Lighting for video interview

[Michael J. Murphy]

Hi-

 

I've been looking at lighting for video interviews and have seen many different setups: several photofloods in one setup, two umbrellas and a regular halogen lamp with barndoors, and others. So, I've narrowed down some light kits in my price range on Adorama. (I'm not excluding other retailers, I'm just currently browsing there at the moment.)

Out of these 5 light kits, which would be best suited for a video interview setup? (disregarding price discrepancies)

 

http://www.adorama.com/SVKSB1250.html

http://www.adorama.com/SAM31500.html

http://www.adorama.com/SVK77.html

http://www.adorama.com/SVK78.html

http://www.adorama.com/SVK70.html

 

And if you know of a light kit that you use for interviews, please feel free to recommend one as well! My price range is $300-$700.

 

Thanks!

 

Michael

[Jonathan Bowerbank]

Of the options you gave, I'd go with the medium softbox kit: http://www.adorama.com/SAM31500.html

 

Three remarkably soft sources, though I don't know much about the "Savage" brand itself. I've used mainly Photoflex & Chimera. You might wanna consider some of Photoflex's kits that are available on Adorama as well.

[Michael J. Murphy]

Of the options you gave, I'd go with the medium softbox kit: http://www.adorama.com/SAM31500.html

 

Three remarkably soft sources, though I don't know much about the "Savage" brand itself. I've used mainly Photoflex & Chimera. You might wanna consider some of Photoflex's kits that are available on Adorama as well.

 

Thanks for your advice Jonathan!

 

The only thing concerning me is the difference between the one you recommended and the one at http://www.adorama.com/SVKSB1250.html. The kit you recommended has a photoflood on a short stand, while the other has one on a boom pole for lighting hair and separating the subject from the background. Is the photoflood on the boom pole really necessary or should I stick with the SAM31500?

 

And I'll check out Photoflex's items, too. And Chimera. Maybe I passed them up when I was looking. Eh, it's late, that's probably the case... :lol:

 

Anyway, thanks for your help!

[David Regan]

Thanks for your advice Jonathan!

 

The kit you recommended has a photoflood on a short stand, while the other has one on a boom pole for lighting hair and separating the subject from the background. Is the photoflood on the boom pole really necessary or should I stick with the SAM31500?

 

Personally I would rather have the additional light output from another 500W bulb with the kit Jonathan recommended. The boom pole use can be replicated with a C-stand, and just because its not on the boom you can still add hair light/separate the subject from the background.

[Jonathan Bowerbank]

Yeah, the one with a boom and smaller softbox looks good too. Just with the other one, you're getting 3 mediums softboxes which you can use on future shoots, not just interviews. And you can always build a skirted chinaball if you're wanting something overhead for a hair light.

 

Find some reviews on the Savage brand though. I'm usually most concerned with the construction of the lamp's fixture. It may or may not be kinda rackety.

 

I should be getting my "Dynaphos" softbox from Amvona this week. I'll let you know what I think of it. You can get one of their kits for under $200 on eBay.

[Chris Keth]

Definately the three 500W lights. It's much more versatile than any of the other kits, IMO. My favorite steup with this kind of thing is to set two of the softboxes up right next to each other, both of them horizontal. One will be dimmed or heavily scrimmed for use as fill. The other can be bare or have a bit of color. The third can be back for use as a little kicker on the dark side of the face.

 

What I love about this is that the key and fill essentially become one unit and it gives a very nice wrappy light.