LED tube system with passive cooling, CRI 95+, TLCI 98+ and electronic color temperature adjustment (2700–6500K) for classic Kino Flo fixtures.
The Kino Flo Select system is an LED-based evolution of the classic True Match fluorescent tubes. It combines passive cooling (fanless), high color accuracy, and compatibility with existing Kino Flo fixtures. The tubes emulate the characteristic, soft light of the original Kino Flo system with modern LED efficiency and electronic color control.
Kino Flo revolutionized film lighting in 1987 with its first fluorescent tube fixtures, establishing soft, shadowless light as a standard. The Select series marks the transition to LED technology, following the increasing discontinuation of fluorescent tubes. Development of the Select tubes began in 2018 to translate the proven light qualities of True Match tubes into LED form. The system expanded in 2021 with RGB variants and in 2022 with special high-output versions for large productions.
The Select system is primarily used as fill light and for beauty lighting. Its even light distribution is particularly suitable for portraits and interviews, as it creates natural skin tones without harsh shadows. In "The Queen's Gambit" (2020), cinematographer Steven Meizler used Select tubes for consistent facial lighting in the chess scenes. The system facilitates color matching between different light sources, as the color temperature can be adjusted electronically. Green screen productions benefit from precise color rendering and the ability to digitally correct color shifts.
Compared to the original True Match fluorescent tubes, Select offers higher energy efficiency and electronic color control, but does not quite match their maximum light output. ARRI SkyPanel and Litepanels Gemini represent more direct competition, but have different beam characteristics. While SkyPanels soften spot-like light with softboxes, Select inherently produces diffuse light. For budget productions, Quasar Science Q-LEDs serve as an alternative, but they exhibit lower color accuracy. The Select system scores points for its compatibility with existing Kino Flo fixtures, thereby reducing investment costs for existing equipment inventories.
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Ich schätze am Select-System die konsistente Farbwiedergabe und die Möglichkeit, die Farbtemperatur elektronisch zu matchen, ohne ND- oder CTO-Filter verwenden zu müssen. Das flimmerfreie Licht erlaubt mir höhere Frameraten und die passive Kühlung stört nie den Ton, was besonders bei intimen Szenen entscheidend ist.
Das weiche, natürliche Licht der Select-Tubes hilft mir, Charaktere sympathischer und zugänglicher wirken zu lassen, ohne die künstliche Härte traditioneller LED-Panels. Die stufenlose Dimmbarkeit ermöglicht es mir, die Lichtintensität während des Takes anzupassen und so emotionale Bögen zu verstärken, ohne zwischen verschiedenen Takes die Setup-Zeit für Filteranpassungen zu verschwenden.
Die Select-Tubes reduzieren Stromkosten um etwa 60% gegenüber Leuchtstoffröhren und die längere Lebensdauer von 50.000 Stunden eliminiert den ständigen Röhrenaustausch. Da sie in bestehende Kino Flo-Fixtures passen, kann ich vorhandene Ausrüstung weiternutzen und spare Investitionskosten, während die DMX-Steuerung weniger Beleuchtungspersonal erfordert.
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