Dichroic vs Daylight

D

Droog

Well-known member
I am a little confused on what the difference is between dichroic and daylight. Is there really a difference. We have some dicroic filters for our 2ks and some of our Mole Fays are dicroic, but could'nt you use a blue daylight filter/gel for the same effect? Is it just tow different ways of achieving the same color temp?

Thanks!
 
The color temperature is about the same, but dichroics (at least the older ones made for Mole Mickeys and 2ks) are heat absorbing glass with IR filtering as well. Probably why they were so expensive. They also fade more slowly over time than even high temp gels.
Hope this helps.
Ken
the Screen Skins guy
 
Helps a lot, thanks guys. Now that I think about it, most of the dichroic stuff I see relates to the Mole Richardson stuff.
 
>are heat absorbing glass

Not really. Actually dichroics reflect IR back to the fixture. They do not get as hot as gels as a result. They also create a more perfect spectrum of desired light meaning more transmission of what you want and more efficiently. And they do not fade like gels so you get your moneys worth from them.
 
Walter,
In addition to the dichroic layer with it's IR benefits, the glass itself is what we (and the guys at Mole) used to call high temp.
Kind of like Pyrex, it was touted to withstand/dissipate heat better than "regular " glass.
I recall that over time, the coating can "wear away"..handling, rubbing off dust, etc, and the overall color temp drops. This was especially apparent on the old 16mm ECO and EF stocks used at the time (late 60's/early 70's). Most of us with Mickey and Mighty Mole kits kept sheets of Tough Booster Blue (Roscolux?) around for those occasions.
Although I sold off my camera and lighting package over a decade ago, I still have a couple of near new Mickey sized dichroics stored away, maybe time to pull 'em out and see what that color temp really is.

Kind regards,
Ken
 
It's also my understanding that a dichro filter lets more light through than a full CTB gel. Like as much as a stop more light.

fn
 
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