"As Arri" Light Kit Review

Awhile back I posted this article about an Arri knock-off kit that was referenced over at cheesycam.com. There were tons of questions surrounding quality, durability, authenticity, etc. So this little review addresses many of those questions.

Unfortunately, until I get my hands onto an actual 650w Arri light, I can't do a side by side comparison. However, I can say that because it uses the same bulbs the color temperature is very accurate and judging from my past experiences with Arri kits, the lights are almost spot on.


(Side Note: Although not the best candidate for seeing these lights in action, the lighting for this review was done with 2 of the 3 Arri lights.)

DIY - Skater Dolly

Alright guys, this one I'm going to need some input on...Recently, I decided to work on another DIY project using some of the leftover PVC from the DIY-Shoulder Mount. This one was pretty simple and ran me somewhere in the vicinity of $8.50 with a little help from the Sal on the rollerblades.

It rolls smoothly, readjusts easily, and stores perfectly. But I can't seem to come up with a solid solution for the most important piece...the fluid head mount. As it stands, I took a pvc end cap and drilled a 3/4" hole in it to hold the fluid head. But it tends to wobble and doesn't want to sit straight. Any ideas are welcome.

PVC: $3
Bolts: $2
Wheels: $3.50

Film Riot Reviews T2i vs 5DMii

As most of you know, I currently shoot on the 550D aka the T2i. It is a great camera and at the price, you really can't beat it. In this video, Ryan Connelly takes a look at some of the pros and cons of both cameras. Obviously the 5D is a 'better' camera but the T2i stacks up surprisingly well. It's main downfall is lowlight recording. So you're saying that I can get the majority of functionality at a third of the price? Yes please...

DIY - Shoulder Mount

So, I've come to the realization that PVC pipe is like Lincoln Logs for adults. I ran up to Lowes one weekend and picked up about $7 bucks worth of pipe along with a can of matte black spraypaint and got to work. I found some pretty good DIY projects online and decided to slap together a shoulder mount for my 550D and my Z1u. Here are the results.

PVC for this project: $7

Handle Grip: $6 @ walmart. Rang up at $7. Took Advantage of "scanning law." Received $6 back. Total in the end $1.

Spray paint: $2.50

TOTAL: $10.50

I was using the DSLR to take the photos so I mounted the Z1 instead.