IN-HOUSE LIGHT KIT - $5K BUDGET

[Jack Cooper]

Nick.

If you are "in-house" I would strongly suggest a 4-head, DLB'd fluorescent option with soft boxes and stands from Britek. The company has many configurations - but we just purchased a second 15K set for less than $2000.

The company is headquarter in Los Angeles. As they say, with 4 heads, you could like up Baghdad with these! Also they output a minimum of heat.

Biway Media and Joseph's team are official resellers --- http://www.biwaymedia.com/specials/lightingSp.htm

The softboxes are excellent, each head has 4 florescent bulbs and each of those bulbs has independent power control switches on the back near the handle. You have the ability to dial up and down the number of bulbs as the situation requires.

For the money, you really can't beat it. As for durability, we've owned the old style for years and travel extensively with them in some KATA cases. They hold up pretty well if you take care of them.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Jack those Britek softboxes look great! Thanks! So many options...But I can see your point...WOW. For the price, you get so much bang for your buck from those.

Thanks to all - I'm learning so much more than I even thought, this thread has been terrific. Really appreciate it.

 

[Alexander Mitchell]

I own (2) of the Cool Lights 1x1's and would NOT recommend them. The CRI's that the LED's put out is not acceptable. It looks terrible on skin tones and I cannot use them in combination with other lights- ie Kino Flo's, Jokers, etc. The LitePanel brand although much more expensive, has better CRI's. I've put a color meter on my Cool Lights and even with the proper balanced gel, they still do not look good. White balancing to them is horrid. They do make great background lights- something I don't care on true color output. Lights have been reliable even thought the build quality could be better.

Anyone else have the same issue?

Alex

 

[david_winters]

I own (2) of the Cool Lights 1x1's and would NOT recommend them. The CRI's that the LED's put out is not acceptable. It looks terrible on skin tones and I cannot use them in combination with other lights- ie Kino Flo's, Jokers, etc. The LitePanel brand although much more expensive, has better CRI's. I've put a color meter on my Cool Lights and even with the proper balanced gel, they still do not look good. White balancing to them is horrid. They do make great background lights- something I don't care on true color output. Lights have been reliable even thought the build quality could be better.

Anyone else have the same issue?

Alex

Yes, I think the ones we have are first generation, but they have improved since. I use the LED600 for backlight, background, greenscreen backdrop and product shots. I rarely use them as key, as I don't like the color/CRI.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hmmm...interesting. Thanks Alex for the feedback. Very good to know. I think I am leaning towards a complete Arri Kit & two 4' 4-bank kinos. And maybe a Lite Panel 1x1 or two, per all your guys responses.

Really appreciate the advice.

thx

 

[Joel Arvidsson]

Yes, I think the ones we have are first generation, but they have improved since. I use the LED600 for backlight, background, greenscreen backdrop and product shots. I rarely use them as key, as I don't like the color/CRI.

I the led 600 for backlight aswell. I have the 150 "hmi" aswell and Im pretty satisfied with it.

 

[Alexander Mitchell]

You can't go wrong with the Arri Kit Nick. That was the first thing I purchased when I first went freelance (9+ years ago). I still have it today and can count on it 100% when I need small tungsten sources. I've replaced a few parts along the way of course... (damn plastic pieces Arri!) Anyway, the 4' 4 bank Kino's are HIGHLY recommended. You can use these lights in so many situations! Get both the 5600k and the 3200k tubes. Kino makes a great compact case for extra bulbs- I think I got mine via Filmtools. Your on the right track!

Alex

 

[Nick Morrison]

You can't go wrong with the Arri Kit Nick. That was the first thing I purchased when I first went freelance (9+ years ago). I still have it today and can count on it 100% when I need small tungsten sources. I've replaced a few parts along the way of course... (damn plastic pieces Arri!) Anyway, the 4' 4 bank Kino's are HIGHLY recommended. You can use these lights in so many situations! Get both the 5600k and the 3200k tubes. Kino makes a great compact case for extra bulbs- I think I got mine via Filmtools. Your on the right track!

Alex

Thanks Alex. I think that's the way to go, yup. ARRI + KINO. Thanks!!!

 

[Peter Berger]

I own (2) of the Cool Lights 1x1's and would NOT recommend them. The CRI's that the LED's put out is not acceptable. It looks terrible on skin tones and I cannot use them in combination with other lights- ie Kino Flo's, Jokers, etc. The LitePanel brand although much more expensive, has better CRI's. I've put a color meter on my Cool Lights and even with the proper balanced gel, they still do not look good. White balancing to them is horrid.

It’s not just the Cool Lights 1x1’s that can not be corrected with gels. Even the better LED light panels, like Litepanels, are so deficit in certain parts of the color spectrum that by the time you come up with a color gel pack to match them to a continuous light source like a tungsten light, the LED panel would put out very little light with all those gels on it. On top of that, since Color Correction gels (CTOs & CTBs) are calibrated for continuous light sources, you get unexpected and undesirable results using them on LEDs (use this link for details.)

Peter Berger

 

[Jeremy Wiles]

I saw the arri kit at NAB and fell in love. If you really don't mind spending $5k you can squeeze in the ac/dc kit and a couple of stands. If you don't need battery option you can get the same lights without the batteries for around $2800. The variable temperature is really great.

Arri LoCaster LED Panel AC/DC Double Kit 553958 B&H Photo Video

Arri Locaster LED Panel AC Double Kit (100-240VAC) 553952 B&H

I own the Arri H-3 Hybrid kit and really love it. I can put the Arri LED's up against my Kino 4-banks or Diva's and they are equally as good, in terms of quality of light. The H-3 hybrid kit is so nice because of its versatility. Great for using during an interview setup, but also in those close quarter situations like in a car. Plus, I can power the LED's off my RED bricks which makes the lights hand-held if needed. The H-3 kit comes with 2 locaster LED's and 2 Arri 150's, thus the "hybrid" name. I recommend switching out the 150w bulbs for 200w bulbs. Also, you can double the intensity of the LED's with the intensifier (accessory option). I think I paid around $3600 for the entire kit.

http://www.creativelabrentals.com/lights