My Five Favorite Parts of My Kit

I love my lighting kit. I can add and subtract so much more light today than I could just a few years ago, with a smaller profile and more efficiency. No, it doesn’t do everything. But then again, what lighting package does? It won’t achieve a six-figure commercial look, but it sure closes the gap between a basic lighting kit and a 3 ton package more than the investment deserves. For productions where speed is key while maintaining a small footprint, I haven’t worked with a package that is more optimized to get that kind of job done. With that said, here’s my top 5 pieces of gear in my package.

#1 -Aputure 600D

The 600D had to be #1. It’s the backbone of my kit and gives me enough output to serve multiple looks. I can bounce my key, I can diffuse, I can double diffuse. Even with windows, I can often get enough output to balance for many looks. Do I wish I had a 1200D instead? Sometimes. But the times I know I’ll need one, I can rent it. For all the other times, the 600D is a loyal and loving companion.

#2 -40” Floppies and Frames

I love my Ford Transit Connect. But it has a Death Star-like fatal flaw with a measurement of 46” horizontal. Meaning, I can’t fit 4x4’s in my van unless they are packed at an angle. And packing them at an angle really causes packing issues. Not a great way of maximizing space. So I decided to give 40” Floppies and frames from Modern Studio a try. And I have found that 8” less on each side has not been a big deal. If anything, at times, it’s been convenient to have just a little bit less to work with considering some of the small spaces I’ve had to light. I have 3 Ultrabounce Floppies, 2 Solid Floppies and 2 open frames.

#3 -Aputure 60X

You might be laughing at me, but the 60x is an underrated fixture. I used to be a big fan of having a 150w or 300w fresnel in my arsenal. The 60X fills that void. It’s so quick and easy to pop up and can add a much needed controlled splash of light to a scene. Or an eyelight. Or a lightweight, boomable softbox. Or a bounce fill. I could fill the page with a number of times this light ended up being a difference maker for a frame.

#4 -SGC Tube Kit

I both really like tubes, and really feel that tubes are often overrated. Unlike the 600D, my SGC Tube Kit isn’t a light source I’d build my whole package around. But they achieve a result that no fresnel or COB can do. Having a nearly instant soft glow of light is incredibly useful, especially in those fast moving B-Roll situations where I can move a couple C’Stands untethered by electrical quickly and as needed. My SGC Kit is made up of two 4’ RGB tubes and two 2’ RGB tubes, a total of 10 batteries and a grid attachment for each. Of all the tubes I’ve used, the SGC’s have been my favorite for two reasons. 1. They run on the Sidus app, alongside all of my Aputure’s. 2. The batteries are interchangeable; if a battery dies, I just slide it out from the end of the tube and slap a new one in. It’s the best battery system I’ve come across to tubes.

#5 -Tied - Painter’s Poles & 40” Grid Slip-Ons

I couldn’t decide between the two. My Wooster Painter Poles are basic. There’s no reason why I should put something like that on this list. But they fit so nicely in my Grip and Gaff bag, and it’s great to be able to T-bone any rag or solid. I can custom cut duvetyne and have the perfect fit for the space because of the sweet telescoping action.

For my 40” frames, I had quick slip-on grid cloth custom made in the following densities: a full silent grid, a 1/2 silent grid and a 1/4 silent grid. The difference between 40” and 48” is more noticeable on the diffusions than on the floppies. Regardless, it’s nice to have swappable options without needing to spend any considerable time on set skinning my frames. Time will tell whether these take the sole #5 spot, or if I end up just buying more open frames and having a couple 250 and 216 options to grab. For now, I’m happy to have a good reason not to add more weight to the carts.