Diva Lite 400 or DMX 4Bank at DVinfo.net

Allen Minor · April 29th, 2006, 08:21 PM

I'm torn between getting a Diva Lite 400 or a Select DMX 4Bank. My needs are this: interviewing 1 to 2 people at about 3-4 feet distance and sometimes going to a home for a 1 to 2 person interview. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Matthew Wilson · April 30th, 2006, 02:26 AM

Hi Allen,
I've not used the Select with DMX, but I've used the Diva 400 and 2 foot 4 bank with select ballast. Both will probably work for what you want to do. The biggest difference to me is that the Diva outputs 220W with more punch than a 2 Foot 4 bank, which, with 20W lamps will only get you 80W total. Big difference. You can get the HO lamps for more output, but still not as much as the Diva's. The Diva has a diffuser (flozier) that straps on quickly as well if you want to soften, and still get a lot of light. You can probably use it on the 4bank to.

If you are just going to throw them on a stand, they are equally quick to set up (though the Diva is problably quicker and easier to use once it's up), but the Diva is easily dimmable without DMX control. The 4bank has some advantage because the ballast is separate, the fixture is light and easier to mount on ceilings, walls, etc than the Diva. You can also remove the harness if you need to and place a bare lamp somewhere, so a little more versatile, but probably not needed for straight interview setups.

I'm actually selling a couple of Diva 400's (though this is not ad and somebody may already be buying them) and I just sold a 4 bank (b/c my project is moving into post). I really like the Divas and find that I would pull them out first before a 4 bank for most uses.

Hope that helps.

Ralph Oshiro · April 30th, 2006, 09:12 AM

Why are you selling the Divas? How much? I'm interested!

Matthew Wilson · April 30th, 2006, 02:39 PM

I'm moving ionto post on my project and need to recoup some funds. I sent you a PM regarding the lights.

Ralph Oshiro · May 1st, 2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Wilson

I'm moving ionto post on my project and need to recoup some funds. I sent you a PM regarding the lights.

PMs are "disabled by the administrator" on my screen for some reason. Can you send me an e-mail? Thanks.

Ralph Keyser · May 1st, 2006, 04:53 PM

Matthew's got the pros and cons just right. If the great majority of what you are doing is interviews, then the Diva is the right answer. The flexibility of being able to take the 4 bank apart, however, shouldn't be overlooked. The ability to use just the harness with the tubes taped somewhere or another is very helpful in confined situations.

April 29th, 2006, 08:21 PM	#1
Allen Minor Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hamilton, OH Posts: 50	Diva Lite 400 or DMX 4Bank I'm torn between getting a Diva Lite 400 or a Select DMX 4Bank. My needs are this: interviewing 1 to 2 people at about 3-4 feet distance and sometimes going to a home for a 1 to 2 person interview. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. __________________ tamerlane57

April 30th, 2006, 02:26 AM	#2
Matthew Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 259	Hi Allen, I've not used the Select with DMX, but I've used the Diva 400 and 2 foot 4 bank with select ballast. Both will probably work for what you want to do. The biggest difference to me is that the Diva outputs 220W with more punch than a 2 Foot 4 bank, which, with 20W lamps will only get you 80W total. Big difference. You can get the HO lamps for more output, but still not as much as the Diva's. The Diva has a diffuser (flozier) that straps on quickly as well if you want to soften, and still get a lot of light. You can probably use it on the 4bank to. If you are just going to throw them on a stand, they are equally quick to set up (though the Diva is problably quicker and easier to use once it's up), but the Diva is easily dimmable without DMX control. The 4bank has some advantage because the ballast is separate, the fixture is light and easier to mount on ceilings, walls, etc than the Diva. You can also remove the harness if you need to and place a bare lamp somewhere, so a little more versatile, but probably not needed for straight interview setups. I'm actually selling a couple of Diva 400's (though this is not ad and somebody may already be buying them) and I just sold a 4 bank (b/c my project is moving into post). I really like the Divas and find that I would pull them out first before a 4 bank for most uses. Hope that helps. __________________ MW

April 30th, 2006, 09:12 AM	#3
Ralph Oshiro DSR450 Shooter Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA USA Posts: 14	Why are you selling the Divas? How much? I'm interested! __________________ . RALPH OSHIRO, DP/CAMERA OPERATOR 24FRAMEFILMS.COM PERSONAL FILMMAKING CAMERA: SONY DSR450 2/3" 16:9 24P DVCAM WET CAMERA: SONY HC1000 16:9 w/IKELITE HOUSING STUNT CAMERA: PANASONIC DVX100 CAMERA USED AT WORK: SONY BVW600 GET DIRT CHEAP TERANEX XANTUS SD-HDCAM UP-REZ SERVICE AT:REZFACTOR.COM

April 30th, 2006, 02:39 PM	#4
Matthew Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 259	I'm moving ionto post on my project and need to recoup some funds. I sent you a PM regarding the lights. __________________ MW

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May 1st, 2006, 04:53 PM	#6
Ralph Keyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 287	Matthew's got the pros and cons just right. If the great majority of what you are doing is interviews, then the Diva is the right answer. The flexibility of being able to take the 4 bank apart, however, shouldn't be overlooked. The ability to use just the harness with the tubes taped somewhere or another is very helpful in confined situations.