Lowel 2k soft light at DVinfo.net

Paul Mailath · March 29th, 2007, 05:58 PM

Hi guys,

I came across a Lowel 2k Softlight - "two 1000watt globes bounce of silverbacked fabric that attaches via velcro"

I can't find anything about it on the Lowel site and the description says "Comes with foam lined timber transport box." which make me think the thing's more than a few years old

any opinion? anybody used this light?

Don Donatello · March 29th, 2007, 06:06 PM

i bought one back in 1980- still have it ... haven't used it in years -today i rent all lights ...
i found 2k was just too much light - so i used 2 500w lights
the optional barn doors help some controlling the light ... i always added diffusion ( opal or heavier) ...

Richard Andrewski · March 29th, 2007, 07:33 PM

Of course, given that it's an incandescent you can dim it as you like with some minute change in color temp as you get dimmer.

Jaadgy Akanni · March 29th, 2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Donatello

i bought one back in 1980- still have it ... haven't used it in years -today i rent all lights ...
i found 2k was just too much light - so i used 2 500w lights
the optional barn doors help some controlling the light ... i always added diffusion ( opal or heavier) ...

Don, what do you mean "too much light?" The last missing piece of the kit I'm putting together happens to be a Soft light and I was trying to figure out how much light would be too much for lighting the talent in a 12'x15' room. So you think 2k is too much, huh? But 500W would be too little, and since I'm not gonna be placing two 500W soft lights on their faces (or should I?) then perhaps a 1000W would be the right choice, if there's such a thing available. What do you think?

Seth Bloombaum · March 29th, 2007, 10:40 PM

Modern video cameras are much more sensitive to light than they were in 1980.

A 2k has become a special-purpose light as far as the prosumer world goes. Nothing wrong with the Lowel 2k softie per se...

if you are looking for a soft source and have decided on a dedicated light rather than something on a reflector or through diffusion, you should be looking at Chimera softboxes, Photoflex softboxes, and I like the Lowel Rifa 55 a lot. This is a softie that lamps with a 500w, but is as bright as most 750w and many 1k soft boxes. Quick to set up, light and small.

Like most Lowel gear, it takes some care for it to last. Personally, I'd rather have something small and light and take care of it... I'm done lugging 75 and 100Lb. light kits.

Rohan Dadswell · March 30th, 2007, 12:26 AM

Hi Paul,

I have two of these lights - I don't use them all that often but when I do I'm happy with the results. I usually run them with 800w globes but have also used 500w, 300w & 1kw in them, so lots of different options - just don't try to change them when they're hot.
The box doesn't sound original, the Lowels came in a fiber type case before they switched to plastic.

Don Donatello · March 30th, 2007, 11:28 AM

too much light =
i have the older style -one switch turns on both lights ( newer model had switch for each light) ... i usually used this for interviews & on location - 2000 watts of light 4-5ft from subject i would have to add ND so i could shoot at 2-2.8 ... i believe lowel makes a upgrade kit ( new wiring with 2 switches) so you can turn on one light at a time ...
also 2k is allot of amps to pull from home plugs ...

March 29th, 2007, 05:58 PM	#1
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	Lowel 2k soft light Hi guys, I came across a Lowel 2k Softlight - "two 1000watt globes bounce of silverbacked fabric that attaches via velcro" I can't find anything about it on the Lowel site and the description says "Comes with foam lined timber transport box." which make me think the thing's more than a few years old any opinion? anybody used this light? __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

March 29th, 2007, 07:33 PM	#3
Richard Andrewski Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 781	Of course, given that it's an incandescent you can dim it as you like with some minute change in color temp as you get dimmer. __________________ Richard Andrewski - Cool Lights USA - RED #114 http://www.coollights.biz

March 29th, 2007, 06:06 PM	#2
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	i bought one back in 1980- still have it ... haven't used it in years -today i rent all lights ... i found 2k was just too much light - so i used 2 500w lights the optional barn doors help some controlling the light ... i always added diffusion ( opal or heavier) ...

March 29th, 2007, 10:40 PM	#5
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Modern video cameras are much more sensitive to light than they were in 1980. A 2k has become a special-purpose light as far as the prosumer world goes. Nothing wrong with the Lowel 2k softie per se... if you are looking for a soft source and have decided on a dedicated light rather than something on a reflector or through diffusion, you should be looking at Chimera softboxes, Photoflex softboxes, and I like the Lowel Rifa 55 a lot. This is a softie that lamps with a 500w, but is as bright as most 750w and many 1k soft boxes. Quick to set up, light and small. Like most Lowel gear, it takes some care for it to last. Personally, I'd rather have something small and light and take care of it... I'm done lugging 75 and 100Lb. light kits.

March 30th, 2007, 12:26 AM	#6
Rohan Dadswell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 228	Hi Paul, I have two of these lights - I don't use them all that often but when I do I'm happy with the results. I usually run them with 800w globes but have also used 500w, 300w & 1kw in them, so lots of different options - just don't try to change them when they're hot. The box doesn't sound original, the Lowels came in a fiber type case before they switched to plastic.

March 30th, 2007, 11:28 AM	#7
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	too much light = i have the older style -one switch turns on both lights ( newer model had switch for each light) ... i usually used this for interviews & on location - 2000 watts of light 4-5ft from subject i would have to add ND so i could shoot at 2-2.8 ... i believe lowel makes a upgrade kit ( new wiring with 2 switches) so you can turn on one light at a time ... also 2k is allot of amps to pull from home plugs ...