little bit more expensive.I personaly would go with the redhead kit.

Hope it helps you out.

Andy.

Patrick Gault · February 14th, 2006, 09:27 AM

Eric, before you buy anything, I would recommend learning a bit about lighting. Read a book or two, watch some videos, go to film-and-video.com and click on Instruction.

Learn the difference between open face, fresnel and flourescent lights. How to soften and control light. The difference between umbrellas, soft boxes, foam core, and frames.

How to create mood, make your lighting look natural and light a greenscreen.

Then go buy a kit.

Seth Bloombaum · February 14th, 2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Gault

Eric, before you buy anything, I would recommend learning a bit about lighting... Then go buy a kit.

Or, do some learning then swing some rentals to figure out what you like and works best for what you shoot. Seems like most small eng-style light kits rent for $45-60/day. Money well spent.

Eric Lagerlof · February 14th, 2006, 11:29 PM

Eric, the replies above are really gooood advice!!! Why and when you use hard or soft light. balancing color tempratures and /or intensities, the use not only of the different lighting instruments, such as soft boxes, open faced lights focusable, (and not), fluorescent, HMI and fresnel instruments, not to mentiion controlling light with CTB and CTO gels, flags, silks and scrims, etc. takes some practice and experience to understand. Books and DVD's help too... As you learn some of this stuff, you'll be better able to figure out what works for you. In the meantime, Walter Graff, who's been spotted in these forums, has some online tips as I believe some other lighting pros do, and the sticky at the head of this froum will give you some good ideas. Good luck!

Tony Goodman · February 15th, 2006, 05:30 AM

Andy

I notice these links are for US dealers, where do you buy your gear? Prices are so much cheaper in America. Lucky sods! Have you ever bought from there or does shipping and taxes outweigh the price difference?

Cheers

Tony

Eric Wotila · February 15th, 2006, 09:08 AM

Thank you, everyone, for your advice.

Here's what I decided to do -- I've been talking to some friends of mine at a local production house, and they're giving me quite a bit of advice on lighting. I'm learning the tricks of the trade, and I'll buy a kit a little later on.

Andy Graham · February 15th, 2006, 09:22 AM

Hi Tony, I usualy read where the other posts are from and in this case they are all from the US which is why the links i posted are US.

I buy my gear from various places...my XL1s, tripod and senheisser radio mic came from the camcorder center in Edinburgh. My JVC HD100e came from a company called Pro AV (which was through ebay) . My Glidecam V8 came from CKE distributions in England ,my Apple G5 Quad from Scotsys and all the rest, redhead lighting kit, sure 6 channel portable mixer , DA P1 DAT recorder and some other bits and bobs came from ebay.

I also build my own rigs like the doorway dolly and the quad bike dolly (love that one)

I'm guessing your from the UK ,not many other countries sign their posts with "cheers". I'll list all the wbsites below for you to have a look at.

http://www.proav.co.uk/ my jvc hd100e (an ebay auction they had listed)

http://www.cke.co.uk/acatalog/index.html my glidecam v8

http://www.camcordercentre.com/ my xl1s ,tripod and radio mic

http://www.scotsys.co.uk/ Apple quad G5

cheers Andy.

Andy Graham · February 15th, 2006, 09:23 AM

That sounds good Eric all the best

Andy.

Tony Goodman · February 15th, 2006, 02:02 PM

Hi Andy

Thanks for the info, got my Hd100 from TJ at CKE.

Yes I am from the UK (details now updated) didn't even notice I hadn't done it, thanks, you probably save me from a knuckle rap from Chris!

Tony

February 10th, 2006, 11:07 PM	#1
Eric Wotila Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cadillac, MI Posts: 129	In need of a lighting kit and some advice I've been slowly but surely improving my shooting kit, and the next thing on the list is to improve the lighting. The problem is, I have no experience with lighting whatsoever. OK, well, I've shot with an on-camera light for some news interviews, but that's it. I'm trying to figure out what sort of kit I should put together. Most likely, I'll be using the kit mostly to light interviews, stand-ups, and other shots of people talking. I'd like to be able to light a green screen shot decently as well. My budget is about $1000 - I was looking at this Lowel kit: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search but I'm open to suggestions. As I said, lighting is not my strongest point. Thanks in advance for any input!

