Purpose Of Kino-flo Lighting

[Greg Crider]

I have seen a number of Kino-flo knock off rigs being mentioned on some other forums.

I understand the use of these lights for TV and Film (after visiting Kino-flo's web site), but what purpose do they serve for photography?

 

[Zippy DooDah]

Looks like there'd be some value if you're doing chromakey work since the kino-flo's emit a specific and constant color. Beyond that, I, too, will be curious to hear if anyone is actually using kino-flos for still photography and how they're being used.

I have seen a number of Kino-flo knock off rigs being mentioned on
some other forums.

I understand the use of these lights for TV and Film (after
visiting Kino-flo's web site), but what purpose do they serve for
photography?

 

[Ricky Sanders]

If my memory serves correct, they're a constant light source that's more energy efficient than tungsten and run at much cooler temps. They're daylight balanced and do not have the traditional green of a normal flourescent light. You can have very large banks of them, creating a very soft, diffused light.
Ricky

I have seen a number of Kino-flo knock off rigs being mentioned on
some other forums.

I understand the use of these lights for TV and Film (after
visiting Kino-flo's web site), but what purpose do they serve for
photography?

 

[sam photo]

...I think you answered your own question...if you understand it for the other apps. then why would it be any different for still photography...it's light afterall with a unique feel to it...

I have seen a number of Kino-flo knock off rigs being mentioned on
some other forums.

I understand the use of these lights for TV and Film (after
visiting Kino-flo's web site), but what purpose do they serve for
photography?

 

[John Webb]

A very soft difused light source. Used quite often in "INSTYLE" magazine and other fashion publications.

I have seen a number of Kino-flo knock off rigs being mentioned on
some other forums.

I understand the use of these lights for TV and Film (after
visiting Kino-flo's web site), but what purpose do they serve for
photography?

 

[Greg Crider]

Okay, thanks. So this can be desired over softboxes and strobes because of things like heat and power?

I have seen a number of Kino-flo knock off rigs being mentioned on
some other forums.

I understand the use of these lights for TV and Film (after
visiting Kino-flo's web site), but what purpose do they serve for
photography?

 

[John Webb]

Gregg

I don't know if you want to say desired , just different. It will not be as versatile as strobes and softbox. You could probably do somethiung similar using four stripdomes and shooting through the middle.

I does produce a very soft and diffused light which could be beneficial when shooting some individuals. The homemade variety is also fairly cheap to build at around $130.

I believe real Kenos go for around $900 per bank, but they also have a means to vary the intensity of the bulbs. The homemade variety can be turned on or off for some variation but attempts the vary the light using dimmers switches will also change the color balance.

Gregg the shots below was made with the homemade variety.



I'am not sure if the image below would offend anyone as the models blouse is somewhat transparent. To be on the safe side I'll just provide the link.

http://www.pbase.com/image/25456602

Okay, thanks. So this can be desired over softboxes and strobes
because of things like heat and power?

 

[SashaJuric]

John, can you tell us which lights did you use to build the home-version? I was thinking about making something like this myself, but got confused with variety of different colors, lengths and powers. How do you compare amount of light between 55W 24" fluo with 250W Tungsten, anyway?

I don't know if you want to say desired , just different. It will
not be as versatile as strobes and softbox. You could probably do
somethiung similar using four stripdomes and shooting through the
middle.

I does produce a very soft and diffused light which could be
beneficial when shooting some individuals. The homemade variety is
also fairly cheap to build at around $130.

I believe real Kenos go for around $900 per bank, but they also
have a means to vary the intensity of the bulbs. The homemade
variety can be turned on or off for some variation but attempts the
vary the light using dimmers switches will also change the color
balance.

Gregg the shots below was made with the homemade variety.



I'am not sure if the image below would offend anyone as the models
blouse is somewhat transparent. To be on the safe side I'll just
provide the link.

http://www.pbase.com/image/25456602

Okay, thanks. So this can be desired over softboxes and strobes
because of things like heat and power?

