what light to get for interviews....
 

I am in News and want a good quick setup light source for interviews so my stuff looks good!


I am looking at a Photoflex Starlight Kit which includes everything for $268.00 , light, softbox, stand., but setup looks like it might take a few....

Lowel has a Rifa 44 light for $389.00 with everything light, softbox and stand. A little more expensive than the Photoflex but the setup looks 100 times quicker and easier than photoflex, which I guess I want because since i'm in news I want it to be quick and simple.

Or I was looking at a Lowel DV Pro light kit with 2 lights, stands and 2 umbrellas for $369.00. Setup seems pretty simpe and quick. plus I can use the 2nd light as a backlight.

Anyone have any suggestions....Please give me your vote below.


When you reply put a.....
1 for Photoflex Starlight Softbox kit
2 for Lowel Rifa 44
3 for the 2 Lowel DV Pro Light setup

Wrong forum dude.

what kind of interview...ENG standup man on the street kinds of things? or sit down well lit interviews?

Get this in a hurry. It shows you how to do interviews using a light kit for under $1500.

http://www.vortexmedia.com/LightingDVD/LIGHTING.html

fOR SIT DOWN INTERVIEWS....I know how to light I just wanted someones opinion on what kit to get thats all. but no one seems to want to help out...

I gave you a suggestion, and that is to watch the DVD and see how he uses his light, and what he recommends.

At a minimum, read this review and see a picture of the types of lights and tools he uses.

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...ght_shoot.html

You won't see an umbrella in the set.

Hi Kevin,

Its not that no one wants to help. Just do a search for Interview lighting and you will see many responses to those who have asked the question before.

I have two interview kits listed in the classified section if your interested.

Here's a thought:

When choosing between something like:

1 for Photoflex Starlight Softbox kit
2 for Lowel Rifa 44
3 for the 2 Lowel DV Pro Light setup

Go for the largest soft light you can afford to carry in terms of size/weight as well as afford in terms of cost. And instructional DVDs notwithstanding, the tools you use should come out of your own experience and style (as you said, you know how to light, you're looking for suggestions on specific instruments, not a tutorial).

This topic has been covered again and again in many threads. Rifa wins the "ease of setup" race again and again, however, I'd suggest something physically larger than the 44, like the 66 or 88. Easier to put a smaller lamp in a soft light (if the intensity is too high) than make the thing physically larger. The little Rifa are nice from a portability standpoint, but in terms of quality of light... you're going to be happier with the 66 or 88 if you want nice wrap on someone's face.

Here are some of the many threads here to look at:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=28908

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=67936

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=67547

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=51718

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=48907

So many threads... and in the end, it all boils down to your specific aesthetics, budget, needs...

Lowel is the current ENG standard - good on you mate!

Most any photog has a Lowel Omni - with Speed ring for Chimera. That is the Key light, the fill can be an on camera (Anton Bauer Ultralight2 or Frezzi Sungun) - or something like the Totalight. I would stick with Lowel, most ENG guys know it, trust it. For sit downs, I would go with a 3 point system, the Rifa for key, omni for fill, tota for background / hair. Shoot me an email if you have any questions


(there are plenty of ENG people here, but check our b-roll.net for top-notch ENG talk)

One-man band? One word: DIMMER! - I'd be lost without an in-line dimmer control next to me. Easy-peasy . .

Grazie

I went with the Lowel Rifa 44 and the Lowel Pro Light kit w/ bardoor and it has a dimmer on it as well. thanks for all the help. I will try to get it working soon.

let me know what you think about the rifa as the main soft key.

my standard seated interview setup was always that photoflex starlight kit (with white not silver) as my main soft key, usually like 3/4 frontal, and the prolight 180 degrees from it for hair/backlight. generally works like a charm. if you need fill you can bail on the backlight and use the prolight for that.

but i didn't own the starlight so i'm shopping, considering the rifa. how is it in terms of heat? i've always felt like lowell sucks in that department. the starlight instrument is some kind of aluminum i believe, with sort of a baffle-type design that does a pretty good job of cooling down quickly.

the rifa 44 works great used to light an interview that aired on tv, i work in news and it was very nice looking i had an egg crate attached 40 degree a MUST have it reallly helps with the controll of the light spill.....it coolds down very quickly and its a heck of alot easier and faster to setup since its all in one unit other than any other softbox i would reccoment. 250watt is plenty.