Lighting
PROKIT considers itself to be the UK's leading supplier of professional portable lighting kits, for small studio or location production use. We understand lighting kit, not just the hardware, but the way light behaves and the way cameras respond to it. We have been doing this for over 20 years.
We are UK distributors for Lowel lighting kits: lightweight, robust, versatile and more portable than any other range. Consider the 235 watt focusing Pro light, the 500 watt broad V-light, the 300 watt to 1000 watt Lowel Rifa Softlight series, the 800 watt broad Lowel Tota-light, the open face focusing 500 watt Omni and 1000 watt DP lights, The id-light is a 12 volt dimmable sungun. Cool running fluorescent lighting kits are also offered: the e-studio range for installations, Caselites for portability, and inserts for Rifa lights. Add Lowel's mounts, clamps, light controls and efficient case designs, and it becomes clear why we think they are number one for portability.
We are UK distributors for Litepanels LED systems. Litepanels revolutionary lighting systems bring the advantages of light emitting diode technology to professional production lighting. Only Litepanels employ ultra-efficient LEDs to produce bright projected soft light perfect for working in studio or on location anywhere in the world. Choose from the compact Litepanels Mini Plus, 1x1 Panels, or the ultra lightweight compact Litepanels Micro.
We are UK distributors for Kobold MSR lighting kit: lightweight, compact, efficient, reliable and weatherproof. The heads are built to IP54 which means they can withstand any amount of rain, dust or snow. The ballasts are built to IP43 so they can be left flat on the ground in the same weather. They work in sunshine too! Choose from 200, 400 or 800 watt systems, interchangeable from Open face to PAR to Fresnel or "bare-bulb" for a Chimera. The hand-held Reporter light, mains or battery powered, completes the range.
We are UK distributors for Chimera: the world's leading range of soft Lightbanks. Chimera have a Lightbank to convert almost every hard source from 50 watts to 24,000 watts, into a luscious soft source. Fabric egg crates give good spill light control. Choose from five different lanterns for an overhead soft light. All products carry a five year guarantee.
Muraro lighting stands are Italian made to a very high standard, with great prices, and fully supported by PROKIT.
We are also appointed main dealers for the following manufacturers of professional lighting equipment: Arri, Dedo, Kino Flo, Matthews, Lastolite, Lee Filters, Rosco, and RTV dimmers. A comprehensive stock of replacement lamps, and Petrol Lite cases, tops off our lighting kit range.
Some might say that if a lighting kit case is so big and heavy that it has to have wheels and handles to move it, then it is not portable. PROKIT designs its lighting kits around small, lightweight lights, so long as they are versatile, controllable and suit today's cameras. Lowel, the world's leading portable lighting kit specialist, have a huge selection. None of our kits are too big, but some do in fact have wheels, just to help you move along the street or through the airport.
A light with a large, diffused surface area will produce a soft light for a studio or production environment. The largest surface area, will produce the softest light, the greatest "wrap around" feel, and the least shadow definition. A Chimera Lightbank will convert almost all hard lights into soft lights. Good dedicated soft sources include Lowel Rifa and Caselites, as well as most good size fluorescent sources such as Kino Flo Divas. Inverting a hard light into an umbrella or reflector will also produce a good soft light, inexpensively. Consider the spill, and practical issues of size.
Open face, PAR, Fresnel or twin lensed lights produce a hard light. Open face is the most efficient form of hard lighting, lightest and generally the least expensive option. A PAR reflector, with drop-in lenses, or a fresnel, outputs evenly throughout the focusing range, and gives clean shadow quality. Twin lensed Dedo lights produce the cleanest outputs, but with a narrow beam.
Open face, PAR, Fresnel or twin lensed lights produce a hard light. Open face is the most efficient form of hard lighting, lightest and generally the least expensive option. A PAR reflector, with drop-in lenses, or a fresnel, outputs evenly throughout the focusing range, and gives clean shadow quality. Twin lensed Dedo lights produce the cleanest outputs, but with a narrow beam.
Kobold leads the field in weatherproof MSR lighting and portable daylight illumination. Their designs are lightweight, compact, robust and efficient. Uniquely, with heads rated at IP54, they are safe to use even in heavy rain. All three weatherproof MSR lights convert from open face, to PAR, to Fresnel to "bare bulb" for use in a Chimera. They are reliable too! PROKIT also supplies Arri Pocket Pars and Compact HMIs, chosen for their rugged design.
Fluorescent sources often used for studio or location lighting produce considerably less heat than tungsten, and have a relatively slim profile; a real bonus when working in a confined space. The quality is naturally soft. Tubes rated at 5500K, 3200K, or 2900K can be used. Choose from a wide range of fluorescent lighting systems best designed for a studio, or other fluorescent sources best designed for location use.
LED camera top lights have come of age. PROKIT only offers LEDs with good colour rendition, and stable colour temperature. Many are dimmable, some are focusable. Tungsten camera top lights have become much more efficient and flattering than they used to be, and represent excellent value for money. Consider how you are going to power the light. You may need to choose a light with self contained batteries, or take power from the camera.
A 30 volt battery pack or belt will run an HMI light up to 200 watts, or a tungsten light up to 250 watts. A 12 or 13.2 volt battery will run a tungsten light up to 100 watts. Run time will depend on the capacity of the battery, ranging between 30 minutes and an hour and a half. The Lowel id light has a built-in dimmer, which, if used, will enable it to run for longer. PAG's 6 volt 20 watt C6 light will run for 2 hours.
Very often your choice of lightweight lighting kit stand will go hand in hand with your choice of case. Check the folded length. PROKIT supports Muraro stands for their quality of construction, and great prices. We also stock a selection of Booms, C stands, grip heads, super clamps, magic arms etc., from Manfrotto, Arri, Avenger and Matthews.
The companies who make them call them lamps, replacement lamps. You can also call them bubbles or globes, but not bulbs. Bulbs grow in the ground. We stock replacement lamps for most portable lights. From 6, 12 or 30 volts, 10 watts to 250 watts. Also 120 volt lamps, and of course 240 volt lamps, from 150 watts to 5000 watts. We keep MSR lamps (single ended HMI), and a few fluorescent tubes.
In front, behind, above and below the light, PROKIT has a great choice of lighting accessories for production and studio applications. We supply lighting gels in rolls, packs and sheets, black wrap, gaffer tape, flags, scrims, clamps, umbrellas, gel frames, reflectors, suction cups, bags and cases, power cables, base stands, extension arms, gobos for Dedo projectors, spigots, studs, and so the list goes on.