--
Sasha

 

[John Webb]

SashaJuric

Lights used were 8 5000 Kelvin 48" bulbs in 4 shop fixtures from Lowes hardware. I believe the bulbs are made by GE. The important thing is getting the bulbs whose color temperature are 5000K.

I couldn't tell you how they compare as I just used the in camera meter. The 3/4 length shoot was iso 200 1/60 f5. The headshot was Iso 500 1/100 at f6.3

John, can you tell us which lights did you use to build the
home-version? I was thinking about making something like this
myself, but got confused with variety of different colors, lengths
and powers. How do you compare amount of light between 55W 24"
fluo with 250W Tungsten, anyway?

 

[shane alexander]

hi

Variable power output with constant color temperature. And the unique quality of light. Steven Meisel does nice stuff with the flo-banks as well as individual flo lights. WYSIWYG also. And nice if you like shooting for shallow DOF with larger apertures and mixing with natural light.

shane

I have seen a number of Kino-flo knock off rigs being mentioned on
some other forums.

I understand the use of these lights for TV and Film (after
visiting Kino-flo's web site), but what purpose do they serve for
photography?

--
shane alexander

 

[Michael Ant]

The orginal Kino's are great for photography but are very expensive!!! The fake Kino stuff people have been making are great as well but don't expect good exposures unless your ISO is high. Personally I don't shoot above 100 unless it is for sports, well then again I still shoot Velvia I was at a workshop once and they had this setup but the exposure was 1/60th at F8 and 400 ISO.

In terms of big photographers who use them, they are out there. I know I saw a shoot where David LaChapelle was using them but like I said he doesn't have to worry about the cash$$$ A decent set up will run you probably 4-5 grand and these aren't very portable either. Oh you may want to keep that in mind for the fake Kino's people have been using as well. At the workshop it took at least 2 people to move the thing around so it was pretty heavy.

 

[Greg Crider]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Also, thanks for the sample pictures. I appreciate it.

 

[Bern Caughey]

The orginal Kino's are great for photography but are very
expensive!!!

The prices have come way down when compared to 5 years ago

The fake Kino stuff people have been making are great

The home-made Kinos lack the highspeed ballast of the Kinos & their clones, so they are not in the same league as the proper units. If you tried to make a proper unit you'll probaly spend more money than buying the real stuff.

Kinos are widely used in photography, especially with the fashion shooters. They are light weight, cool & (usually) daylight balanced. They are unique in that they are so flat & can be placed very close to the subject for a contrasty look. A strobe & strip softbox cannot replicate this look due to the distance from the globe to the face of the box.

Regards,
Bern Caughey
--
APA/LA
http://www.apanational.org/

 

[jronk]

The reason I and most people shoot at a 60th of a second is that the home made versions are not flicker free like keno's so they actually flicker and shooting faster than a 60th will produce some frames darker than others...I use the home made version all the time and they are very nice...not keno that have much more power but they produce a great lite....And especially with digital now you have a lot of control over white balance which makes it even more of a Joy!! I shot some stuff at 125th of a second the other day and they actually came out all good and bright..but I do remember having trouble with medium format....

Well hope this answers the question of why 60th of a second...I could post some pictures but do not have a webhost?

If someone can post it for me let me know and I'll e-mail one...It was a beauty shot and I did actually with one of those little round flo lights....
J.

The orginal Kino's are great for photography but are very
expensive!!!

The prices have come way down when compared to 5 years ago

The fake Kino stuff people have been making are great

The home-made Kinos lack the highspeed ballast of the Kinos & their
clones, so they are not in the same league as the proper units. If
you tried to make a proper unit you'll probaly spend more money
than buying the real stuff.

Kinos are widely used in photography, especially with the fashion
shooters. They are light weight, cool & (usually) daylight
balanced. They are unique in that they are so flat & can be placed
very close to the subject for a contrasty look. A strobe & strip
softbox cannot replicate this look due to the distance from the
globe to the face of the box.

Regards,
Bern Caughey
--
APA/LA
http://www.apanational.org/

--
shut-up and shoot ;-)
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