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WHICH IS THE BEST 3-LIGHT KIT FOR UNDER $1000? ...NEWBIE

Takor Arrey

Takor Arrey

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Hello everyone, thanks for all your input on my last thread about THE BEST USED CAMERA INVESTMENT UNDER $10K.

I am currently shopping for lights to shoot interviews and the likes; just basic 3 points lighting setups, nothing too elaborate, and at the same time I will like to invest in something durable and with intelligent science behind it. Don't mind paying extra for stands, etc.

Any pointers will be helpful.

thanks
 
For an interview kit under 10k you have lots of great options. I would lean on RGB lights as some office locations have horrible lights or at the very least mixed temperatures. The Litepanels Gemini has saved my but on many occasions.
 
Bob Gundu said:
For an interview kit under 10k you have lots of great options. I would lean on RGB lights as some office locations have horrible lights or at the very least mixed temperatures. The Litepanels Gemini has saved my but on many occasions.
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Hi Bob, my budget is only $1000
 
oh the cheap....... I did lighting on a APTN network show this spring and they sent 2 Falconers 18td bicolour flex lights and they worked great for what they cost. That with a Fiilex 360 form BH on sale and you are around $1000. The FalconEyes come with a built in soft box and the fiilex is enough to light the back of your subject...... $1000 really isn't much money so its pretty crazy what you can get now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Falcon-Eye...606168?hash=item1a73012b58:g:mUIAAOSwMEBao5u2
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1386927-REG/fiilex_flxp360cl_p360cl_classic_led_light.html
 
John David James said:
oh the cheap....... I did lighting on a APTN network show this spring and they sent 2 Falconers 18td bicolour flex lights and they worked great for what they cost. That with a Fiilex 360 form BH on sale and you are around $1000. The FalconEyes come with a built in soft box and the fiilex is enough to light the back of your subject...... $1000 really isn't much money so its pretty crazy what you can get now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Falcon-Eye...606168?hash=item1a73012b58:g:mUIAAOSwMEBao5u2
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1386927-REG/fiilex_flxp360cl_p360cl_classic_led_light.html
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Oh yes, the cheaper would be a reasonable way to go for me right now. Are there any drawbacks to buying bi-color lights? Thanks
 
Seems like there's not much the market has to offer for $1000
 
I would second the Falcon eyes light mats. I have 6 of them and use them all the time. You could get 2 of those and one of the knock of 50-80 watt led dedos for well under a grand and that would serve just fine for interview set ups. Add some dimmers and a box of bulbs for practicals, and there's not a lot of interview set ups you cant handle.

Nick
 
I also use 6 of the Falcon Eyes RX-18T, thanks to Nick's suggestion a couple years ago.
 
The Falcon Eyes are pretty nice for their price. I think picking up two of those and something like an Aputure 120d (all together might be over the $1,000 budget.... but close) would make a pretty decent 3 light interview kit.

Should be a good starting kit, so long as you're not trying to compete against the sun or anything.
 
I'm looking forward to the new GODOX lights, namely the S30 and FV-200. They should become available shortly.
I'm satisfied with my SLB60, it's nothing amazingly marketleeding innovative and powerful, but it works nicely, offers versatility through Bowenes-mount and is battery-driven. The fan might need tweeking for certain situations, thats possible but not yet explored by me.
 
Akin A said:
I also use 6 of the Falcon Eyes RX-18T, thanks to Nick's suggestion a couple years ago.
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The Falcon Eyes RX-18T looks good and it seems one can use it in places some lights won't go. Can I easily switch from daylight to tungsten? Does it even do that?
 
There's nothing wrong with using some of the cheaper Amazon finds, especially the flexible LED mats which can double as regular lights too. Also, getting some of those $200 light kits with stands from eBay can work too for smaller work, especially if you replace those fluorescent bulbs with nicer LED bulbs. For $1,000 you can't expect too much if your aim is for higher end stuff. Finding some of those online closeout auctions can help too as that's how we scored a large set of Litepanel 1x1 LED lights (some bi-color, some daylight) for less than $1,000 but luck plays a factor with auctions and then there's shipping to consider if you're not local. I wish there were cheaper LED bulb replacements for Mole and Arri can lights but doing the math with what's out there you might as well buy a modern LED fixture. However, a used kit of Mole or Arri lights could be handy if you're not concerned about power or heat.
 
You guys with the Falcon Eyes (Nick, Akin), why does 6 seem to be the lucky number? Are they just not that strong?

I really like big/soft sources (who doesn't!), but obviously want a bit of throw to them, especially if pushing through diffusion.
 
6 seemed like enough to do just about anything, and you can make a pretty big single soft source with 6 18"x24" lights.

They are plenty bright. I use them all the time.

Nick
 
Mike P. said:
You guys with the Falcon Eyes (Nick, Akin), why does 6 seem to be the lucky number? Are they just not that strong?

I really like big/soft sources (who doesn't!), but obviously want a bit of throw to them, especially if pushing through diffusion.
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They are strong. I chose 6 because I use them for studio photography/cinematography too.
Sometimes I need 4 lights to light my white backdrop on a medium-shot and two on the subject. For a close-up headshot, I might need 2-3 lights on the white backdrop and and 3-4 lights on the subject (key, fill, kicker... or above, below, left kicker, right kicker... etc.)
 
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Falcon Eyes RX-18T.

OK, OK, OK! Does anyone here get a commission for the sale of these lights? Are these the lights that put Arri out of business?
 
Takor Arrey said:
Are these the lights that put Arri out of business?
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What?

Outside of whatever that twisted take on things is, there are a great deal of affordable decent quality lights out there. But, there is a noticeable difference often in the quality of light as well as the general durability of the higher end equipment. Not to mention the general advanced features that the newer high end lights have from many of the usual suspects.

To your needs, if the focus is remote interviews, I'd aim for smaller lighter weight units that have enough output to keep them out of frame for mediums and closeups, perhaps wides depending on your needs. If you're going for a super basic 3 light kit, make sure you also grab some reflectors and flags so you can shape the light as needed on location.
 
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