gone

[This message was edited by lostinthedescent on March 25, 2004 at 03:26 PM.]

By versitile, I assume you mean for location sound gathering. the firt mic you should probably buy is a shotgun. Here's a comparison for low cost shotguns to get you started.
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/review_shotgun_mics.html
I have the k6/me66 and love it.
remember, you'll need to get a fishpole, shockmount, zepplin, cables, balanced to unbalanced line converter, etc so don't spend all your cash just on the mic.

Re: good lighting kit. are you going prolighting or DIY/homedepot lighting? For pro, check out B+H or Markertek. You can probably get a nice 3 or four light kit for $800-1200, depending on quality. Lowel has three new kits aimed at DV shooters called the DVcreator Kit 1, 44, and 55. Haven't ever used the kit, but I've used the lights in the kits plenty and they work well.

joren

meow

[This message was edited by lostinthedescent on March 25, 2004 at 03:27 PM.]

Check this article on the basics of location sound gathering. Dan, also the author of the comparison article, does a good job of breaking things down--sometimes too good as the article is very long.
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/location_sound.html

Yes and no on pro lighting v DIY lighting. Pro lighting is a lot more convenient and therefore is easier to control lighting with pro lights compared to DIY lighting. Anyone that says DIY lighting is just as good either hasn't used prolights or is an electrician and a machinist and makes their own DIY/pro lights. A decent kit would be a few dual 500w halogen worklight stands and several clipon lights with reflectors(which can also be gaffer's taped to walls or ceilings similar to the original lowel lights). Use wax paper(or parchment paper is better) and wooden clothes pins to diffuse the lights. Aluminum foil and black wrap can further shape the light. cardboard or poster board can act as reflectors or flags. figuring out inexpensive c-stands is tricky--often times just finding someone to hold the flag/gel/difuser/light is easier/cheaper. okay, maybe I'd just buy a few used c-stands. any gels will probably need to be bought-i'd recommend at least wide rolls of CTO and .3 ND for windows and maybe CTO and CTB gels for practicals and your video lights. As far as light bulbs, my strong recommendation is to buy tungsten balanced bulbs to go in your DIY lights. Yes, the standard ones will white balance, but they make the skin tones (more so on lighter skin) look orangeish. Basically, the quality of light isn't as great with regular bulbs, IMHO. Many here will disagree with me on this, however. balanced bulbs are, however, relatively cheap. That's it! If I were building a DIY kit, this is what it'd have in it.

hope this helped
joren

I have 3 reflectors/stands and 1 boom arm on a stand with another reflector(use for backlight). None have bulbs. They have to be under 250 watts, but I don't know which tungsen/daylight temprature to get. Can anyone help on a place to get them? Also, I have cardboard/softbox type material. Is it cool to make all of the lights with a 2x2ft. softbox(when they don't need to be hard lights)?

i know b+h has em. So should markertek. Also check out cinema suplies:
http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/

I'd go with tungsten for several reasons. this is the best deal I found for 250 watt medium base bulbs http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/eca25tunphot.html

*Edit:but note that average life is only 4 hours for this bulb.