Customer Reviews

Photo Basics 402 uLite Video Lighting Kit

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Length:: 1:07 Mins

You want to add interesting backgrounds to video interviews and photo portraits? Green screen allows you to do it without the expense of going to exotic locations.

Photo Basics has created an easy, well-designed kit that has just about everything you need to do green screen right.

Green screen basically takes advantage of the fact that several video and photo editing programs can cut out a specified range of color from a video clip or photo. Bright green works nicely, since it stands out and most people don't wear it (and you have to make sure they don't if you want it to work!). The key to doing it right is that the screen has to be uniformly lit, so that your photo or video editing software can cut it all out.

This kit comes with two lights on stands, a 9'x 10' green flannel screen, a simple instruction video, a CD with a few funky backgrounds (some you can see in my video) and a one-month trial of Adobe Premiere Elements (so you can try out the effect if you don't have anything else that will do Chroma Key). What you need, in addition, is a more permanent video editing solution, a video or still camera, and some way to mount the screen on a flat wall.

The screen is made of very nice quality fabric. It's a durable, wrinkle-resistant, felt type material with a reflective surface on one side and a fluffy surface on the other. There is a slot on one end of the screen that you can run a tube through if you have a frame, but there are also 3 brass eyelit rings on each side of the screen that you can use to hook your screen onto the wall, either with adhesive backed hooks or screw in hooks. I suppose you could also use tape.

The light stands are solid, and elevate to about 7 feet - they may not be professional strength but they seem durable and don't wobble, even at maximum height. The collapsible softboxes are also nicely built. You open them up like an umbrella and put in the included 500 watt bulbs, then put on the white diffusing cover to spread the light and eliminate glare.

This is a very nice kit, and you could do a lot with it. I shot this video quickly with my Canon VIXIA HF10, setting up the screen in my office where I didn't have a lot of room to back up and get a wider shot. I used Final Cut Express 4 to edit and eliminate the green. I used a few of the backgrounds that are included with the kit, and some other random footage I had on my camcorder from a local park. (I apologize for the foreground: I guess I could probably use a haircut).

Length:: 1:44 Mins

I made a really quick green screen at the end of the video review.

If you're new to how green screen works, it's actually really simple. All it is is extracting everything that's green in POST-production. The hardest part is getting the actual production done by having the correct lighting and setup (without shadows, etc), or else it just becomes a nightmare when you actually edit. You need the right tools to do it and this kit is a great arsenal to accomplish a proper green screen -- as long as if you have the space to do it.

The packaging/presentation is clearly targeted towards the average consumer instead of professionals. The box actually looks like I'm buying Guitar Hero (even the DVD menu reminded me of the game). Despite that, I feel this is still perfect for both beginners and semi-professionals. Basically anyone who wants to accomplish a green screen -- the proper, professional-like way.

I actually looked up how much each of these would cost if you were to buy it separate; the kit comes with:
(1) 9' by 10' wrinkle-free green screen (around $70)
(2) 7' Light stands (around $70 / $30 each)
(2) Light kit + soft box (around $200 / $100 each)
(2) EIKO Supreme Photoflood 500 watt, 120v, E26 Medium Screw, 3200 Kelvin incandescent bulbs (around $14 / $7 each) -- the weakest of the set, but it does the job.

So it really is a value. I was surprised how affordable this is, considering you get all these essential tools to accomplish really professional looking, proper green screen. I think what you have to consider the most is whether or not you have enough work space in your home to set this up.

It comes with 3 discs:
1. Adobe Premiere Elements 7 (just a 30-Day Trial)
2. Animated Backgrounds (just 10 in .avi and .mov format -- I used one of them for the video I uploaded on the review)
3. Educational (it lasts just 30 minutes; about 10 minutes covers how to set up the kit and tips; another 10 minutes showing how to simple edit in Adobe Elements & iMovie [requires a plugin]; the last 10 minutes show how easy it is that a group of kids ages 7-14 can do it on their own (I'm sure they had a LITTLE help, though). I wonder who the writers were? It was quite "LOL". It was actually interesting. I'm sure those kids will have a career in acting.)

The DVD covering the setup is presented by Vice President of Photo Basics, Kelly Mondora. She makes it easy to understand and does not go into too complicated in-depth, but she gives enough basic information and tips very clearly. (I wish she would have taught my digital effects course! No offense to my professor. I really could have used this kit then too!)

I really love how easy the collapsible soft boxes are to set up and put away; there's another light kit I've used before and it was so ridiculously hard to put those things together. Everything is easy to store away and portable.

Pros:
- Great for consumers and semi-pros (actually can look pretty professional); no matter what level you are, as long as if you have the passion to do it.
- Great value. Very affordable considering all the things you get.
- Portability - easy to put together and put away.
- DVD instruction is very clear and helpful. I wonder why I paid hundred of dollars to learn this in a college course, when I could have had a better basic knowledge, and most importantly, the actual TOOLS included for less.

