[Daniel Schultz]

BTW, I”m running FCP 6.0.6 on a new MacBook Pro 17″, 8gb memory.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

I’ve got a new Rifa 88. I love a number of things about it. Love the light output, and that you can lamp it with several different wattages. I had a chimera with an Arri lite but returned it and got the rifa for a few reasons. That speed ring was a royal pain to set up (at least for me) and only allowed one wattage. The Rifa, on the other hand, sets up and takes down instantly. I also like the option of adding flourescent daylight attachment for a lot cheaper than an Kino flo (but haven’t tried it yet).

But I’d have to agree about the durability–the lowel products seem less so. My Rifa’s only a month old, and there’s a little rip in the opening at the back, even though I’ve only used it a few times. I’ll probably take it back to B&H when I have time, but it’s disconcerting. Although I’ve got some sewing chops, I’d prefer to not have to use them or worry so much about a fragile instrument.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

John, can I trouble you for one more piece of advice, then I promise I’ll shut up about this.

The flouro tubes that are presently in the classroom are 30 watt. The ones I’m about to order are 40 watt. There are 36 tubes in each room, so that changing them would mean an increase of 360 watts for each room. Judging by the test video I shared a few posts back, do you think that the extra wattage will over-power the room? I suppose I could always stop the camera down to a higher f-stop or use the internal ND filter in the camera. I’d also add that I think I will use a Letus adaptor with a 35mm lens, which eats up about 1/2 stop of light. And my gut says, “better too much than too little light.”

But if it is thought to be too much overhead light, I could ask the custodian to only put in 2 out of 3 for each ceiling fixture. I guess that would take the overall wattage of the room down 90 watts from what it is now. The problem is that when I walk into the classroom on Friday for the shoot, it will be too late to mess with the ceiling flouros. So I have to give it my best shot beforehand. I will add that I’m also bringing one Kino Flo floor light (I believe it’s the 3 lamp version) and I might bring the wide on-camera litepanel you suggested a while back.

Thanks again, and I PROMISE this is it!

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Yeah…thanks John.
(You helped me get here)

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Just found a place in NYC called Barbizon. They have GE 40’s in stock. The guy there told me that they were 5200 (the bulbtronics were 5600) and that 5200 would likely be a better match for daylight. I think I’ll go with those, unless anyone has any strong objections.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

I have the Rifa 88 and love it as well. Haven’t used it much, so I hope I don’t have the same problem.

Has anyone tried the flouresent attachment? Seems like an easy way to get soft daylight.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Does anyone have advice about more secure brand names?
As I mentioned, the Delkin Class 6 is the one that failed on me.
I’ve read at other sites that Panasonic also were problematic in this way.

Is the consensus that Class 10 is more secure than class 6?

Thanks,

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Hi John,

Thanks so much for the info.
I’ll be needing 72 for the two classrooms–so it’s way over our budget.

Just got off the phone with someone from Rosco, and he was recommending using 3/4 minus green gels. I’d need to buy two rolls at about $150 each to cover the two classrooms. (I could lay them on top of the grate in the ceiling). I guess they have 65% transmission…so I’d lose some light with them.

Or I could try to find the cheap $4/each tubes somewhere else. The price is about the same if I could find them.

Ugh…
Thoughts?

Thanks again!
-Dan

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Thanks, John.
Should I be finding exactly the tubes you send me the link for (LTF40T12VS (ORDERING CODE: 0057679)

The price is right, and I can’t afford the $13/per tube versions. I’m assuming the $4/tube ones you suggested have good color balance, though not as “perfect” as the MovieTones the guy at Bulbtronics suggested–but good enough?

-Dan

Dan S.