softbox/reflector/light control/key dilemma

T

thewheel

Member
i have 2 redheads 800W each. the barn doors allow you to control light ok but 800W is to harsh to place directly on an object. i first bounced the light off the ceiling then built 2 relecting panels adjustable at hight and angle. then someone suggested that i use softboxes so i bought one (60*80) but the light is still too harsh and uncotrolable (light uis diffused over the whole place). now i am buying some dimmers. if i lower one of these lights to say 400W the color temperature will go down too bu a least by using some difuser i could get them direct on the object. if i am to buy the 3rd light (sort of by using reflectors etc. i do ont have a key) should i buy another 800W and use dimmers too and hence reducing the color temperature or should i buy a 200/300W light the kind that are mounted on cameras hence maintaning the K (here barn doors are smaller)? i get confused too if i should invest in
softboxes rather than reflectors. light is mounted easier of course with softboxes instead of the bulky reflectors.
what is your opinion whether to use softboxes or reflectors?
10x
 
Re: softbox/reflector/light control/key dilemma

Remember light falloff. Using softlights, it does look like (to the eye) diffusion everywhere, but when stopping down the camera on your subject, the backgrounds fall off. Same with the reflectors. Use what your most comfortable with. You can also try using ND gels or the ND settings on the camera to bring down the light.
 
Re: softbox/reflector/light control/key dilemma

Save yourself the time and money as the lights will be so orange as not to be usable. Simply buy tough spun and place a few layers on the lights. It will cut the lights down to very usable levels.
 
Re: softbox/reflector/light control/key dilemma

I know that some of these lights can take various wattage bulbs, that might be an easy fix also if this is a constant problem. See what lower wattage bulbs can go in the light. The shops have catalogs full of available bulbs of all sorts, but I have to agree that using Spun is the most common/ cheap & effective to the point method so that would be my suggestion also.
 
Re: softbox/reflector/light control/key dilemma

If you can , try and get some scrims for the lights. In the old redheads you can jam three in front of the head (if they are not bent) Sometimes two. But two doubles will knock your light down a quarter
 
Re: softbox/reflector/light control/key dilemma

i will check if i can get smaller wattage bulbs only i went into the manufacturers site that says that these are specifically 800W lights, infact there is another version the 1000W.
from what Walter is saying it seems that i should not use a dimmer to cut the Wattage by half say to 400W: ok the colour temp will definitely go down but cant' i adjust that by whithe balancing?
i tried out some not very dense spun but only put on one layer obvoiusly to no effect will try more layers than.
10x a lot for the advice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top