Cons:
- The light gets the job done (incandescent light; just like your regular light bulbs in a home, but it's super bright at 500watts), but I'd say it's definitely the cheapest component of the kit. The lights are inexpensive but 60 hours lifespan is not that long. (Then again, this is a kit made for consumers, so I'm probably being harsh)
- The items smell like a shoe store.
- Doesn't come with anything to attach the green screen (the DVD recommends using 'wall hooks', so I wish they could have just included them, instead of using pins to put holes in my wall or tape.)
- A support system or a bag would have been really nice (I'd say that would make it more 'complete').

Whenever I really love a product, it usually deserves a 5 star. (In reality this product is probably more a 4 star being harsh) In the end, despite my pet peeve with the light bulb, I am really impressed with this kit considering it's more towards the main consumer target. I love it! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in doing a green screen. It will definitely make a great gift to anyone: whether you're a filmmaker or just want to impress your family to have fun.

For more control and advance users, I recommend learning Adobe After Effects and motion tracking to get more out of the green screen. It's really all up to your imagination.

As an all-in-one kit, the Photo Basics 402 on the surface appears to be all inclusive. In the box are two moderately powered soft boxes, some software, a few sample backgrounds, and an absolutely enormous green screen.

You can see some of the other reviewers' results in their video reviews on this page. There's no question this kit provides just about everything needed to do some decent green screen work. But there are some problems that I'd like to point out:

1. What appears to be a free standing flat green screen in the marketing photos is actually an enormous (and heavy) rolled up green blanket in the box. What's more, the manufacturer does not provide any hooks or other tools to aid hanging up the screen (at least my box doesn't have it). Expect to take some time to get it flush and static. Even small movements of air can move the screen enough to give some errors.

2. The only software included with the package is a sample version of Adobe Premiere Elements which will expire after thirty days. There is nothing for Mac users, although the current version of iMovie supports green screens.

The Photo Basics 402 kit succeeds in that everything in the box will work once you invest a little bit more to get a full version of the software and the screen stabilized. Still, a comparable setup with a better screen could be pieced together on Amazon for a comparable (or maybe even lower) price.

I suppose anyone who considers this kit wants the answers to the following two questions: does this kit do what it is supposed to do and does it have any potential for other applications? Since the components of this kit are well-described in other reviews, let me skip listing them and jump right in.

For the first point, I consider this kit to be totally adequate for its advertised purpose, which to me is beginner green-screen work. I find the quality of the bundled items good for the price, especially on the hardware side.

* The two lightstands are well-made for green-screen applications. They have absolutely no flex even at maximum height (can't say this for some economy lightstands) and they extend high enough for typical video productions to hide the shadows.
* The two 500W bulbs are certainly bright enough as your sole light source. They can get very hot, but any tungsten light at this rating has to be hot.
* The included green screen fabric is thick and so I expect it to remain wrinkle-free after many foldings. It also has a good size. (Keep in mind that one needs a much larger background for green-screen work because the subject has to stand a few feet in front, thus diminishing the effective size of the screen.)
* While I would love to have the diffusion panels on the two softboxes to be stretched tauter, at the typical green-screen distance we are considering, there can be no visible improvement to the evenness of light.
* Finally, there is an instruction DVD that has the green-screen technique laid out in a clear fashion, together with a very entry-level tutorial on how to post-process green-screen footage. The former is great and the latter is adequate. As a bonus, they also throw in a DVD that contains animated background so that you can start producing immediately.

Having that said, the pricing of this kit brings us to a curious point where one can get very good work out of the kit but one cannot grow out of the kit easily. In other words, I find that if I actually do anything in addition to beginner green-screen (which I think most of us are), then I would want to have bought the components separately. I would end up spending a bit more on each item, but I also get a much upgraded kit.

* First, the lightstands. I can hardly find any other use for the two in the kit. Their foot span is relatively small considering their folded length. In other words, they are tippy relative to their (lack of) portability. This is what I mean by not being able to grow out of it. If you do anything else at all, I think you have a better choice here. You can either get a more portable (folded smaller) lightstand, or you can get something significantly sturdier for other indoor applications that has a heavier load. Either route costs you a bit more, but you get much more use out of your stands.
* The same thing applies to the background also. The one included in the kit is really a large blanket with hook holes and you are supposed to use wall hooks to attach them to the wall. But you can gain portability by getting a collapsible one that can be leaned on the wall. This is great if you need to be on location. (A certain competitor has one that is slightly smaller in size.)
* The lights... the kit ships with two 500W bulbs and it can be desirable to replace them with much cooler fluorescent lamps. Westcott knew this and they actually make an adaptor Part #413 that allows you to use four CFLs instead of a 500W bulb. But once you factor the cost of the adaptor and the replacement CFLs into the equation, well, you have just spent the equivalent of a decent fluorescent kit if not more.

