[Daniel Schultz]

I forgot to mention that I won’t be needing to film the “whole” class much. It will most likely be kids in groups of 3 at desks working things out by themselves…that’s where I’d be wanting to roam and get the closeups.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Hi Craig,

Your comments most appreciated.
Good idea with the setting up of kids in chairs/desks not facing the windows. Good point, also, about making sure ahead of time kids are where I want them to be to avoid moving them…and the bit of allowing 15 minutes of pre-shooting to allow everyone to get comfortable.

Sound: I was thinking of giving the teacher a wireless lav, and then either using a shotgun mounted on the camera or a boom (if I can get an operator) to move in for the kids to go into the second channel. I always prefer tripod when I can, but with the kids, I’m thinking if I get in close with wide angles, I’ll avoid camera shake, and also if I’m using a cam-mounted shotgun, I’ll get okay sound? That was my strategy I had in mind. I like getting very close in for the kids, and my cam’s better at wide angles than zooming.

What’re your thoughts, and appreciate your comments.

Out of curiosity, what types of classroom shoots have you done?

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Well, for anyone who’s interested, I settled on the rifa over the arrilite 1k.

I tested them both in various setups. The Chimera that comes with the arrilite throws a very nice soft light, especially when you add the 2nd diffuser, which it comes with. But to me, the Rifa won for the flexibility and quality. When I lamped down to 500w on the Rifa, the shadows were super soft, and the lighting contrast ratio much lower. It was a really nice quality. Conversly, the 1000k lamp on the Rifa gives a high LCR. It also sets up and folds up super fast–the speed ring on the arri light is a royal pain. With three lamps–the 1000k, the 750 and 500, I was able to get a variety of light, both in terms of quantity, LCR, and soft/hard. Also, the Rifa cools down much faster than the arri.

That will allow me to return the softbank arri kit I have and get the one with two 300 fresnels and two 650 fresnels (which I love), and leave the softbox to Rifa.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Thanks…that helps me rule out the DP, since it seems to have similar problems as the arrilite 1k. Problem with the tota is that it only goes to 700w these days, and it would be good to have the option of having a 1k softlight if I need it–even though I’d likely be lamping down to 700 or 500w most of the time. The makes me thing that perhaps this might be the best solution:

1. Arri kit with two 300s and two 650s fresnels
2. Rifa softbox with 1k lamp and 700 and 500 lamps to take it down.

That would give me two 300 fresnels, which I’m thinking will come in handy. And it’ll also give me a more versatile softbox. What do you think.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your advice, all the more valuable with your experience.

I guess it comes down to two choices.

1. Keep the kit I have and add a tota with speed ring, and bring the 1k if I need it.

2. Return the kit, and get the one with 4 fresnels (2 300s, 2 650s) and get a lowel light and softbox that can do 1k, 700 or 500. That way I’d have the two matching sets of fresnels AND the softbox.

With your experience with the arri kit, what would you suggest. I like the idea of jamming as much as possible into the arri case, even if it’s heavy.

Thanks!

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Just talked to B&H and turns out they don’t make the tota 1000s anymore, because they had problems with heat. So the two Lowel choices are
1. Rifa softbox, a little pricier
2. DP with a chimera softbox, which can be stepped down from 1000 to 700 and 500 lamps.

Would you still recommend the Lowel softbox over the arri lite 1k?

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

And then to further confuse matters…

What about Lowell’s Rifa softbox, compared to the tota as the softbox?

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

One more question for Bill: If I go with the Tota, do I need to use the tota softbox, or should I use the same one that comes with the arri, which is the chimera?
Thanks again.

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Thanks, Bill.

Interesting idea using the Tota as my soft box.. I was thinking along similar lines, because I love the arri fresnels, and I’m not crazy about their open faced lights either, but wanted a quick/easy way to get a soft key without being foreced to cart along c-stands and bounce cards or such.

I just picked up the other kit from B&H (2 650s, 1 300, 1k arri lite). I have 15 days to think about it, return this kit and exchange. Price-wise, it’d be roughly the same getting the 4 fresnels and the tota, because the 4 fresnel kit is about $300 cheaper than the softbox kit. The main issue for me is the idea of adding more weight. The arri kit’s so heavy, and I’d love to not have to add to it. Perhaps the tota and chimera could squeeze into the arri case?

Thoughts?

Dan S.

[Daniel Schultz]

Just tried it. Worked great!

Dan S.