Last Updated 2 days ago
Overview
The Kino Flo 2ft 4Bank is a four-lamp fluorescent softlight for tight interview locations, small rooms, fill and low-profile lighting near set dressing. It retains the remote-ballast and removable-harness approach of the larger 4Bank, but its shorter body is easier to place where a four-foot fixture is physically awkward.
This guide covers the two-foot fluorescent system, not a four-foot head folded into a case description or a Kino shell converted to LED. The installed tubes, harness, ballast revision and 4ft/2ft selector position are essential details; they influence current draw, colour and output.
Key specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Historical / later fixture codes | CFX-2404 in the original catalogue; CFX-244 in later documentation |
| Lamp complement | Four F40/T12 two-foot fluorescent lamps |
| Lamp colour examples | 242-K32-S / KF32 and 242-K55-S / KF55, matched sets |
| Dimensions | 27 × 13 × 3½ inches with 6½-inch barn doors, archival specification |
| Mass with lamps | 7½ lb / 3.4 kg, excluding the separate ballast and complete kit |
| Mount | Twist-lock centre plate; exact grip pin or baby receiver depends on supplied mount |
| Extension family | 4Bank X16 cable and compatible harness |
| Documented remote run | Up to 75 ft with the specified extensions |
| Older Select/Ve example | 120 V; F40 input-current figure 3.1 A in the original catalogue |
| Later BAL-427 universal example | 100–240 V input; F40 figures 2.5 A at 120 V / 1.3 A at 230 V in the 2017 manual |
| Normal lamp-length setting | 2ft; the manual advises against operating two-foot lamps in 4ft mode |
| Control | Individual lamp switching; a DMX ballast is required for the corresponding remote control |
| Softening / spill accessories | Two-foot Flozier and correct louver; keep airflow open |
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- A bank of fluorescent tubes provides a broad close source.
- The established modifier and mounting system supports fast setup.
Limitations
- Lamp type, age and ballast configuration affect colour and output.
- Inspect older connectors, lamp holders and ballast cabling before use.
Practical uses
The shorter 4Bank can sit beside a camera, work near a doorway or fit a compact interview setup without the projection of a four-foot head. Close placement can still produce a useful soft quality. At the same subject distance, however, the shorter source does not have the same long-axis wrap or reflection shape as its larger sibling.
It is useful for a controlled fill, a soft edge in a cramped room or a background lift where a larger panel would be intrusive. Judge the entire lit surface and spill, rather than assuming four lamps guarantee a specific softness. Moving the fixture changes apparent source size, level and falloff together.
Kino’s operating manual specifies 2ft mode for two-foot lamps. It specifically warns that running those lamps in 4ft mode raises colour temperature dramatically and creates a strong green spike. The selector is therefore not a free extra-output switch for this fixture.
If the light looks greener than expected, check tube identity, selector position, operating temperature and airflow before adding corrective gel. A new lamp cannot correct the wrong ballast setting. Match tube colour and condition across all four positions, and meter or camera-test the assembled light after it has reached a stable operating condition.
| Setup | Working approach |
|---|---|
| Close interview key | Set lamp arrangement and diffusion, then check white balance through the camera. |
| Reflection or fill | Orient the bank for the required highlight and control spill with the correct louver. |
Output and colour
The original Kino Flo catalogue publishes the following two-foot, four-lamp readings. They describe that catalogue’s fluorescent configuration, not an LED-retrofitted shell or a guarantee for every later ballast generation. Lamp condition, operating temperature, louver, diffusion and ballast selection can change the delivered level.
| Distance | Centre illuminance |
|---|---|
| 4 ft / 1.22 m | 65 fc |
| 6 ft / 1.83 m | 29 fc |
| 8 ft / 2.44 m | 17 fc |
| 10 ft / 3.05 m | 11 fc |
Power and batteries
The archival Select/Ve table gives 3.1 A at 120 V for its F40 configuration. The later BAL-427 universal table gives 2.5 A at 120 V and 1.3 A at 230 V. Keep those figures attached to their documented ballasts. A rental described only as ‘2ft 4Bank’ does not tell you which input rating applies.
Later universal ballasts accept 100–240 V; older Select units can be voltage-specific. Check the label and compatible cable/harness system. Do not assume total input power is simply four times an ordinary tube’s printed wattage, or use a household fluorescent ballast because the tubes look familiar. The Kino system’s drive characteristics are part of its performance.
Control, cooling and camera operation
Lamp switching gives stepped output reduction without the intentional warming associated with dimming a tungsten filament. It also changes which parts of the front surface emit light. If the reflection or shadow pattern matters, check the result after switching lamps rather than considering only a meter reading.
A Select/DMX package adds the control functions of that ballast; an ordinary head does not contain an LED-style dimmer or CCT engine. Do not dim the mains with an SCR dimmer. The manufacturer’s manual calls for a non-dim supply, and a DMX console should address a compatible DMX ballast according to its own chart.
Inspect tube clips, harness connectors, shell hinges, reflector, louver, centre mount and cable locking rings. Test all four lamp channels and look for slow starting, dark tube ends, mismatched colour or intermittent connectors. Have damaged wiring and ballasts serviced; buying a bare shell without the right ballast and mount may not be a bargain.
High-frequency ballast operation helps normal filming, but test unusual shutter angles and high frame rates using the actual assembled system. Protect tubes in transport and follow the lamp manufacturer’s handling and recycling guidance. A shell retrofitted with LED tubes needs the retrofit’s own electrical instructions and should not retain these fluorescent output figures.
Modifiers, rigging and the working package
The twist-lock mounting plate must seat and lock positively. The historical 7½ lb figure includes lamps, not the entire case, ballast and cable package. Choose support for the complete working assembly, relieve cable pull and use the provided secondary-suspension points as instructed for a hung fixture.
A Flozier can soften the visible tube pattern, while the louver limits spill. Extra diffusion costs light and can alter the practical source shape. Kino warns against restricting airflow around the lamps or closing the ends. Keep gels in the instructed position, switch off the ballast before changing connections and use only the documented extension arrangement up to its stated limit.
Alternatives and related fixtures
The four-foot 4Bank has more output and a longer source, while the two-foot Double is slimmer and lighter with fewer lamps. A modern LED panel can simplify colour matching and continuous dimming. The 2ft 4Bank makes sense when its compact shape and an existing healthy fluorescent package suit the job, particularly if replacement tubes and service support are confirmed before purchase.
| Fixture | Choose it for |
|---|---|
| Kino Flo FreeStyle LED | A separate LED engine and controller system. |
| Kino Flo Diva-Lite LED | An LED alternative with different colour modes and power hardware. |
What people are saying
Kino Flo: assembling and controlling a fluorescent bank
Kino Flo’s 4Bank guide demonstrates assembly, lamp switching, removable louvers and reflector handling. It is useful system context; Double and two-foot packages require their own ballast and lamp specifications. View the source.
Videos
Kino Flo 2ft 4Bank (Fluorescent): family guide
Manufacturer 4ft 4Bank assembly guide; do not substitute its ballast or lamp count for a Double system.
Rental and used-fixture checks
Check the exact model and revision, complete power package, mounting hardware and control leads. Inspect lamp holders, protective glass and ballast connections. Test the intended operating level, fade and camera settings before rigging.
Documentation and specifications
Manufacturer operating manual, original manufacturer catalogue with photometrics, Kino Flo manual archive and photograph and rental-inventory source. Current lamp and service-part availability should be confirmed for the exact unit. Later-generation electrical figures are from the 2017 universal 4Bank/Double/Single manual.
Product photograph: Product image via Sanwa Group.
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