Recommending fluorescents?

[Note Suwanchote]

I'm looking to get a lighting kit and was wondering if any could recommend any of t
coollights/fluorecents for a basic narrative setup?

I'm looking to use only around $1000
in my mind,
2x 255 (110watt) model and 1x 455 (220) model?

[Andrew]

The Cool Lights Portable Flos are supposed to be quite good from what I've read. I don't own the flos but I own a kit of their LEDs and the build quality and light they emit are great. LEDs are a lower spectrum light so I have to use 1/4 minus green over the lights to balance them. I'm not sure if you would need any filtration for the flos.

The Cool Lights Flos seem like a good way to go for a basic kit for not a lot of $, if you're looking for soft light.

[nickjbedford]

Just remember to manage your CRI (colour rendering index) and magenta/green tints if you want great skin tones. Only black body emitters (tungsten, the sun) emit a full spectrum. Xenon/HMI lights are close. Fluoros and LEDs can be a little bit rough if you don't correct them and/or get good ones.

[Note Suwanchote]

thanks for the tips

i think that i could spare a few extras for the portables since thats what I did have in mind from the beginning

what would be detrimental about get the 220 watt ones that are dimmable besides the expense? but then again i think its possible to build your own dimmers?

[nickjbedford]

I'd grab a few 100-250W work lights from your nearest hardware store as well. Cheap as chips, full colour spectrum (being tungsten). Can be had for 20 bucks (no stand). Temperature can be slightly different to hotter lights, but not much of an issue.

I've used them as hair/fill with some baking paper to smooth out the reflector/cage, at ISO 640 f/2.8 1/100th (50p slow motion) and were just the right brightness for fill.

[Andrew]

I think unless you're keeping them in a studio setting then you'll really want to go with the portables. From what I've heard they're really nice and light.

[Note Suwanchote]

I'd grab a few 100-250W work lights from your nearest hardware store as well. Cheap as chips, full colour spectrum (being tungsten). Can be had for 20 bucks (no stand).

I've used them as hair/fill with some baking paper to smooth out the reflector/cage, at ISO 640 f/2.8 1/100th (50p slow motion) and were just the right brightness for fill.

had them and they are very hot and very hard, do you use them in your shoots?

[nickjbedford]

had them and they are very hot and very hard, do you use them in your shoots?

Well, I bounced it into a ceiling for a few shots, to be precise. Suggesting them because they are insanely cheap.

[Note Suwanchote]

i would definitely agree that they are cheap and very workable, a lot more if turned into soft light

[nickjbedford]

i would definitely agree that they are cheap and very workable, a lot more if turned into soft light

Definitely. Of course, if you have access to a barn door 150W ARRI, use that!

[Note Suwanchote]

haha
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...n_Fresnel.html
this barn doors?
any reason why over a fluor?

[nickjbedford]

haha
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...n_Fresnel.html
this barn doors?
any reason why over a fluor?

Well, the ARRI is merely a tungsten CRI 100 light for delicious skin tones. Fluoro needed for other things I guess. Daylight/softer by design. I'd rather have both anyway. Sorry, I'm getting a bit OT!

[Note Suwanchote]

ah no worries, more info is useful
i kept thinking that with the bmc the we do have leeway with the color though but mixing it with the gh2 might prove interesting
has anyone else considered fluorescents under $1000?

[pcenginefx]

I own two of the CL-455PMD Dimming 4 x 55 watt Softlights from Cool Lights and love them. Used them a lot in my studio and on-location a few times and have had no issues with them so far. Example of recent shoot I did with one of the fixtures as a key light:

[Note Suwanchote]

did you use any other light on that shot?