Joel Corkin Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Hello, I'm looking to purchase a 4ft 4 bank Select for film/video work, but notice that at a local retailer the 4ft 4 bank dubbed Foto-Flo 400 is about $200 less exensive. Does anyone know what the differences are? Does the Foto-Flo unit skimp on any features? Thanks, JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Corkin Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 Judging from a photo of the ballast from each, I notice that the Select has 4 switches (one for each bulb), whereas the Foto-Flo 400 only two. Maybe this is the only difference. Does anyone know if there are any other differences? Regardless, I think the additional switches are worth the $200 price difference. Thanks, JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Wu Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 CoolLights also sells 4 bank flourescents that are similar to kino-flos but a fraction of the cost~ http://www.coollights.biz/index.php?osCsid...4a198fa03ee5b48 Along the same lines, has anyone compared the performance of these to kinos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Corkin Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 I read today that the Foto-Flo version of the Kinos allows you to detach the fixtures individually from the housing. I'm guessing that the Select version of the Kino's don't allow that. I went to the Coollights website and a quick glance shows that the majority of the products are out of stock. What's up with that? Any comparisons would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Parnell Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I would stick to the Select Kinos. Kino make great, solid, and pretty hardy gear in comparison to many of the non-kino brands. Every experience ive had with non-kinos is they end up being more expensive to own in the long run than the real deal. Perhaps if your not going to use it that often then the rip-offs might be ok. But if its going to be something you pull out on most shoots Id stick to the kino. Disclaimer: Im not employed by or affiliated with KinoFlo, just a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Ott Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I own some Cool Lights fixtures. Advantages: Cost Disadvantages: Build quality isn't as good as Kino, ballasts are part of light (could be advantage is some situations). They still output the same quality light, and for somebody on a budget, the Cool Lights fixtures are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Evan Pierre Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I read today that the Foto-Flo version of the Kinos allows you to detach the fixtures individually from the housing. I'm guessing that the Select version of the Kino's don't allow that. I went to the Coollights website and a quick glance shows that the majority of the products are out of stock. What's up with that? Any comparisons would be nice. No, both the Foto-Flo and the 4Bank Select allow you to remove the lamp harnesses from the housing if you want to. Comparing then on the Kinoflo site the only major differences that I can see is the individual lamp control of the 4Bank Select vs the 2/4 lamp control of the Foto-Flo. The ballasts look different but besides that they appear to use the same housing, reflector, louver, lamp harness, etc. 4Bank Select Foto-Flo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott stueckle Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 (edited) Judging from a photo of the ballast from each, I notice that the Select has 4 switches (one for each bulb), whereas the Foto-Flo 400 only two. Maybe this is the only difference. Does anyone know if there are any other differences? Regardless, I think the additional switches are worth the $200 price difference. Thanks, JC Joel: Regarding the 4ft 4Bank System and a Foto-Flo 400 System . . . the Foto-Flo has a smaller ballast than the 4Bank Select Ballast, and the Foto-Flo Ballast can attach to the Fixture Shell or be removed for remote operation. The 4Bank Select Ballast is designed for remote operation only. The Select Ballast operates four (4) lamps all together, or individually ON/OFF and HO/Standard Output. The Select Ballast also can operate lamps size 15", 2ft and 4ft in or out of the fixture housing, up to 75 feet away. The Foto-Flo Ballast can operate 4ft lamps, but only four or two at a time. There is no HO/Standard Output switch. The basic difference is that the Foto-Flo, as its name implies, is more for the photo/video market because it offers the same lighting characteristics when opearating all four lamps as the 4ft 4Bank System. However, it does not have all the bells and whistles that make the 4Bank Select one of the most versatile soft lights on the market. Note: Both the Foto-Flos and the 4Bank Select Systems come with two year warranties on the electronics, and both fixtures take Kino Flo True Match daylight and tungsten balanced lamps. Scott Stueckle Kino Flo, Inc. Edited August 20, 2008 by scott stueckle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Corkin Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Thanks Scott and Evan, for clarifying the differences. This was really useful information. I think it's worth getting the select ballast then. Thanks very much to everyone who replied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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