High Quality Light Manufacturers

Seth Bloombaum · June 4th, 2006, 08:32 PM

Great post David.

I'd only add that because a whole industry generally agrees with that assessment, an Arri kit is pretty easy to rent all around north america and in many other areas. This is how standards become standards - a large community of people believe Arris work well.

Rental companies like them because of that, and because they don't break very often in rental use.

Many of the less-expensive lights are built less ruggedly, which is important for some uses. For example, if you're hopping on an airplane you'll now pay overbaggage on that Arri kit (new weight limits of 50 lbs. per bag). But there's a Lowel kit that you can check in... which won't hold up as well in rentals.

My favorite "mythic" instrument is a Lowel Rifa - sort of an umbrella softbox that is incredibly light, efficient with the watts and light, and sets up in a flash. For me, it will hold up for years, but if you want to rent a softbox you'll find a Chimera, not a Rifa.

June 4th, 2006, 08:32 PM	#16
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Great post David. I'd only add that because a whole industry generally agrees with that assessment, an Arri kit is pretty easy to rent all around north america and in many other areas. This is how standards become standards - a large community of people believe Arris work well. Rental companies like them because of that, and because they don't break very often in rental use. Many of the less-expensive lights are built less ruggedly, which is important for some uses. For example, if you're hopping on an airplane you'll now pay overbaggage on that Arri kit (new weight limits of 50 lbs. per bag). But there's a Lowel kit that you can check in... which won't hold up as well in rentals. My favorite "mythic" instrument is a Lowel Rifa - sort of an umbrella softbox that is incredibly light, efficient with the watts and light, and sets up in a flash. For me, it will hold up for years, but if you want to rent a softbox you'll find a Chimera, not a Rifa.