lighting equipment query at DVinfo.net

Mikel Low · January 17th, 2004, 01:31 PM

All -

I'm considering a purchase or five from these folks ... does anyone know about their reputation?

http://www.smithvictor.com/index.asp

Thanks!

Don Bloom · January 17th, 2004, 09:53 PM

Smith Victor has been around since dirt. I can remember about 32 years ago buying some SV flood reflectors for doing still work.

There are other manufacturers out there, SV is generally considered to be on the low end for video gear BUT hey, if it works and it's what you're comfy with price range why not. Actually I had those reflectors until about 3 years ago when I gave them to someone. Beat up but still shiny on the inside.

Don

John Hartney · January 17th, 2004, 09:55 PM

It depends on how you're going to be using the lights. For light home use, they'll be fine.

If you're looking for professional gear that will last the rigors of studio/field use, I'd look elsewhere. They are a very low end producer, with heavy use you'll find threads stripping, barndoors bending or breaking off, etc.

Lighting gear doesn't change much. If you invest in good gear and take care of it, it serves you well, and holds its resale value, too.

but as I said, for light use, it may be just what you need without breaking your budget.

Best,

John

Mikel Low · January 18th, 2004, 01:12 PM

thank you much gents ... :D

what lighting equipment would you suggest for field use with a reasonable price tag?

Richard Veil · January 18th, 2004, 01:56 PM

I have a post on a suggestion for a good basic lighting kit

chimera's item 8000 is a great deal

www.videogearshop.com

has it under the lighting section for a great price.

Cheap and be the most expensive way to go..

I would at least look at Tota so you can use umbrellas and lightbanks later.

Bryan Beasleigh · January 18th, 2004, 02:11 PM

There are other options as well. I own photoflex and have had no problem at all. Photoflex is a bit more reasonable. Chimera is excellent stuff but not the only one.

I use a combination of Lowel, Arri and photoflex.

www.lowel.com
www.photoflex.com
www.arri.com

Or sponsor B&H stocks Chimera, Photflex, Lowel, Lowel and Arri.

Better to start with a smaller kit and buy good stuff. Read some of the past posts about putting your own kit together.

Bill Ball · January 20th, 2004, 08:17 AM

Wow they finally have a web site.

I've used one of their kits (light to moderate use) for several years. Their low end stuff is truly not worth the money. It will fall apart in a few uses--if not as you take it out of the box.

The kit I bought is the K42-U KIT. The lights (765-UM) have held up really well and the "toolbox" it comes in is really nice to have ( loaded it down with extension cords, barn doors, extra lamps, and gels and it still fits). Now I mostly use one light in a softbox or though diffusion clipped to the barn doors as a big key. The stands have been a disappointment--they have plastic locking collars which break after awhile. Basically I would only consider buying from SV's "pro quartz" line. And only as a starter kit.

I have purchase several other, mostly smaller, lights since. I would highly reccomend the Lowel Pro-Light with accesories and a good stand--say a Bogen. The Pro-light is only 250 watts but that's enough for many situations and its engineering is much better than SV. Also the barn doors, gel frame, snoot, etc allow you to experiment with lighting controls. I would almost reccomend this single light with stand and accessories over a kit to start with as you can try all sorts of things and see what works for you.

Mikel Low · January 20th, 2004, 12:50 PM

Many, many thanks! This information is great. Please - keep the responses flowing. :D

Jake Hanna · January 20th, 2004, 01:21 PM

I just got my grubby little hands on a lowell rifa 44 (baby rifa) and I love it. Set and strike time is really quick and its ultra portable. I was on a pretty tight budget so I looked at the JTL stuff. I decided to choose quality over quantity and got the rifa.

my 2 cents,

Jake

Jacques Mersereau · January 23rd, 2004, 01:12 PM

I'll second the RIFAs. We have two 88s and love them.