February 11th, 2006, 04:35 AM	#2
Andy Graham Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lanark,Scotland Posts: 736	Hi Eric, One of the most common kits which are industry standard all over the world is the Redhead kit shown below. http://www.alangordon.com/s_lighting.html I use it for all purposes from indie films to interviews, its a great bit of kit...very strong and durable.It is also a bit under your budget. The other kit which is very similar is the Arri kit http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation This kit i also very good but a little bit more expensive.I personaly would go with the redhead kit. Hope it helps you out. Andy. __________________ Actor: "where would that light be coming from?" DP: "same place as the music" -Andrew Lesnie-

February 15th, 2006, 05:30 AM	#6
Tony Goodman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 70	Lighting Kit Andy I notice these links are for US dealers, where do you buy your gear? Prices are so much cheaper in America. Lucky sods! Have you ever bought from there or does shipping and taxes outweigh the price difference? Cheers Tony

February 15th, 2006, 09:22 AM	#8
Andy Graham Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lanark,Scotland Posts: 736	Hi Tony, I usualy read where the other posts are from and in this case they are all from the US which is why the links i posted are US. I buy my gear from various places...my XL1s, tripod and senheisser radio mic came from the camcorder center in Edinburgh. My JVC HD100e came from a company called Pro AV (which was through ebay) . My Glidecam V8 came from CKE distributions in England ,my Apple G5 Quad from Scotsys and all the rest, redhead lighting kit, sure 6 channel portable mixer , DA P1 DAT recorder and some other bits and bobs came from ebay. I also build my own rigs like the doorway dolly and the quad bike dolly (love that one) I'm guessing your from the UK ,not many other countries sign their posts with "cheers". I'll list all the wbsites below for you to have a look at. http://www.proav.co.uk/ my jvc hd100e (an ebay auction they had listed) http://www.cke.co.uk/acatalog/index.html my glidecam v8 http://www.camcordercentre.com/ my xl1s ,tripod and radio mic http://www.scotsys.co.uk/ Apple quad G5 cheers Andy. __________________ Actor: "where would that light be coming from?" DP: "same place as the music" -Andrew Lesnie-

February 15th, 2006, 09:23 AM	#9
Andy Graham Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lanark,Scotland Posts: 736	That sounds good Eric all the best Andy. __________________ Actor: "where would that light be coming from?" DP: "same place as the music" -Andrew Lesnie-

February 14th, 2006, 09:27 AM	#3
Patrick Gault Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cereal City USA Posts: 286	Eric, before you buy anything, I would recommend learning a bit about lighting. Read a book or two, watch some videos, go to film-and-video.com and click on Instruction. Learn the difference between open face, fresnel and flourescent lights. How to soften and control light. The difference between umbrellas, soft boxes, foam core, and frames. How to create mood, make your lighting look natural and light a greenscreen. Then go buy a kit.

February 14th, 2006, 11:29 PM	#5
Eric Lagerlof Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pacifica, CA Posts: 348	Eric, the replies above are really gooood advice!!! Why and when you use hard or soft light. balancing color tempratures and /or intensities, the use not only of the different lighting instruments, such as soft boxes, open faced lights focusable, (and not), fluorescent, HMI and fresnel instruments, not to mentiion controlling light with CTB and CTO gels, flags, silks and scrims, etc. takes some practice and experience to understand. Books and DVD's help too... As you learn some of this stuff, you'll be better able to figure out what works for you. In the meantime, Walter Graff, who's been spotted in these forums, has some online tips as I believe some other lighting pros do, and the sticky at the head of this froum will give you some good ideas. Good luck!

February 15th, 2006, 09:08 AM	#7
Eric Wotila Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cadillac, MI Posts: 129	Thank you, everyone, for your advice. Here's what I decided to do -- I've been talking to some friends of mine at a local production house, and they're giving me quite a bit of advice on lighting. I'm learning the tricks of the trade, and I'll buy a kit a little later on.

February 15th, 2006, 02:02 PM	#10
Tony Goodman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 70	Cheers from Liverpool Hi Andy Thanks for the info, got my Hd100 from TJ at CKE. Yes I am from the UK (details now updated) didn't even notice I hadn't done it, thanks, you probably save me from a knuckle rap from Chris! Tony