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"What about lights? I love my Alzo HMI here. Just $182 complete with a 150-watt lamp that’s the equivalent to a normal 800 watt and balanced for daylight at 5200ºK. I use it on location or for shooting inside daylight-lit rooms."

Read the full article on Stefan's web site.

Pros: quality of light, easy balance with other sources, low intensity for shallow depth of field

Cons: reliability of electronic ballasts, time between switch off and restart

Best Uses: fashion + art based projects

Describe Yourself: Professional Videographer

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

HMI has always been a favored light source.
HMI has traditionally been very expensive to buy or rent.
Alzo has solved that problem. I use three converted Mole-Richardson Fresnels and a Chinese lantern (literally)
and can mix with daylight or Kino. The control of the sources and the quality of the light as well as ease of balancing the intensity make these ideal for photography + film. I am very happy that an inexpensive HMI source is available.

Pros: Adaptable to any practical, many bulb options, easy setup

Cons: Not dimmable, the ballast needs to be situated close to the bulb

Best Uses: On set broad source fill lighting thru diffuser or softbox

Describe Yourself: Semi-Pro Videographer

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I am a gaffer always stuck with changing practicals (like china balls and chimeras) on the fly to daylight from Tungsten CT. This kit provides the solution making it the most used light in the set.

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