Bottom line, like ALL real pro gear, you get what you pay for.
I think the "kit" for a RIFA 88 is about $750. You can fill a room
with Victor Smith stuff for that price, but I wouldn't ;)

January 17th, 2004, 01:31 PM	#1
Mikel Low Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 39	lighting equipment query All - I'm considering a purchase or five from these folks ... does anyone know about their reputation? http://www.smithvictor.com/index.asp Thanks! __________________ Cheers! K. Mikel Low

January 17th, 2004, 09:55 PM	#3
John Hartney Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Elgin, Illinois Posts: 206	It depends on how you're going to be using the lights. For light home use, they'll be fine. If you're looking for professional gear that will last the rigors of studio/field use, I'd look elsewhere. They are a very low end producer, with heavy use you'll find threads stripping, barndoors bending or breaking off, etc. Lighting gear doesn't change much. If you invest in good gear and take care of it, it serves you well, and holds its resale value, too. but as I said, for light use, it may be just what you need without breaking your budget. Best, John __________________ John Hartney Elgin, Illinois USA 847.742.9321

January 18th, 2004, 01:12 PM	#4
Mikel Low Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 39	thank you much gents ... :D what lighting equipment would you suggest for field use with a reasonable price tag? __________________ Cheers! K. Mikel Low

January 18th, 2004, 01:56 PM	#5
Richard Veil Chimera Lighting Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Santa Cruz CA Posts: 293	Lots of ways to go. I have a post on a suggestion for a good basic lighting kit chimera's item 8000 is a great deal www.videogearshop.com has it under the lighting section for a great price. Cheap and be the most expensive way to go.. I would at least look at Tota so you can use umbrellas and lightbanks later. __________________ Strength and Honor RLV

January 20th, 2004, 08:17 AM	#7
Bill Ball Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 216	Smith Victor lights Wow they finally have a web site. I've used one of their kits (light to moderate use) for several years. Their low end stuff is truly not worth the money. It will fall apart in a few uses--if not as you take it out of the box. The kit I bought is the K42-U KIT. The lights (765-UM) have held up really well and the "toolbox" it comes in is really nice to have ( loaded it down with extension cords, barn doors, extra lamps, and gels and it still fits). Now I mostly use one light in a softbox or though diffusion clipped to the barn doors as a big key. The stands have been a disappointment--they have plastic locking collars which break after awhile. Basically I would only consider buying from SV's "pro quartz" line. And only as a starter kit. I have purchase several other, mostly smaller, lights since. I would highly reccomend the Lowel Pro-Light with accesories and a good stand--say a Bogen. The Pro-light is only 250 watts but that's enough for many situations and its engineering is much better than SV. Also the barn doors, gel frame, snoot, etc allow you to experiment with lighting controls. I would almost reccomend this single light with stand and accessories over a kit to start with as you can try all sorts of things and see what works for you.

January 17th, 2004, 09:53 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Smith Victor has been around since dirt. I can remember about 32 years ago buying some SV flood reflectors for doing still work. There are other manufacturers out there, SV is generally considered to be on the low end for video gear BUT hey, if it works and it's what you're comfy with price range why not. Actually I had those reflectors until about 3 years ago when I gave them to someone. Beat up but still shiny on the inside. Don

January 18th, 2004, 02:11 PM	#6
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	There are other options as well. I own photoflex and have had no problem at all. Photoflex is a bit more reasonable. Chimera is excellent stuff but not the only one. I use a combination of Lowel, Arri and photoflex. www.lowel.com www.photoflex.com www.arri.com Or sponsor B&H stocks Chimera, Photflex, Lowel, Lowel and Arri. Better to start with a smaller kit and buy good stuff. Read some of the past posts about putting your own kit together.

January 20th, 2004, 12:50 PM	#8
Mikel Low Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 39	Many, many thanks! This information is great. Please - keep the responses flowing. :D __________________ Cheers! K. Mikel Low

January 20th, 2004, 01:21 PM	#9
Jake Hanna New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 5	I just got my grubby little hands on a lowell rifa 44 (baby rifa) and I love it. Set and strike time is really quick and its ultra portable. I was on a pretty tight budget so I looked at the JTL stuff. I decided to choose quality over quantity and got the rifa. my 2 cents, Jake

January 23rd, 2004, 01:12 PM	#10
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	I'll second the RIFAs. We have two 88s and love them. Bottom line, like ALL real pro gear, you get what you pay for. I think the "kit" for a RIFA 88 is about $750. You can fill a room with Victor Smith stuff for that price, but I wouldn't ;) __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager