Cheap and Good Lighting Idea

brianluce

@CFreak
Actually you can make open face tungstens work -- you need to get some cinema foil and snoot them down. Shape the light. It's not ideal, and it can be time consuming, but you can make them work. Fresnels are way way way better, but you pay way way way more.

jaecjaec

@brianluce
Good thought. I doubt if I'll actually ever use the 1000w lamps at full power. I wanted them because I heard that they can take 650w bulbs, etc...making them more versatile. Plus there is a good price on them are pretty good. Look at these two kits:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170671585933?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170651752686&category=3860

brianluce

@jaecjaec
That looks like a nice kit, anyone familiar with the brand? Good quality? Original Arris cost a lot more than that! I wouldn't mind owning the 650 kit. Very versatile, free shipping, just need some scrims.

mrmukke

i'd also be interested if these china models in arri design are some proper ones ...

Vitaliy_Kiselev

I'll try to post more info in coming days.

Psyco

What about LED fresnels?

Where du they fit in - more like the Arri 650 or more like a normal LED light?

bitcrusher

I am hoping that 2012 will be the year that cheap LED fresnels hit the market.

LPowell

@stonebat
Tungsten is too freaking hot. LED's cannot light the job alone. Fluorescents are still the brightest bang for the buck:

http://www.greenelectricalsupply.com/23-watt-cfl-r40-flood-daylight-5000k.aspx

zigizigi

There are two LED Fresnel models on the market: Litepanels Sola ENG and Dedolight LEDzilla. Both are around $600-700 and fully focusable. Sole ENG has more output to be a really versatile fill/portrait light. No battery socket and fan noise, though. LEDzilla's output is too weak in fill mode, so it's primarily a portable light-weighted portrait light with quite expensive accessories.

The question is: where are these Chinese copycats when they are needed badly?

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@zigizigi

Can you get us a links to $700 Litepanels or Dedolight LED fresnels?
I mean to places whre you can get them for such price.

zigizigi

B&H has both for instance. Even a bit cheaper than I claimed.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/687491-REG/Litepanels_906_1002_SolaENG_3_LED_Fresnel.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/624594-REG/Dedolight_DLOBML_Ledzilla_Mini_LED_Daylight.html

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@zigizigi

This is cheap and quite low powered lights.

zigizigi

These are not studio lights which is quite clear from the ENG name. And for reporter's needs Sola ENG has plenty of output. 3900 lux from 4ft in spot mode - that's a MASSIVE overkill for most interview situations. TV studios are typically lit at 1000 lux.
http://www.litepanels.com/language/pages/sola_eng.php

Ledzilla is surely not quite as powerful.

Litepanels has powerful studio models in Sola line as well. Quite expensive, though.

Psyco

@Vitaliy_Kiselev

Is there any news on the LED fresnel (that was once part of the special deals: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/717/special-deals-led-lighting )?

I have the 312AS and the DN2 900LED lights from the same source and they are pretty good. So, it would be very interesting if the Fresnel is the same quality.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

I am trying to get more info.
Wait a little :-)

stoney

@LPowell I agree with you. If portability is not an issue, fluorescents are the way to go. I guess LED fresnel would take some time to get cheaper and good enough.

LPowell

@stonebat - "If portability is not an issue..."

Clore Automotive JNC660 1700 Peak amp 12-Volt Jump Starter
http://www.amazon.com/Clore-Automotive-JNC660-12-Volt-Starter/dp/B000JFJLP6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_2

Samlex SSW-350-12A Pure Sine Wave Inverter
http://www.amazon.com/Samlex-SSW-350-12A-Pure-Sine-Inverter/dp/B004OU2VRC/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1323794879&sr=1-1

http://www.samlexamerica.com/customer_support/pdf/SlickSheets/SSW-350-12A_Samlex_Specifications.pdf

rockroadpix

My suggestion would be to find a couple of 650s and a 300. If you get the right case, they will be pretty portable. Make sure that whatever you get, get doors and scrims for all of them - a home run as we call it on set or at least a full double and full single that will help you before you start dimming and changing the color temp. Tweenies (650s) as many people have pointed out are the fave in the industry. 1k s are great if you need a lot of fc, and can be nice with a chimera, but that's about it. If you plan to hold onto them forever, spend the money on Moles. They take a beating that even arris cannot. Trust me, I am sure that I have used Moles from the 1970's or before! If you want to use them for a key, you can always make a book-light with white bounce card and hang some light diffusion between it and your subject. BEAUTIFUL- it's dated, but it still looks great. The only issue is power consumption - don't overload the breakers and wrap time when you have to build in a little extra to let them cool. I've G&E'd about 100-150 commercials/promos/tv shoots. LOVE the tweenie. tho!

DrDave

As lpowell says heat is an issue. I get decent results with Blue Max CFLs. They range up to 50 watts. The bulbs have a filler that is bound to the Mercury in case you break a bulb. They are quiet enough to mount near a microphone. The CRI on these is 93+, and I have to say it appears that the colors do look better. I don't like fluorescent light as a rule, but these are decent. My LED lights don't light up the room like these do. http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/23w_powercompact_65_prd1.htm

Meierhans

Check these out: http://www.ebay.de/itm/180701715089?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

Might not be as perfect spectrum wise, but they have 3 times the impact than the largest Blue Max.
One is about 500 W Tungsten, add 3 together and you get some serious light output.
And they are freaking cheap.

Just keep in mind that they are quite large.

evero

@Meierhans wow, that's cheap for the amount of light. Wonder how well they work for video. Also, what kind of lamp socket is apropriate for this kind of bulb? Any suggestions? :)

Meierhans

This is just the most common socket you know, any will do. Its more the question of the right reflector. I own a 70 W version of these, its already oversized.

They work very well, made for foto but no flicker, even at 24 Fps.

evero

@Meierhans ok. I've noticed that many of my lamp sockets are rated for 100W or less. But I guess it shouldn't be a problem finding some that will be ok with 150W. Will keep looking :)

rockroadpix

How are you guys focusing those cfls? I thought this thread was about fresnels.

stoney

Fresnel turned into LED fresnel which turned into Fluorescents. I like it.

Actually the title is misleading. I was looking for a good lighting solution that wouldn't break my bank.

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