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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Group Buy: K-FLECT lighting System

This looks great. Looking forward to seeing the tests and hearing more about pricing.
 
Some me more pics later today.

i hope to have pricing as well. So look for a post soon.

Battistella
 
Here are a few pics of some cool window suction mounts.

KFmount_001.jpg


KFmount_002.jpg
 
And here are a few of a par abeam rig.

I'm just prepping the post with the pricing info. I think it's pretty exciting.

Battistella

KFboom_arm.jpg


KFboom_arm_002.jpg


KFparabeam_001.jpg
 
I was working with Pani when Christian first approached us with his idea i think back in 1998. Pani is not the tastes company with new products so it took them a while.
There are some minor differences between CLRS and K-Flect. K-Flect has 17 different mirror surfaces to select from in 4 different sizes, CLRS has 7 or 8 surfaces in 3 sizes. They share the same kind of surfaces, K-Flect has more "effect" like mirror , which you maybe don't use everyday.
The K-Flect mirrors are much lighter than the Paniflectors, therefore easier to transport and easier to rig, they also have a magnetic grip system bit with smaller magnets than the PaniGrip/ Paniflectors. On thing to consider here is, that if you just grab a corner of a medium size mirror to adjust it, there is a chance the mirror comes of the magnet. The PaniGrips are way stronger and adjusting mirrors won't bring an reflector off. In addition CLRS Paniflectors have a hole where you can attach a safety rope. K-Flect Reflectors don't.

K-Flect has a nice DOP Starter Kit for around 2500.- EUR in a nice bag. I had that a couple of times and was very happy with it.
This is definetly on my shopping list for the future.

CLRS is a bit different. no Sets, so you need to put the individual pieces together which might be a bit hard without having it in hands before.
The PaniBeam is rental only as far as i know

so there are plus and minus for both systems depending on what you focus.

Whatever way you go, it sure is a great extension to your normal lighting kit and blends in perfect. I used it with Joker Bug 800, Arri Pocket Par 400, Dedolight, ETC Source Four,....
soemtimes i just put one mirror somewhere on a table in a "traditional" lit set, just to get a little sparkle somewhere.
 
Will it marry well with Hexolux units? and what pricing range are we looking at? Interested if answers are favourable
 
Manuel Wenger said:
I was working with Pani when Christian first approached us with his idea i think back in 1998. Pani is not the tastes company with new products so it took them a while.
There are some minor differences between CLRS and K-Flect. K-Flect has 17 different mirror surfaces to select from in 4 different sizes, CLRS has 7 or 8 surfaces in 3 sizes. They share the same kind of surfaces, K-Flect has more "effect" like mirror , which you maybe don't use everyday.
The K-Flect mirrors are much lighter than the Paniflectors, therefore easier to transport and easier to rig, they also have a magnetic grip system bit with smaller magnets than the PaniGrip/ Paniflectors. On thing to consider here is, that if you just grab a corner of a medium size mirror to adjust it, there is a chance the mirror comes of the magnet. The PaniGrips are way stronger and adjusting mirrors won't bring an reflector off. In addition CLRS Paniflectors have a hole where you can attach a safety rope. K-Flect Reflectors don't.

K-Flect has a nice DOP Starter Kit for around 2500.- EUR in a nice bag. I had that a couple of times and was very happy with it.
This is definetly on my shopping list for the future.

CLRS is a bit different. no Sets, so you need to put the individual pieces together which might be a bit hard without having it in hands before.
The PaniBeam is rental only as far as i know

so there are plus and minus for both systems depending on what you focus.

Whatever way you go, it sure is a great extension to your normal lighting kit and blends in perfect. I used it with Joker Bug 800, Arri Pocket Par 400, Dedolight, ETC Source Four,....
soemtimes i just put one mirror somewhere on a table in a "traditional" lit set, just to get a little sparkle somewhere.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I was thinking the same thing about just having a small set for picking out a highlight in an awkward position.
Seems an oversight not to provide a safety bond hold in every corner if they come off the magnets too easily - would hate for one to drop on someone's head!
 
Thanks for posting your experiences Manuel. I think that the KFLect larger panels do have a hole for a safety chain, but I will double check that.

It's true, it really does integrate well with existing lighting. The way I understand it is that is is just the most efficient with the Parabeams, but the whole system works with any type of HMI or tungsten lighting.

Battistella

Manuel Wenger said:
I was working with Pani when Christian first approached us with his idea i think back in 1998. Pani is not the tastes company with new products so it took them a while.
There are some minor differences between CLRS and K-Flect. K-Flect has 17 different mirror surfaces to select from in 4 different sizes, CLRS has 7 or 8 surfaces in 3 sizes. They share the same kind of surfaces, K-Flect has more "effect" like mirror , which you maybe don't use everyday.
The K-Flect mirrors are much lighter than the Paniflectors, therefore easier to transport and easier to rig, they also have a magnetic grip system bit with smaller magnets than the PaniGrip/ Paniflectors. On thing to consider here is, that if you just grab a corner of a medium size mirror to adjust it, there is a chance the mirror comes of the magnet. The PaniGrips are way stronger and adjusting mirrors won't bring an reflector off. In addition CLRS Paniflectors have a hole where you can attach a safety rope. K-Flect Reflectors don't.

K-Flect has a nice DOP Starter Kit for around 2500.- EUR in a nice bag. I had that a couple of times and was very happy with it.
This is definetly on my shopping list for the future.

CLRS is a bit different. no Sets, so you need to put the individual pieces together which might be a bit hard without having it in hands before.
The PaniBeam is rental only as far as i know

so there are plus and minus for both systems depending on what you focus.

