BUSINESS THREAD: Video Light Panel Questions.

[AaronM]

I have limited experience with light panels but I also have the need to purchase some now.


I have a room which is approximately 20' by 20' with very high ceilings.

What I know is that I am looking for 1 light panel to put above the set and 2 for set level.

What I don't know is what brands to purchase or what models of what brands for what reasons.

Kino Flo comes to mind but am I paying for the name or are they truly one of the best options? Whether Kino Flo or not......Which models should I be considering based on my lighting needs?

I would also prefer something that has the option of its own shipping cases.

Any words of wisdom on this is greatly appreciated.

[SinisterStudios]

I have 6 4" 4 blub Kino Flo's and i love them to death, but if i had to go out and buy they for retail again id go a different route. Kino's are great but way overpriced, checkout Fotodiox Ive got one of these and i plan on buying more, the price is great and they throw alot of good light

[AaronM]

Originally Posted by SinisterStudios

I have 6 4" 4 blub Kino Flo's and i love them to death, but if i had to go out and buy they for retail again id go a different route. Kino's are great but way overpriced, checkout Fotodiox Ive got one of these and i plan on buying more, the price is great and they throw alot of good light

Looks like this is a series of lights.....Any suggestions on which I should consider?

And.....I notice on the bottom left of this pic that they use a "lihgt stand mount" that I'm not sure is compatible with regular Light stands. ;)

They should give me some free shit for pointing out their typo.

[tony286]

Originally Posted by SinisterStudios

I have 6 4" 4 blub Kino Flo's and i love them to death, but if i had to go out and buy they for retail again id go a different route. Kino's are great but way overpriced, checkout Fotodiox Ive got one of these and i plan on buying more, the price is great and they throw alot of good light

I agree if your not moving them alot ,then you dont need kino. My friend who is a mainstream videographer(the news) just got a lowel one and is very happy. For him its got to take abuse.

[AaronM]

Originally Posted by tony404

I agree if your not moving them alot ,then you dont need kino. My friend who is a mainstream videographer(the news) just got a lowel one and is very happy. For him its got to take abuse.

I need them for a specific project now but in the future, I will also use them so they ill need to be fairly sturdy and able to take a bit of abuse.

[SinisterStudios]

Originally Posted by AaronM

Looks like this is a series of lights.....Any suggestions on which I should consider?

And.....I notice on the bottom left of this pic that they use a "lihgt stand mount" that I'm not sure is compatible with regular Light stands. ;)

They should give me some free shit for pointing out their typo.

They are pretty heavy for standard light stands, i use C stands for them and my kinos. I mount these guys overhead to wash the back wall and use 3-4 kinos in front (2 up high and 2 down low) to flood the enitire room with light. The fotodiox throws alot of light, its great for lighting up a big area. I have a 3500 sq foot studio and my sets are roughly 15 x 15 each and it throws enough light to backlight the entire set. Id get 2 to test them and see if they work for you, then get 2 more to complete the set ( 4 total 1 above, and then 3 for point lighting)

[newbreed]

Aaron, I looked in to these heavily a couple of months ago. All options led me back to the Kinos. If you still have that secret squirell address I'll shoot you the quote we got back from our local supplier.

[newbreed]

Apparently you no longer use that email address, it just bounced back to me. I'll try your other one...

[AaronM]

Originally Posted by newbreed

Apparently you no longer use that email address, it just bounced back to me. I'll try your other one...

Nothing in my inbox or spam filter yet.

[email protected]

[DWB]

Kinoflo is bad ass but if you can get a knock off brand, do so.

I'd sell you an extra pair I have but they are in Thailand right now. I never use them and they are collecting dust.

[DWB]

Originally Posted by tony404

I agree if your not moving them alot ,then you dont need kino. My friend who is a mainstream videographer(the news) just got a lowel one and is very happy. For him its got to take abuse.

Only one?

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

FloLight has some good lesser expensive versions of lights similar to Kino Flo (plus the initial tubes are included):



They will be selling direct only for a short time longer - after that you will have to buy them through Distributors (B & H, Samy's, etc) and the prices will go up by 25% or so.

Click for FloLight web site

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[tony286]

do you think two of these would work in hotel room shoots?
http://www.flolight.com/fl110.htm
the lowels just get so fucking hot

[tony286]

Originally Posted by DirtyWhiteBoy

Only one?

its for interviews, he says we porn guys use way too much light lol

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Originally Posted by tony404

do you think two of these would work in hotel room shoots?
http://www.flolight.com/fl110.htm
the lowels just get so fucking hot

Since the tubes are flourescent, they stay relatively cool (a lot cooler than the 1800w of hot lights I currently have been using). Would probably be the minimum I would use for video (I ordered three FL220s).

If you intend for them to double as still photo lights, then you definitely need a higher output like the 220s - also if you are using them for stills, invest in a good Canon IS lens, since they work better in lower light (assuming you have a Canon body).

