Digital Video - October 2007 - (Page 21)

> MOLE-RICHARDSON FRESNEL COMBO PRO LIGHTING KIT FIXTURE 200W Fresnel 300W Fresnel 650W Fresnel FULL-FLOOD 30 fc 33 fc 77 fc FULL SPOT 49 fc 90 fc 353 fc (All measurements taken in footcandles from a distance of 8 ft.) ble, and scrim storage bag for each light. It all fits into a hard-plastic, wheeled case, with total weight of 75lbs. Our review kit included the optional Chimera softbox and speed ring for the 650W fixture. Each light has an extra-long hardwired power cord that features a molded stress-relief boot and cast-metal switches. Stands and yokes feature tough metal hardware that locks solid on every connection. This kit feels bulletproof. The heads are a tough metal construction with thick plastic knobs on both the front and back for focusing from spot to flood. Remove a single pin and the Fresnel lens assembly swings away for painless bulb installation. The barn doors are large with heavy metal construction. We did, however, have a concern with the design of the upper tab which secures the barn doors, scrims, and speed ring. It’s spring-loaded, but the spring seems too weak for this application. It’s an annoyance on an otherwise very welldesigned kit. The optional Chimera soft box and speed ring employ a standard design that requires some assembly. Mounted on the 650W fixture, we found the light quality to be very soft. We noted that M-R’s 200W light doesn’t output nearly as much light as other similarly rated lights. In general, all of the Mole-Richardson lights tended to be more diffused and therefore rated less output than similar lights. The quality of light is slightly less harsh as a result. This seems to be due to the Fresnel lens having an additional frosted layer in the glass. While the Mole-Richardson Fresnel Combo Pro kit is not the most powerful or compact kit we’ve used, it’s built rocksolid to last for years. DV SCORE MOLE-RICHARDSON PROS: Tough fixtures and stands. Painless lamp replacement, heavy-duty electrical cords, and solid metal switch design. CONS: Diffused Fresnel is not the most efficient output per watt. Slightly unreliable ring fastening clip. BOTTOM LINE: A tough kit with a nice range of light options. Built to last. MSRP: $3,695 CONTACT: www.mole.com SEEING THE LIGHT E ach of our three test kits offers a different type of control over illuminating your subject. Light temperature, softness, intensity, as well as such accessories as scrims, barn doors, and diffusers, all offer different ways to control each fixture. Additionally, we found that there were certain features unique to each company’s offering. Ideally, the perfect kit would combine all the best aspects of the three we’ve examined. But, as that isn’t likely to happen, we suggest that you determine your unique needs and match them with the strengths of one of these kits—or others on the market. Once you have decided on your best solution, the real fun of improving your lighting skills begins. Filmmaker Matt Jeppsen is founder of the online production info source FreshDV (www.freshdv.com), and a contributing partner with cineastfilms, an international wedding cinematography production company. Kendal Miller (www.impstudios.com) is an award-winning director of photography located in the Chicago area, and a contributing editor at FreshDV. SD, HD, Store and Edit …Share …Deliver Integrity Data Systems is a QLogic® Signature Partner who can provide you with a shared storage solution that matches your workflow and keeps you and your staff more productive. We understand the performance requirements needed for playback of SD & HD content. It’s a fact that QLogic® is a leader when it comes to the technology that makes up a SAN and Integrity Data Systems is a leading QLogic® Signature Partner when you want to build one! 877. 224.9015 X101 • 631.479.2401 www.integritydatasystems.net http://www.mole.com http://www.integritydatasystems.net http://www.freshdv.com http://www.impstudios.com http://www.integritydatasystems.net

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Digital Video - October 2007

Cover Contents Letters DV Update R&D Fest Circuit Light Brigade Follow Focus Shootout Image Conscious Instant Expert Close-Ups Eastern Europe Exploit Call of the Wild Four Principles of Storage Storage Media Production Diary

Digital Video - October 2007

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