Light Recommendation for lights beams over distance?

Gohanto

Gohanto

Veteran
Recently I bought some "Haze in a Can" which I like, but I ran into a problem with it. Up close to the light fixture, I can easily see the defined beam. However any more than a few feet away and the effect is basically lost.

I've read some recommendation of PAR lights, but I don't really know much about them or what to get (how are they differenent than LEKO stage lights?). The exact effect I need is the light at the top of the stairs, camera in the room at the bottom of the stairs, and seeing the streams of light on the stairs in the haze. To get some more texture to the beam I've tried using a cookie, but that hasn't helped much as it needs to be somewhat close to the light so it's not visible on the stairs (where the camera could see it).

Renting isn't an option as I live in the middle of nowhere.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
Sorry to be the one to tell you, but I would totally want to use an ellipsoidal for that, although I come from a stage background, too, and most others here would probably use some sort of fresnel. If you have a par fixture, you can use a spot lamp but you're not going to get the same kind of throw you would with a lensed fixture. I wouldn't try it with less than a PAR64 500w. PARs are not even at all... very very sloppy light.
 
Actually some high wattage HMI pars are quite good at putting out a strong beam. Of course this will be a more expensive option too. Anyway, that's why they usually come with a set of extra lenses to "tame" that beam and turn it into something more usable for most of what we do with lighting. This is because most of the time, you won't want a beam so the raw output of a high wattage HMI par would be too strong without the wide, narrow or diffused type lenses. My guess is that any instrument like the previously-mentioned ellipsoidal, that falls into the "spotlight" category would at least give you some beam effect. And the smoke in a can will enhance it for sure and make it more visible where it wouldn't normally be so visible on the weaker type spotlight instruments. Fresnels, elllipsoidals and pars are all considered to be spotlights and thus will give you at least some of the effect you are looking for.
 
And you don't want to use a fog machine..Puts out much too much. Try a Hazer machine. That haze in a can sounds interesting..There are also internet plans for making low lying haze using dry ice and an ice cooler but I don't think that is the effect you are after.
 
ProfessorU said:
I thought PARs were always lensless lights?
Click to expand...

HMI Pars all usually have a safety (clear protective) lens and then a set of changeable lenses that snap in or drop into an accessory holder. The old "par can" you're thinking about is the tungsten version and is relatively unsophisticated and mostly used in theatrical and rock concert type settings. Definitely no lens on those (except for the versions which have a "par" type bulb in them which the bulb itself comes in a sealed beam type configuration.

Here's a very common example of such an HMI par (Arri 1200w kit):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/102982-REG/Arri_Arrisun_12_Plus_HMI.html
 
It's no wonder I've never used one of those, at $8,000 a pop! Maybe I'll rent one on an upcoming project just so I can play with it. :)

For most video work, I'd figure you'd be okay with a Source Four or Leko.
 
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