Whatever way you go, it sure is a great extension to your normal lighting kit and blends in perfect. I used it with Joker Bug 800, Arri Pocket Par 400, Dedolight, ETC Source Four,....
soemtimes i just put one mirror somewhere on a table in a "traditional" lit set, just to get a little sparkle somewhere.
Click to expand...
 
thank you for this post... I stumbled on the CLRS system through investigating his work with MH and was very interested. I never bought anything due too:

not finding a hire partner in London that would alllow me to work the system with a hire on a easy job.

and also my confusion on the simiarities and differences betwen the two companies...

thanks again

is there anyone in London with either system?





Manuel Wenger said:
I was working with Pani when Christian first approached us with his idea i think back in 1998. Pani is not the tastes company with new products so it took them a while.
There are some minor differences between CLRS and K-Flect. K-Flect has 17 different mirror surfaces to select from in 4 different sizes, CLRS has 7 or 8 surfaces in 3 sizes. They share the same kind of surfaces, K-Flect has more "effect" like mirror , which you maybe don't use everyday.
The K-Flect mirrors are much lighter than the Paniflectors, therefore easier to transport and easier to rig, they also have a magnetic grip system bit with smaller magnets than the PaniGrip/ Paniflectors. On thing to consider here is, that if you just grab a corner of a medium size mirror to adjust it, there is a chance the mirror comes of the magnet. The PaniGrips are way stronger and adjusting mirrors won't bring an reflector off. In addition CLRS Paniflectors have a hole where you can attach a safety rope. K-Flect Reflectors don't.

K-Flect has a nice DOP Starter Kit for around 2500.- EUR in a nice bag. I had that a couple of times and was very happy with it.
This is definetly on my shopping list for the future.

CLRS is a bit different. no Sets, so you need to put the individual pieces together which might be a bit hard without having it in hands before.
The PaniBeam is rental only as far as i know

so there are plus and minus for both systems depending on what you focus.

Whatever way you go, it sure is a great extension to your normal lighting kit and blends in perfect. I used it with Joker Bug 800, Arri Pocket Par 400, Dedolight, ETC Source Four,....
soemtimes i just put one mirror somewhere on a table in a "traditional" lit set, just to get a little sparkle somewhere.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the notes Manuel, clears up some confusion.

Does anyone know if Christian got a fair deal from K-Flect? I'm kinda touchy about IP theft ;-)

While I have not tested a Hexolux with K-Flect or Pani panels, they would appear to be an excellent match. If anyone gets a chance to try the combo out, please share your experience with us on RedUser.

Cheers - #19
 
Hey Guys,

Here is a pocket history as I understand it from K-Flect owner Federic Kaczek.

As this is my first Group Buy and some legal concerns were raised earlier in the thread I wanted to ensure that any Reduser could buy anything from K-Flect with confidence. IN my Dealing with Frederic on the phone he has been very open, his a DOP himself (who started as a focus puller for Christian Berger). With his permission I am representing his e-mail here so there is complete transparency. I have a lot of respect for ideas and I had my own concerns and wanted to make sure any of the legal stuff between the two companies was clear.

Of course there are two sides to every story but for me this satisfies the fact that there is no legal issue between these products.

Here is the response.

Dear David

In order, once and for all, to clear the “legal stuff”, I would like first to summarize the story of the development of the Reflect Lighting System (RLS) in order to conclude that there is no legal problem for me to manufacture and sell the KFLECT-RLS at all.

Genesis:
  1. Prof. Dr. Christian Barchtenbach (http://www.bartenbach.com) developed a lighting system for architectural applications.
    Some of his developments – e.g. special shapes of reflectors – are protected by patents.
  2. Prof. Dr. Christian Brachtenbach and his neighbour, DoP Christian Berger AAC, started merging their knowledge of lighting with reflections.
    Aim of this integration was to adapt the lighting technology for static architectural needs to the one of mobile applications like filming.
    Christian Berger named “his” developments CINE-Reflect-Lighting-System (CRLS)
  3. Christian Berger asked me to collaborate in developing several system components like the reflectors, the attachments, the cases and the parallel lighting sources.
    Because he didn’t provide financial resources, I established my company KACZEK VISUALS (2005) and I found (2007) with the company PANI an investor who was keen to support our activities in building the special luminaires.
  4. End of 2008, following the shooting of The White Ribbon, PANI and Berger decided merge without my involvement. And both are most probably working today on the Berger-Bartenbach-CRLS, even thou I have never seen the PANI products at trade fares.
  5. Since then, my small crew and I continued developing the system components up to series production. I renamed my system KFLECT-RLS, removing the “C” (from CRLS) because I am convinced that my portable lighting system is also perfect for still image acquisition and many other mobile applications (e.g events, theatre, etc.).
State of the things:
In buying some semi-finished products like aluminium coils or several spare parts, I am paying the possible rights settlements to my suppliers.
The CRLS is (and cannot be) patented, because light reflection is not patentable.
Patents can only be applied on products, technologies, or design.
So, I have a patent protection on the MAGBALL and Bartenbach a few on his developments.
Conclusio:
All my KFLECT-RLS Products are free of use and no legal issue separates my company from its competitors Pani/Berger and/or Bartenbach

 
Blair S. Paulsen said:
Thanks for the notes Manuel, clears up some confusion.

Does anyone know if Christian got a fair deal from K-Flect? I'm kinda touchy about IP theft ;-)

While I have not tested a Hexolux with K-Flect or Pani panels, they would appear to be an excellent match. If anyone gets a chance to try the combo out, please share your experience with us on RedUser.

Cheers - #19
Click to expand...

See my post...I really want this all to be transparent...

Battistella
 
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