Bottomline: If you have a specific application and you want a kit to get the job done, this is recommendable and hence the five stars. In other cases, you will probably benefit by picking up the components individually. I should warp this up by noting that the Adobe Premiere Express included in the kit is the PC trial. In other words, be prepared to buy your own software.

Our experience with the Photo Basics 402 uLite Video Lighting Kit was glowing but not positive. As others have noted the instructional video references an old version of iMovie and setting up the green screen itself takes a bit of practice and patience. Once it is in place, and applying the basics from the video, one can start experimenting with visual effects and the green screen does perform as advertised.

But the big surprise here was that the light covers melted over the bulbs within 15 minutes of being set up. The acrid smell of melting plastic is an attention getter, and there is no hope of repairing these, so the lights in kit are already out of commission. For the record, I would have to say the this product's flaws overmatch its utility---at least ours did.

I recently purchased this lighting kit and while I was taking photographs the bracket that holds the light open broke. The whole thing folded up on the extremely hot bulb and started smoking. By the time I was able to get the light unplugged and pull the cover off the whole thing was melted together in a molten plastic mess. It filled the whole room (of children no less) with black smoke and smelled of burnt rubber. It was only the second time I used the light. I dont know how to return the product and I didnt even see the warrenty offer until it was already purchased (my bad). I guess I'm not too disapointed that I cant get the light replaced because I would be a nervous wreck every time I used it anyway. This kit is quite a bit more expensive then other products and it is basically worthless. It comes with some trial software and a worthless instructional video. It doesnt come with a stand and the screen is really big so it is a hassel to lug around. I did like the material the green screen is made of. It is similar to fleece so you cant see through it and is doesnt crease so wrinkles are not a problem. The screen does attract a lot of hair and fuzzies but that was an easy fix. The stand that holds the lights up folds up nicely but it is very top heavy and tipsy. In case you didnt figure this out from my earlier comment, the lights get extremely hot very quickly. They put out an uncomfortable amout of heat and with the stands being so flimsy I was constantly making sure no one walked around them. All in all I am sorry I purchased this item. I could have bought a cheaper kit and replaced the green screen for less than this kit costs. I am very disappointed and would not buy from this company again.

One of the bulbs did not work! Only eleven backgrounds to choose from on disk.
Seemed expensive compared to what I actually received. Worked fine after I replaced bulb at over $6.00.

I received the Photo Basics 402 uLite Video Lighting Kit from the Amazon Vine review program, and I thought this might be a great way to get started and experiment with green screen video work. And it performs just as advertised. The hardware is sturdy and solid... far better than I expected given the seemingly "beginner" audience it targets. Even if I decided not to do as much green screen work, the lighting fixtures would be excellent for straight photography. The green fabric background is huge, so you're not limited to a tiny area of movement (or no motion whatsoever). Assuming you already have your video camera (as that's not part of the kit), you're ready to go.

The instructional DVD is perfect for the beginner... easy to follow and gets you off to a quick start. The editing software is a 30 day trial, so figure on having to put out a bit of money if you happened to like what it had to offer. But at least you have something to get started with, and it works.

Overall, I found this combination hard to beat. I'm happy with what I've been able to do so far with it, and I look forward to branching out even further as time goes on. I may even get to the point of doing some YouTube instructional videos that don't look like I'm in my basement (which in fact is where I am)... :)

The light stands are you average not quite bottom of the barrel stands. I have a number of these for my photography gear and they hold up well.

The included softbox is on the smallish side, less air print than the footprint of the stand. However the included bulbs generate a ton of light, and the softbox cover does its job pretty well. Make sure you have adequate cooling in the room as they generate a LOT of heat!

The green screen is of very good quality, and truly wrinkle free. I have a perfect span on my fireplace where I was able to hook it to a couple nails and spread perfectly.

The educational videos is probably where this kit shines. They really do help you learn the art of green screen shooting.

If all the gear was bought separately, you could probably save some money. However getting everything in one kit is nice.

After getting this kit, I can produce much better video interviews than my local TV station. After going through the very clear and concise training CD for a total of an hour, I was able to produce professional videos. The software included in the kit allows for the creation of different backgrounds, I can create a video of myself in the Swiss Alps in a matter of minutes. It is important to have a large room where the green screen can be fully stretched so that it doesn't show wrinkles, because wrinkles cause image problems. The lights are not heavy and are easy to set up and store, the screen is from a wrinkle free material so the setup and clean up are quick and easy.

For someone who had no exposure to this industry and didn't know anything about video editing and lighting this was a nice quick intro to the subject. I really enjoyed the instruction material it was very easy to understand and follow. I highly recommend this product to anyone who has an interest in creating and editing videos.