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Home: Video University Forums: Filmmakers & Screenwriters:
Buying a major light kit. Need recommendations.

SkateSurferDude
Novice

Sep 1, 2005, 8:25 PM

Post #1 of 3 (1050 views)
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Buying a major light kit. Need recommendations.	Can't Post

Buying a major light kit. Need recommendations.

Hey guys I am looking for a continuous light kit for shooting video of models and independent filmmaking. I have 2k to spend more if the money is worth it. I want at least a 3 point lighting with key, omni, tota. I also want stands that are very stable for film people traveling between the stands all the time.

Also important for me is a dimmer for small locations. what grips can do this?

Any recommendations?

vidguyz
User

Sep 4, 2005, 1:31 PM

Post #2 of 3 (1019 views)
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Re: [SkateSurferDude] Buying a major light kit. Need recommendations. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Don't know the prices but I hear the new LED banks not only do a great job of lighting but also can adjust to the temperature of your choosing. This alone makes LED's the thing to look for. Also, some systems have pot color temp adjustments. With a twist of the dial you can adjust your lighting to the proper relative color temp. What I don't know, but suspect, is these LED banks run at 2% of the heat output compared to the other analog lights.

Again, not sure of the prices but since lighting is going DIGITAL, it might be worth a LED look.

videobear
Veteran

Sep 7, 2005, 10:10 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1009 views)
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Re: [vidguyz] Buying a major light kit. Need recommendations. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Fluorescents run much cooler than incandescent lamps, and they cost less than LEDs.

However, for someone starting out, a simple incandescent-based kit is the easiest to afford and to run. Lowel is probably at the low end of the professional lighting spectrum. Their series of "digital creator" kits, featuring a Rifa-Light (a quick-to-set-up soft box) is a good place to start. You may want to supplement that kit with a fresnel-lens instrument, such as an LTM Pepper. The lights with a Fresnel lens can be focused much tighter than the open-faced Lowel lights.

To supplement your light kit, there are lots of low-budget dodges you can employ. I recommend the "Digital Lighting Magic" DVD set from Elite Video, http://www.elitevideo.com

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions