Starlite Kit vs. Westcott® Spiderlite Kit

Starlite™ vs. Spiderlite™

As we look at these kits, we will start with the light source, the Starlite and the Spiderlite. They are both 1000-watt, continuous, 3200-degree Kelvin light sources, they are both designed for use in still and video production and work very well with digital and film applications.

This where the similarities end. The Spiderlite features an integrated light and connector assembly which may seem convenient on the surface, but it does not allow for easy, quick changes of the soft box. Only rectangular soft boxes can be used with the Spiderlite.

The Starlite comes with a separate connector assembly that accepts both 4 and 8 rods, so you can use rectangular and octagonal soft boxes. In addition, because the connector is removable, you can easily and quickly change the light modifier without waiting for the lamp to cool.

Figure 1 shows the Spiderlite and figure 2 shows the Starlite.

The power connection on the Spiderlite is hard-wired into the unit (figure 3). This does not allow for easy disconnection from the power source at the head.

It is highly recommended that the power be disconnected when you change out the lamp or replace the soft box on the light head. To safely accomplish this with the Spiderlite, you must unplug at the wall power outlet or take the risk and leave the light head plugged in. The danger of this will become apparent later in this comparison.

On the other hand the Starlite has a removable power cord (figure 4) making lamp changing and soft box replacement very safe and easy. And because this part can be coiled and packed separately, the Starlite stores compactly.

The placement of the switch on the Spiderlite's power cord is much too close to the light head (figure 5). While this is convenient when the light is in low working setups, when you raise the light up high you must then lower the light to switch it off or climb a ladder.

The Starlite on the other hand places the switch about at the mid point on the power cord making access to the switch much more convenient whether the light is set low or high.

Both the Spiderlite and the Starlite have the ability to rotate the soft box independently from the light head. The drawback on the Spiderlite is that this rotation is not a full 360 degrees due to the placement of the control handle on the back of the light (figures 6 and 7).

The Starlite's connector can independently rotate the soft box in any position with no restrictions (figure 8).

Here we see the unrestricted rotation of the Starlite connector.

Connecting the Spiderlite to the stand can be difficult because the riser to attach the light to the stand is made of three separate parts that first must be assembled and could easily be lost rendering the light useless (figures 9 and 10).

The Starlite has an integrated swivel that easily slides into the channels on the light head and locks down with a set knob securing the head and the swivel together (figures 11 and 12). This design also allows for precise positioning of the light on the swivel.

Internal heat build-up can be a problem when shooting with hot lights and soft boxes. Heat accumulation can make a portrait session quite uncomfortable for the subject. Some still life or product shoots, such as shooting closely with foods, can be troublesome due to a light source that is too hot.

The Spiderlite's massive metal head is not vented to allow heat to escape. The overall design of the Spiderlite head and close-fitting soft box assembly traps heat inside the soft box.

The Starlite QL features a cooling channel for heat venting and an outer shell with a large surface area for efficient heat dissipation (figure 13).

The Starlite connector also has venting holes to provide even more heat venting.

Perhaps the biggest point of concern of the Spiderlite is the how the lamp connects to the head, when the lamp is installed, a section of the lamp base is exposed and live when the lamp is on (figure 14).

The base of the Starlite lamp is recessed in its protective custom socket, greatly decreasing any shock potential.

When Photoflex was developing the Starlite, the risk of an exposed live lamp base was apparent to the designers and steps were taken to protect the users by designing a custom socket for the Starlite that completely covered the lamp base removing any potential risks to the users (figure 15).

SilverDome vs. Silver Soft Box

In this section, we compare the Medium SilverDome and the Silver Soft Box. The size and the method of light diffusion are the same for both of these products: each has a removable primary baffle and front diffusion face and are both 24” X 32” in size. This is where the similarities end for these products.

The beginning of Silver Soft Box assembly is much more difficult than the SilverDome. Although the cutout on the Spiderlite helps some, you must follow the correct pattern in installing the rods into the head for this to work well.

On the other hand, the SilverDome has the patented QRCs (Quick Release Corners). This is a Velcro® strip sewn to each of the front corners of the SilverDome. When the QRCs are released the rods are allowed to extend out past the corner of the soft box, relieving the pressure on the rods and making assembly of the box much easier. Once you have inserted the rods into the connector, simply close up the QRCs and you're ready to install the box onto the Starlite.

Here we see the cutout on the Spiderlite connector plate. For this to help you at all you must install the rod into this receiver last (figure 16).

Here we see the QRCs open and closed (figures 17 and 18). When open, the QRC relieves the tension on the rods and makes assembly of the box very simple. Once you have the rods installed into the connector, simply close up the QRCs and you’re ready to mount the box onto the Starlite.

Now, let’s look at how the soft boxes vent the heat created by the quartz lamps. This is an important issue as it relates to the life of both the lamps and the soft box.

While the Silver Soft Box seals quite well around the Spiderlite head and allows for very little light leak, it also seals in the heat, bringing the seam tape used on the edges of the soft box into contact with the very hot surface of the Spiderlite (figures 19 and 20). Unlike the material used to construct the soft box, the seam tape is not heat resistant and will scorch and turn brown in short order.

To help combat this heat retention, the Silver Soft Box has two heat vents cut into the short sides of the soft box panels with Velcro tabs to keep it closed. The designers omitted a second tab near each flap to keep the vent flat open.

Because there are only two heat vents on this four-sided box, the orientation of the soft box can impede air flow used to cool the interior of the box (figures 21 and 22). While heat can escape through these vents when the box is used in the vertical position, when you rotate the box to the horizontal position the heat is still trapped in the box.

When the SilverDome was in its design phase, heat venting and construction materials were issues foremost in the minds of the designers. This led to the development of a special patented fabric called Brimstone, allowing very high heat tolerances while performing to the highest standards possible.

Venting issues are solved with an overlapping seal design that seals in the ambient light while allowing air flow. Heat vents on each of the four panels on the soft box can be fully opened with a Velcro tab or tenting to allow air flow while blocking ambient light escape (figure 23).

These designs, coupled with the Brimstone fabric, give the Medium SilverDome a wattage rating of 2000 watts, compared with 1000 watts for the Silver Soft Box.

Here we see the vents in the fully opened position and in the tenting position (figures 24 and 25). Air can flow through the box regardless of its set position.

2218 LiteStand vs. 10’ Heavy-Duty Light Stand

Our final kit component comparison is the light stand included in each lighting kit. Each stand is about 10 feet in height and is constructed in four sections.

Again, this where the similarities end.

The light stand included in the Spiderlite kit is finished in a dull gray that is light enough in color that it will reflect in your shots. Also, the connecting devices holding the stand together are made of plastic and the legs and cross members are under-sized for the height of the stand (figure 26).

What this means is, while the stand is adequate for most uses at low heights, the stand's stability comes into question when it is raised to heights over six feet, especially when the weight is pushing the max limit rating of 6-8 pounds.

The 2218 LiteStand included with the medium Starlite kit is a 10’ 6” stand with a black anodized finish that will not reflect into your shots. All the connections and construction materials are made of aluminum (figure 27).

The legs and the cross members are made of oversized aluminum and give the 2218 solid stability at any height and a maximum weight rating of 12 pounds (figure 28).

Also included in the Starlite kit are a set of 22mm casters that easily attach to the legs of the 2218 and make moving the stand around the studio a breeze (figure 29).

The Spiderlite kit does not come with casters.

The medium Starlite Kit also comes with the Dome Accessory Kit comprised of Louvers for directional control of light, a Circlemask for shaping light output, and a Stripmask for narrowing light output (figure 30). Each mask is easily attached with sewn-on Velcro® fasteners.

The Kits Compared:

Now that we have looked at the each of the components of the two kits, let's look at each of the complete kits them selves.

First up is the Spiderlite Kit (figure 31). Included in the kit:

• Spiderlite head
• one lamp (500 or 1000 watts, your choice)
• Silver Soft Box 32” X 24”
• 10' light stand
• power cord.

As we mentioned in the comparisons above, the components of the Spiderlite are quite adequate and should work well for several years.

Some of the things we liked about the Spiderlite were that the cutout on the light head did make mounting the soft box easier if you use the proper sequence when installing the rods. The light output from the soft box was clean and even and performed well on the subjects we shot.

Some of things that disappointed us were that changing out the box or replacing the bulb is difficult and requires some time to allow the unit to cool. The lack of proper venting and the overall construction of the soft box seemed sloppy, seams were mismatched and the box did not seem to fit well when it was set up. The head to the stand connection is weak and restricts the freedom of movement of the light and you cannot rotate the box a full 360 degrees.

Included in the Medium Starlite Kit (figure 32):

• Starlite QL light head
• Starlite swivel and handle
• 12’ power cord
• Two 1000-watt lamps
• Medium SilverDome soft box
• 2218 Litestand (10’6”)
• Starlite connector (fits 4 or 8 rod boxes)
• Set of 22mm casters
• Medium Dome Accessory Kit (includes a strip mask, a circle mask and louvers).

• Three years / Starlite QL light head, Starlite connector, Starlite Swivel Mount, and Casters
• Five years / LiteStand 2218 (LS-B2218)
• 5 years / SilverDome soft box

The medium Starlite Kit is a professional lighting kit and it shows. Photoflex has included all the basic and advanced accessories within the kit. The price point may be higher, but once you buy all these included accessories for the Spiderlite, you will have spent a lot more.

The fact that the Photoflex products are designed and built by photographers really shows in all their products. The company motto “We won’t sell anything we would not use ourselves” is a great comfort to pros and hobbyist alike and sets Photoflex apart from the crowd.