Meet The Gaffer #321. Some thoughts on what makes for good competition that actually helps everyone. For more about Seerveld Lighting: www.seerveld.com
Absolutely, I have a bunch of SkyPanels, Orbiters and Arri HMIs, I've preordered the SkyPanelX, but all my tungsten and small HMIs have been replaced by Aputure fixtures. I had a look at the new Godox kit at IBC and am seriously considering buying some, particularly the F600BI and their new tubes look great
I remember when Arri lights were mere additions one made to the Mole-Richardson heavy tungsten cart. Now look at Arri. And the Joker bug was the new hi-tech.
This is a great discussion - thanks Luke, this is kind of content that’s relevant on a multitude of industry levels that made me follow this channel in the first place. I use a range of kit depending on the job and it all works (mostly) but in terms of attitude I hear everything from general brand snobbery to the weirdly specific ‘why would you spend 5x as much on a fixture when the CRI isn’t as good?’ Our purpose is to create and our job is to find fulfilling and profitable work, getting caught up in ‘brands’ and kit is BS but it’s an easy trap to fall into if we suck up the marketing and one upmanship.
Oh, snap. Adam Smith got dropped in an LED rap! Great chat. Bless your grandfather’s memory, and thanks for sharing. It’s good to compel folks to consider these issues, with their contexts fresh and up front.
Instead of simply replicating what others have done or following the beaten path, it urges us to think outside the box and bring something new to the world. From artistic creativity to professional problem solving. The innovation and originality often lead to significant advances and more effective solutions.
I’m just here for it. This was a response to when people get all up in their feelings about brands producing identical products. It sucks, but that’s kinda how it goes until someone makes something better. More people will jump in if you make the same thing more cheaply, but even though that may be a problem at the beginning, it may eventually work out to be a good thing as well. You could argue that Fiilex has produced a full color family of point source units, but they are primarily fresnels… except the G3 which will be highlighted in the next video. I really meant COB’s so that they are less purpose built and more adaptable like the HMI Jokers. I think the better mousetraps keep coming out, but there are a lot of distractions along the way😉
Waiting on your test of the Skypanel X, I missed a demo I was invited in, but judging by the looks of it, this could be very interesting, if they launch a 30 or 45° lens, plus the current 11° and the dome, that be very nice. (I'd love to see a comparaison to an S360 with the X-23 configuration, and a side by side test to a Maxibrute, because on paper it's pretty damn close both in output and shape.)
Not sure I'll be getting to a test/review or comparison any time soon because I don't think anyone will be sending me an X to try😀Also, I've been using 1x2 panels a lot less lately. I don't often need to built out large overheads like you would for a longform show and often point source units with a snapbag give me what a panel would have given me before. I haven't needed to add vortex's to my arsenal, so X's are probably not in my future either. That said, that's just my personal forecast. Skypanel X's will probably have a wonderful life and provide good competition for Vortex 8's. No doubt eventually they'll be available for rental in town and maybe I'll have an opportunity to use them on a larger job.
If a brand name on the side of a light, or any piece of gear for that matter, accurately lets me know that said piece of gear isn’t going to cause me problems, there is great value in that for me. Alternatively, if a brand name on a light tells me that said light might be really good at “X,” moderately good at “Y,” and pretty bad at “Z,” I don’t have time for that nonsense. (e.g. affordable, high output, portable, but poor skin tones and unpredictable color rendition = no go) Alternatively if a light (or other piece of gear) has even coverage for variables X, Y, and Z, e.g. X) expensive - but- Y) good color rendition in all scenarios and Z) lower output - but - can be repaired with no “maybe it cannot be repaired” factor, at least this type of light doesn’t cause me post production headaches with strange colors or splotchiness / unnatural green hues appearing on people’s skin. - If 60% of my lighting budget is going to an air conditioning semi truck/trailer parked outside that allows me to shoot with tungsten and HMI indoors that is fine. Heat is a known variable with a known solution, in this case the variable is room/house/warehouse cooling expense. I don’t to want to add unnecessary unknown variables to production with lights that clash with sodium vapor street lighting, bad fluorescent office hallway lighting etc. I need predictability from lights. For example, a very heavy tripod has known and predictable challenges. It’s heavy and expensive. A heavy tripod is a far better alternative to wind shaking a camera or blowing the camera and tripod over. Directing is enough of a challenge as is without adding unnecessary variables whether those variables be a truck that is finicky, a location that may suddenly be unavailable for non-weather related issues, a talented actor who might not show up, etc. Give me an average actor who knows their lines and is rock solid for dependability, an average looking location with a rock solid booking, and a light, tungsten, HMI, LED, or whatever that just does it’s job, so that I can do mine. - Thank you Luke for sharing your valuable insights. 👍 (I hope my flakey actors show up to my flakey location booking so that I can shoot with my flakey lights on my flakey light stands with my flakey crew members at the shoot tomorrow. - By the way, Luke would you like to invest in this project? My other investors flaked on me. Oh, can you bring some lights? 😂) (Or alternatively- We’re shooting tomorrow with tungsten at a building that I own, gear that I own, a crew that enjoys working with me and rock solid professional actors. We’re all good on financing as I’m financing 100% of the project with cash. But you’ll need to wear shorts because the AC is reserved for the talent during shooting, except for lunch when we all get AC. Also, there will be amazing food at lunch from a rock solid caterer that I work with regularly.) Now isn’t that much more relaxing? 😊 An easy day. 👍
My Dad grew up in West Sayville. When I was a kid, living first in the Chicago area and then the Greater Toronto Area, we would often drive down to visit my grandparents and body surf off Smith Point and stop at Carvel’s on the way home. My great uncle was a clammer until that industry went away. We used to go crabbing off the pier in West Sayville. Good memories!
Answer: Neither. There are a ton of sleeper manufactures out there offering similar power outputs for less money and will continue to only improve, but keep undercutting them.
I'm not making a judgement of these three manufacturers, just talking about competition as a concept😀 The title is my attempt at making more interesting titles than I normally do.
