I'm a green(as in rookie) video dv enthusiast on a very tight budget. I am a musician trying to record some home grown live performances. The advice and posts I've seen here have been invaluable to me in getting lighting on the cheap.

Just bought an used JTL softkit from someone here who is super nice. Just went to Harbor Freight to pick up those cheap dimmers (router speed controls in their catalogs) to control my worklights and practicals. They work great by the way.

Also heard about those IKEA Isbrytare ellipsoidical lights here. If only my nearest IKEA in ATL had them...boo...hiss...

And am in the process of investigating how to use this big chinese lantern we have for video lighting and how to figure out how to modify my two headed, single cable work light into a true two light system. However, I am sure with all of the collective knowledge and experience here - it's gonna be relatively easy to figure this out.

Heck, even Ty Ford is here - Hi Ty!

And it's all done without attitude or airs or the need to put down newbies...

From the bottom of my heart, I want to say - "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

very gratefully yours,

Charles

And it's all done without attitude or airs or the need to put down newbies...

Yep, we insist on that type of behavior here. Prima donnas need not apply.

Glad you're getting some good info to start off with. I have a set of JTL softlights myself, also purchased from a fellow forum member.

-gb-

It's a beautiful thing, man...

I do say, with humbleness, that you, my kind sir, should continue with the rocking.
Cheerio!

/sometimes we're too polite.

RE: Chinese lanterns...be careful, those things can burn if you get too big a bulb in there. I've been wanting to try one using one of those big 200 watt fluorescent bulbs from CoolLights.

There's a small video of these lanterns here http://www.scottspears.net/filmmakpg3.html

RE: Chinese lanterns...be careful, those things can burn if you get too big a bulb in there. I've been wanting to try one using one of those big 200 watt fluorescent bulbs from CoolLights.

You kid not...I'm a little nervous. But really, it throws a lot of light even for a 80W. But those Coollights are pretty intriguing...

C

Paper lanterns aren't rated too high in wattage and it all depends upon the size of the lantern. The larger the lantern, the larger the wattage it can handle. In addition, some find that the nylon lanterns, which can handle just a bit more wattage are even better for durability too. We hope to have a "chinese lantern speedring" sometime this year to use our CL-SFT1 and 200w 8U bulb with chinese lanterns much easier.

You can find both nylon and paper lanterns at:

www.paperlanternstore.com