Panel vs point source LED + modifier

[rob norton]

I love Source4's and have been asking them to do a COB for years.

Have you used any of the lustr (series 2) lights? They might continue with their 7-light array vs. a single COB but who knows?

Re usefulness of panels, requiring less depth to fill frames is one of their biggest strengths - larger source to begin with as well as (usually) a wider beam angle.

Speaking of, remember the early days of LED 1x1 panels with claims of being more environmentally friendly? I wonder how many first gen 1x1 panels are in a landfill somewhere while the tungsten housing is still going strong!

 

[Grug]

Most panels (1x1 or 2x1) are generally too small to make a pleasing key (when used directly). So I agree, I think it's kinda hard to see the usefulness these days (compared to more versatile arrangements like COBs.

If you've got to add a frame of diffusion anyway, then there's really not that much use for a flood light.

 

[Grug]

Which are the decent “single unit” COBs currently available? My biggest gripe with many COBs is the resulting wire-and-ballast salad that you have to rig up every time they’re deployed. Something as simple as arri fresnels or the old Lowel fixtures to transport and deploy, for instance.

I have an Intellytech F-165 that’s kind of my ideal (fixture with one power con out), but it’s a tad huge and a couple generations of tech old. I keep falling back on the Astras and Superpanels out of simple time expediency.

Arri have the cleanest COB of all with their Orbiter (since the PSU is built into the head). Aputure and Forza seem to be the next tidiest - one header to ballast cable, one ballast to power cable.

The others are a bit of a mess.

 

[rob norton]

Most panels (1x1 or 2x1) are generally too small to make a pleasing key (when used directly). So I agree, I think it's kinda hard to see the usefulness these days (compared to more versatile arrangements like COBs.

If you've got to add a frame of diffusion anyway, then there's really not that much use for a flood light.

Not a key light but if someone is happy with an unmodified 2x1 panel as a backlight etc. then in that situation the panel was simpler (faster?) to set up.

If you're adding a diffusion frame and don't have much room, isn't the light with the wider beam angle more useful (all else being equal)?

 

[Run&Gun]

Arri have the cleanest COB of all with their Orbiter (since the PSU is built into the head). Aputure and Forza seem to be the next tidiest - one header to ballast cable, one ballast to power cable.

The others are a bit of a mess.

The separate power supplies are what drive me crazy about my Hive's. My Gemini's only require a power cord since the ballast is integrated. It's also one of the awesome things about all of my Astera's: no cords at all, because they have built-in batteries that can run up to 20 hours.