In this episode of Focus Check, host Johnnie sits down with Marko Pirc, founder of LIT Systems and the creator of the LIT DUO 1 light meter. It is a rare, candid conversation about what it really takes to build a professional hardware product from scratch in Europe: the failures, the crowdfunding mechanics, the supply chain reality, and the product decisions that led to one of the most distinctive instruments the cinema lighting world has seen in years.
Read more: https://www.cined.com/building-the-lit-duo-1-from-physics-to-light-meters-kickstarter-strategy-building-in-europe-focus-check-ep112/
Sponsor of this episode is NANLITE. Check out the section at 31:55
First off: We are aware this is an unusual week to publish an "evergreen epsiode", given the huge amount of news coming out ahead of NAB. Truth is that we are about to fly out to Vegas, and with some of the team out (shooting / paternity leave), we couldn't produce a news episode this week. But that means that next week - Focus Check from NAB - will be even more interesting! Nevertheless, this episode with Marko Pirc, the maker of the LIT DUO 1 light meter, ROCKS. So give it a watch/listen, and let us know below what you think!
Chapters in this Episode:
(00:00) Introduction & Meet Marko Pirc
(01:15) Growing up in Slovenia – RC models, rockets & a glider license at 16
(04:10) Background and studies
(08:35) First business – underwater light shaping for world championship photography
(15:07) The Sekonic article that sparked the Lumo light meter
(18:10) Lit Flash, patents & landing at Profoto in Stockholm
(20:24) Kickstarter reality – building the audience before the launch
(35:07) Building the LIT DUO 1 – from 5 am sketches to Kickstarter success
(42:57) What is a light meter, and why should you use one?
(42:57) The LIT DUO 1 – design, flicker measurement & 0.03% fault rate
(01:01:08) Selling points and who is it for
(01:08:37) Manufacturing in Europe & supply chain pressures in 2025
(01:11:42) What's next – firmware 2.1, third-party app collaboration & games
Have feedback on this episode? Email us at podcast@cined.com or leave a comment below. Subscribe to the CineD newsletter and the monthly Database Update newsletter to stay in the loop.