Regarding "too much light", they are dimmable...more lights = more options.

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[tony286]

Originally Posted by AsianDivaGirlsWebDude

Since the tubes are flourescent, they stay relatively cool (a lot cooler than the 1800w of hot lights I currently have been using). Would probably be the minimum I would use for video (I ordered three FL220s).

If you intend for them to double as still photo lights, then you definitely need a higher output like the 220s - also if you are using them for stills, invest in a good Canon IS lens, since they work better in lower light (assuming you have a Canon body).

Regarding "too much light", they are dimmable...more lights = more options.

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thanks, shooting with hot lights gets hotter than hell lol

[tony286]

this looks very cool http://www.flolight.com/miclight.htm

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by AaronM

I have limited experience with light panels but I also have the need to purchase some now.


I have a room which is approximately 20' by 20' with very high ceilings.

What I know is that I am looking for 1 light panel to put above the set and 2 for set level.

What I don't know is what brands to purchase or what models of what brands for what reasons.

Kino Flo comes to mind but am I paying for the name or are they truly one of the best options? Whether Kino Flo or not......Which models should I be considering based on my lighting needs?

I would also prefer something that has the option of its own shipping cases.

Any words of wisdom on this is greatly appreciated.

mole-richardson biax are a real good investment, dimable, constant color temp

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Originally Posted by tony404

thanks, shooting with hot lights gets hotter than hell lol

I drink a huge bottle of water every shoot to keep from getting dehydrated, and it's not unusual for me to lose 5+ pounds during a daylong shoot (video shooters are closer to the lights for long periods than the models/performers are).

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[Jim_Gunn]

Kino Flos are expensive but they are great gear. I have two 4-foot four bank Kino Flo fixtures that came in a huge case and was called the Gaffer Select kit which I use as my main lights. The case is so big though it is not really portable.

I usually add some Lowel tungsten lights with CTB gels over the fixtures further away from the models to light the edges of the set and the background. I have a couple of sturdy Avenger stands to support them. I only use the daylight balanced bulbs so I can mix them with natural daylight from any windows that may exist in the location. I am next going to add another two to four fluorescent fixtures. I think I will look into some of these other options besides Kino Flos to get more lights for the bucks.

[vidvicious]

I'm with Kino flows too .. Diva's are very portable and come with a very sturdy travel case ...

See as you travel alot portability should be an important factor in your descion ..

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by DirtyWhiteBoy

Kinoflo is bad ass but if you can get a knock off brand, do so.

I'd sell you an extra pair I have but they are in Thailand right now. I never use them and they are collecting dust.

get those babys state side man ill buy em

[jonesy]

http://www.kinoflo.com/Lighting%...-Lite/Kits.htm

Diva-Lite 400 Kit (2-Unit) w/ Flight Case

[Gregory Black]

Aaron, I use all Kino. I have some 4x4 banks and also some parabeams but if I had to do it all over again I would just get all Diva 400s because they are low weight, dimable, and pack more punch than the banks.

Here is a good cheaper alternative
http://www.coollights.biz/

But I use Kino because in 3 years of shooting they have NEVER FAILED ME and that is worth the extra dough in my book.

[RevSand]

Originally Posted by AsianDivaGirlsWebDude

I drink a huge bottle of water every shoot to keep from getting dehydrated, and it's not unusual for me to lose 5+ pounds during a daylong shoot (video shooters are closer to the lights for long periods than the models/performers are).

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I always have to make sure I pick up a bottle of something to drink before a shoot.. The one time I did not I thought I was gonna die and had to send someone out to get me something (besides the gross tap water I was drinking.)

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Originally Posted by RevSand

I always have to make sure I pick up a bottle of something to drink before a shoot.. The one time I did not I thought I was gonna die and had to send someone out to get me something (besides the gross tap water I was drinking.)

The talent always laughs when I have a case of water sitting on the hospitality table, but by the end of the day it's almost always gone along with most of the platters of food I provide.

People may not always remember when things go smooth and they are pampered, but they sure as hell will bitch and moan to others when they are not catered to.

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[Gregory Black]

Originally Posted by Jim_Gunn

Kino Flos are expensive but they are great gear. I have two 4-foot four bank Kino Flo fixtures that came in a huge case and was called the Gaffer Select kit which I use as my main lights. The case is so big though it is not really portable.

I usually add some Lowel tungsten lights with CTB gels over the fixtures further away from the models to light the edges of the set and the background. I have a couple of sturdy Avenger stands to support them. I only use the daylight balanced bulbs so I can mix them with natural daylight from any windows that may exist in the location. I am next going to add another two to four fluorescent fixtures. I think I will look into some of these other options besides Kino Flos to get more lights for the bucks.

No shit that case is not portable at all. I turned mine into a TV stand