Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
I recently bought a 6 light Flo Light Biax unit - FL330W I think. I always thought Divas were a little small and too hard a source for a good key so i wanted something larger hence a 6 light unit. The Flo-light has barndors and when about 45 degrees out they are a perfect match for a small chimera front. So I put some velcro on the edges of the doors and that emulated the softness of a small Chimera beautifully and quickly.
Then I got wacky and remembered seeing some flourescents with mirror barndoors so I experimented by placing silver reflective cards on the inside of the bardoors so they reflected the biax tubes inside - Yow! almost doubled the light output and because the reflected the source in the doors they made for a larger, softer more even light source. The output was now rivaling a Parabeam without diffusion.
One more dose of insanity: I cut larger pieces of reflective card so the doors were now extending to almost 40x30 and I covered that with 1/2 and quarter grid etc. The output went up even more and the softness also increased. With a 1/2 grid front I am getting 160 FC of tungstun at 6', and its quite soft. All on one stand, lightweight and very portable. Similar output to a flathead 8- with no diffusion! ( at least that's what pocket LD says. Because of the reflecting doors it is larger, softer and brighter than just going into a 4x4.
The Flo-light uses Osram bulbs and I was surprised to find their Daylight bulb was almost a stop brighter than their tungstun and likewise almost a stop brighter than the Kino flo version. Not quite as color true as the Diva so I've had to add 1/8 magenta to the light in many situations but not always especially in flourscent environments. The color of the bulbs hasn't bothered me at all (just carry fractional green & magenta) and they stay truer while dimming than a Diva I tested.
I'm totally flipped over the quality I'm getting for a light that cost me only about $700 including dayight & tungstun bulbs. Its funky for sure, but incredibly functional - especially when I need a blue key and don't have HMI's around.
The downside is they are flimsily made and I went through 2 units before finding one trouble free. Also Flo light doesn't make a case for it and that sucks big time. Couldn't find anything premade in that size so I am having a "strap & buckle" custom made case that will end up costing $2-300. May not be good for flying though. So, total cost will be about a grand. I got my light on an introductory discount 15% off @ 4th St studios in San Francisco:
http://www.4thststudios.com/
Mel has been great with support.
Then I got wacky and remembered seeing some flourescents with mirror barndoors so I experimented by placing silver reflective cards on the inside of the bardoors so they reflected the biax tubes inside - Yow! almost doubled the light output and because the reflected the source in the doors they made for a larger, softer more even light source. The output was now rivaling a Parabeam without diffusion.
One more dose of insanity: I cut larger pieces of reflective card so the doors were now extending to almost 40x30 and I covered that with 1/2 and quarter grid etc. The output went up even more and the softness also increased. With a 1/2 grid front I am getting 160 FC of tungstun at 6', and its quite soft. All on one stand, lightweight and very portable. Similar output to a flathead 8- with no diffusion! ( at least that's what pocket LD says. Because of the reflecting doors it is larger, softer and brighter than just going into a 4x4.
The Flo-light uses Osram bulbs and I was surprised to find their Daylight bulb was almost a stop brighter than their tungstun and likewise almost a stop brighter than the Kino flo version. Not quite as color true as the Diva so I've had to add 1/8 magenta to the light in many situations but not always especially in flourscent environments. The color of the bulbs hasn't bothered me at all (just carry fractional green & magenta) and they stay truer while dimming than a Diva I tested.
I'm totally flipped over the quality I'm getting for a light that cost me only about $700 including dayight & tungstun bulbs. Its funky for sure, but incredibly functional - especially when I need a blue key and don't have HMI's around.
The downside is they are flimsily made and I went through 2 units before finding one trouble free. Also Flo light doesn't make a case for it and that sucks big time. Couldn't find anything premade in that size so I am having a "strap & buckle" custom made case that will end up costing $2-300. May not be good for flying though. So, total cost will be about a grand. I got my light on an introductory discount 15% off @ 4th St studios in San Francisco:
http://www.4thststudios.com/
Mel has been great with support.
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I'll give your setup a go, sounds interesting.