I'm going to be grabbing up some RGB tube lights soon to add to my kit. I've only ever used 4' tubes but I've seen some comments on B&H from users that wished they'd purchased 2' tubes instead of 4' ones, just due to ease of travel and being able to stick them into more spaces. I could see that being a nice benefit. Anyone else prefer the 2' tubes over the 4' ones? Any major reasons 4' tubes are worth it over the shorter models?
2' Tubes vs 4' Tubes - (Quasar, Titan, Pavo, etc).
- Thread starter robotfist
- Start date
Run&Gun
Veteran
Depends on what your primary use for them will be. I have eight 4' QS tubes, because I wanted to be able to use them as practicals in the background/for set design. But I have used them for key and hair for interviews, as well. I also have a bunch of egg crates to control them when using them for key and hair lights. That being said, a few 2' tubes in the mix would be good to have.
If you have the money, I'd seriously consider the Astera's. I REALLY like their stuff. I mean REALLY. I have a full set of the AX-3 LightDrops(8 in a charging case) and just added several of their bigger AX-5's and I am gonna add more(building out a charging case, myself with their charging plate). I wish I could sell my Quasar tubes for what I bought them for and put that towards a set of Astera Titan's. I don't use the Quasar's nearly as much as I thought I would, because they're kind of janky to use with their little power cable and outboard 3rd party off-the-shelf dimmers. Nowhere near as easy, svelte or streamlined as the Astera system. Astera is the "Apple" of self-contained, battery powered, remote wireless lighting. They make the likes of Litepanels and Hive wireless control systems feel like Windows 95.
If you have the money, I'd seriously consider the Astera's. I REALLY like their stuff. I mean REALLY. I have a full set of the AX-3 LightDrops(8 in a charging case) and just added several of their bigger AX-5's and I am gonna add more(building out a charging case, myself with their charging plate). I wish I could sell my Quasar tubes for what I bought them for and put that towards a set of Astera Titan's. I don't use the Quasar's nearly as much as I thought I would, because they're kind of janky to use with their little power cable and outboard 3rd party off-the-shelf dimmers. Nowhere near as easy, svelte or streamlined as the Astera system. Astera is the "Apple" of self-contained, battery powered, remote wireless lighting. They make the likes of Litepanels and Hive wireless control systems feel like Windows 95.
Yeah, I'm mostly interested in using them for hiding places, and not to be actually seen out in the background. It seems like anything you can do with a 4' you could do with a 2' in those regards. And a 2' can fit in cars and just tuck away into more places.
I've noticed that a lot of music videos just mount 4' RGB tubes vertically in the background of all their shots as part of the set design. I liked that look at first, but then I started to see it everywhere. Part of me wonders if in a few years we're going to look back and laugh at all the LED RGB tubes seen in the backgrounds of all these music videos. It kind of reminds me of when log footage first showed up, and we started to see all these ungraded spots and super low contrast music videos all over the place.
I've only got the budget to invest in 4 tubes right now. But I'm pretty sure I want to keep them all the same size so they can each be swapped out on set if their batteries die. Just trying to decide on which size to invest in. I guess one advantage of the 4' is that you can give your subject more room too move around and still stay in the light. And I like that the 4' tubes can be built into a square ring light around the camera, which is cool.
I've noticed that a lot of music videos just mount 4' RGB tubes vertically in the background of all their shots as part of the set design. I liked that look at first, but then I started to see it everywhere. Part of me wonders if in a few years we're going to look back and laugh at all the LED RGB tubes seen in the backgrounds of all these music videos. It kind of reminds me of when log footage first showed up, and we started to see all these ungraded spots and super low contrast music videos all over the place.
I've only got the budget to invest in 4 tubes right now. But I'm pretty sure I want to keep them all the same size so they can each be swapped out on set if their batteries die. Just trying to decide on which size to invest in. I guess one advantage of the 4' is that you can give your subject more room too move around and still stay in the light. And I like that the 4' tubes can be built into a square ring light around the camera, which is cool.
Run&Gun
Veteran
Yeah, hiding them would definitely be easier with the smaller tubes(depending). And yes, they have kind of become cliché. We used them as part of "the set" several years ago for some interviews in a plain hotel conference room, before they started showing up in the background of everything. And I have a client with some RGB tubes that wanted them used as a major part of the "set deign" a few months ago, but that was only about the second time that I've used them that way.
Something else to think about: egg crates. They really make them a lot more versatile, because they become a lot more controllable and they're not just like throwing light everywhere like a fire hose.
Something else to think about: egg crates. They really make them a lot more versatile, because they become a lot more controllable and they're not just like throwing light everywhere like a fire hose.
Run&Gun
Veteran
I guess that depends a lot on which tubes you buy. A Honeycrate that fits an Astera Titan is $189 and an Astera Titan is $850, so that’s only about 22% of the cost of the tube. The old Quasar 4’ Crossfades were like $275(now $200), so in that case the grid was/is literally almost as much(69% & 95%). Grids have always been expensive. If you really wanna make your eyes water, start pricing tighter patterned grids(below 40-50 degrees). It’s gets painful quickly.
BTW: I have the HoneyCrates for half of my Quasars. They have barn doors for them, now, too. Well, they call them ‘brows’. And “covers” that Velcro on and can be rolled to length to cover/flag the tube. Lots of control options today.
BTW: I have the HoneyCrates for half of my Quasars. They have barn doors for them, now, too. Well, they call them ‘brows’. And “covers” that Velcro on and can be rolled to length to cover/flag the tube. Lots of control options today.
rob norton
Veteran
I still need to add grids to:
2x 6x frames
2x 8x frames
2x 12x frames
Will either be canvas grip, trp, DoP choice or honeycrates
Run&Gun
Veteran
Ouch, Rob. That's almost $8K US in grids(HoneyCrates). But... It's all about the light.
rob norton
Veteran
Haha I know. I'll only add as needed and run the gauntlet timing the order to come in the day before a shoot (or morning of). I'll need a separate vehicle just for all of the grids/cases.
Kurt Riddell
New member
I have just received 2 2' helios tubes today. I bought them to be apart of my small personal kit for travel and when I am not getting a gaffer. I have hired the large 4' 8 titan light kit on multiple occasions to only remove 1 or 2 of the lights. Anyone who has moved that case will know how much of a pain in the arse it is! I often find the 4' too long but I have also run all 8 in a line along a wall so it really depends on the situation. My thought process was I can always add more tubes and link them up but I can't cut them in half. I'll most likely get another 2 2' and the soft case. It definitely won't replace the big boys but will work nicely with them.