Which Degree Eggcrate?

G

GL2guy

Active member
Hey guys... I shoot in a small studio that is about 12x15' in size and use a 250w Lowel Rifa-Lite Softbox as my Key Light. However, because the room is so small, I am getting a lot of spill from the softbox and am interested in getting an eggcrate to help get rid of some of that spill.

The problem is, I am unsure if I should get the 40 degree beam angle eggcrate or if I should get the 30 degree beam angle eggcrate. Because my lights are 'general purpose' lights, I don't want to get something that is too constricting, but like I said, I mostly shoot in small rooms and try to acheive a more 'dramatic' look to my interview style shoots.

Any suggestions or guidance would greatly be appreciated. Thanks for any help.
 
its a small room...i would go with the 30. eggcrates are about control and the smaller grid=more control. distancing the grid would give you back the 40
 
Do I run any risk of negating the "soft" light effect that a softbox gives by using the 30 degree eggcrate? I would assume to a certain degree, that an eggcrate can kinda 'counteract' the purpose of using a softbox in the first place. Is this true?
 
I imagine the eggrate would act similar to the scrim, in that it would further knock down the lights intensity. The rifa light should act well on its own in that you can position it so it doesnt light the background when used as a key. John Jackman has a great tutorial on the rifa as a key somewhere here on this site. I'm wondering if you should knock down your rooms reflectivity somewhere thats causing your problem.
 
Hi, regardless of the "beam angle" (for want of a better term), the "softness" of the light output should not change, unless you start using eggcrates that are also intensifiers.
If you are using your standard black eggcrate, all you should see is a reduction in spill and a more focused lamp without losing the soft texture on the subject.
Cheers
Chris
 
I use fabric grids on my big softboxes; light stays soft, but of greater importance.... I think they're just pretty as hell. Beyond all the techhy descriptions I could make, the way the light stays soft but has less "wrap around" on the subject is really sweet & dramatic. I love me some fabric grids!

Like any softbox, get 'em too far away and they're pretty useless. I tend to have them a foot or so away whenever it's possible to be that close.
 
the tirm soft box is not really correct. the are notactually soft light boxes, the are light defussion boxes, defused does not mean soft. soft is a direct relation to the size of the light in relarion to the object being lit. for example the sun, this thing is huge right, but in relation to a person being lit the sun is maybe and inch or 2 in size, the sun is very hard light, if we got closer to the sun, it would become much brighter, less deffused, hotter, but still, it would become a softer light, if we were right next to the sun, the brightness and heat would kill us instantly, but the soft quality would be second to none.

thaqt being said, no the egg crait will not make the light harder, because even though it divides up the light, in relation to the subject, its still one light.

if the light is large in relation to the subject it will be soft.



that being said, a soft box does to an extent make the light softer, as the silk, or the bounce, increases the size of the light in relation to the subject, but it still tends to be not so soft light. turn the light, and bounce it off a big white wall, then you have a soft light.

Jason
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top