View Full Version : Help! Minimum lights to Buy for Interviews?


Earon Kavanagh
March 16th, 2005, 11:29 AM
Hi all,
I'm about to make a Rostronics purchase for some Britex, lights primarily to be used for meetings going on between 3-4 people. The 2 meeting rooms will be either 12' x 12', or 12' x 16'.

My absolute top budget is $500 USF.

If I purchase Britex lighting what do I need as a minimum?

Also what exactly is the meaning of "focusable"?

I've gome through umpteen lighting posts here and couldn't get the meaning, and I've gone thru some stuff by Walter Graff - still no clear definition.

thanks,
earon
vancouver, bc

Richard Alvarez
March 16th, 2005, 11:34 AM
"Focusable" means that the lamp's distance from it's reflector may be altered by moving it foward or backwards in it's mounting. This has the effect of widening or narrowing the beam.

Samuel Birkan
March 16th, 2005, 12:52 PM
If you do buy please fill us in on both Rostronics and Britek experiences as I am also considering them. By the way I also found Britek here
http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/eye/1500W.html

Tim Brown
March 16th, 2005, 01:43 PM
Greetings,

The aforementioned reseller (SaferSeas) has left quite a few people unhappy with their customer service. If you plan on buying, I would suggest using one of this sites sponsors - I use B&H and have never had an unhappy experience. If not, please do a considerable amount of research before spending your hard earned money.

-Tim

Earon Kavanagh
March 16th, 2005, 02:14 PM
<<<-- Originally posted by Tim Brown : Greetings,

The aforementioned reseller (SaferSeas) has left quite a few people unhappy with their customer service. If you plan on buying, I would suggest using one of this sites sponsors - I use B&H and have never had an unhappy experience. If not, please do a considerable amount of research before spending your hard earned money.

-Tim -->>>

Thanks guys. It was helpful. I'll buy from BH or Rostronics.
The guys at DVXUSER are all raving about the Briteks for the $$$.

OK - but what to buy? I'm thinking about 2 600 focusables with softboxes and a 200 focsuable with b-doors.

Or: 1 500/1000 with softbox. 1 200 focusable with b-doors and a reflector.

What do you guys think? Remember, it's for some meetings of 3-4 people and interviews with only one person on camera (similar to the one person commentaries in Mario van Peebles' "Badass" film).


Let me kniw what you think. When I try them out I'mm let you all know.

cheers,
earon

Jack Smith
March 16th, 2005, 06:03 PM
FWIW I think if your using softboxes the ability to focus the light is not needed.I use the dualpower 500/1000 with softbox (32")
For interviews I think its great.It does have barn doors if you dont use the softbox for other lighting.For what you want to do, I would suggest 2 of the 500/1000's and either a 300/600 or a 200 or 250 This would be a good starter set. You could add additional lights to tune the hair light and/or backlight and/or background light.Tom at Rostronics seems fine to deal with.
Suggest you order the 8' HD stands

Richard Veil
March 20th, 2005, 11:07 AM
I have some thoughts but I would try to get something with a lightbank or Umbrella.


I have a student discount and if you want an 8000 kit I may be able to hook you up through a dealer for a little over 500 dollars

The 8000 has one light with bank, stand, grids, carrybag

Other than that I would get two tota's, stands and umbrellas and they you can get lightbanks later

Richard