OT: Good Lighting Deal?

jrazz wrote on 9/24/2007, 8:10 PM
$40.00
Or This one?

Would this be worth buying if just for the stand and reflector? I have never purchased lighting as I have always done weddings. I am starting to branch out and add to that and if I have the possibility of doing a shoot and need some added light, would this be something worth buying to start out with?

j razz

Comments

DSCalef wrote on 9/24/2007, 8:41 PM
A little more expensive but I like:

[Link=http://www.alzovideo.com/alzo_video_fastbox_2light_location_kit.htm]
MUTTLEY wrote on 9/24/2007, 9:34 PM

I got two of the first ones, they're decent but not good for much more than close-ups. A nice light to have handy but ya won't be lighting a room with em.

- Ray
www.undergroundplanet.com
farss wrote on 9/25/2007, 12:09 AM
There's some good deal on usefull lighting kit around but be careful.
A lot of the lighting gear made for stills photography has certain limitations.
1) Spill. Umbrellas spill light everywhere.

2) NOISE. This can be less than obvious unless you can get hands on with the gear. It maybe not too bad, just a fairly low noise fan that if it does get too loud you could always replace for a few dollars or it could be a HID with a magnetic ballast that makes more noise than a helicopter. One I tried was so dang noisy I can't imagine how you even use it for stills, you'd risk the talent having a stroke when you fired the beast up.

3) Heat. If you do get to try out softboxes leave them on for a while / take a good look inside. I've checked out one that had obviously gotten way too hot and had burnt off some of the silver lining inside the box above the lamp. Remember photo shoots are probably shorter than video.

4) Lamp life and cost. Some of the lamps used in stills photography are expensive and don't last very long at all.

Bob.
Coursedesign wrote on 9/25/2007, 8:59 AM
...and choosing the right stands for the Alzo "HMI" lights (HMI is a trademark):
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=99181
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 9/25/2007, 9:34 AM
Here's a decent cheap system

Dave
farss wrote on 9/25/2007, 1:30 PM
Funny you should mention that system, we bought one a few weeks ago. Quite good for the money, runs cool and everything fits in one bag. I'd get some shot bags to go with any kit like that. The stands are adequate but as the whole units are very light, easy to get knocked over. Being so light you're unlikely to do any harm to anything or anyone but you'll almost certainly break a lamp.

That's the same company that had the HID light with a magnetic ballast that sounds like a 'copter.

Bob.