Which Fresnel to get to go with 650 Lilliput set

F

funkytwig

Active member
Hi, I have a set of 3 Lilliput (open face) lights (300/650w) and a Redhead and they have been great but was shooting in a bathroom and light was bouncing everywhere which make it difficult to get good modelling.


I think the solution would of been to use a Fresnel so I could get a more directed beam on the talent. I gather as the beam is more focused a lower wattage (compared to open faced) would be (kind of) equivalent to, for example, light a face. Would this mean that I should go for something like a 350 Arri? Any other brand Fresnel I should consider?


Ben
 
Another possible solution would be to flag off the lights you already have. Have you thought of adding a couple of C-stands and flags to your kit? Even a few pieces of foamcore.
 
David W. Jones said:
Another possible solution would be to flag off the lights you already have. Have you thought of adding a couple of C-stands and flags to your kit? Even a few pieces of foamcore.
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Its and idea but probably would cost almost as much as a 300 light (used) and would not give such a focused beam.
 
Well, yes a Fresnel light is much more versatile and controllable than an open faced light. Arri lights are great lights. I recently picked up a Mole-Richardson type 2351 200 watt midget solar spot Fresnel used and I love it. I would shop around for a used Fresnel. You can get them pretty cheap.

David is right also though. Putting together a grip kit, and learning how to use it, to help shape and modify your lights, will go a long way in making your lighting look much better. I think that it is essential. You can start small, by getting several grip/gobo heads and using regular lights stands. With some foam core, short pieces of PVC pipe, gaff tape, hardware store screen material and some black wrap you can do some very creative things with light. Here is a list of grip essentials that I found a while back.

Grip essentials.jpg

Here is a video on flag basics.

 
David, thanks for that. Do have a Reflector stand that can double as a flag holder and some blackwrap. So you are saying Fresnels do not have to be that bright (200 being useful). Love the Coppola quote, Walter Merch speaks very highly of him;).

Is it OK if I use the Kit image on my website (with a credit to you)?

Ben
 
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PS where do I get inline dimmers from, I have looked but cant find any high watt (>500) ones. I am in the UK.

Ben
 
Oh no. I was just pointing to the fact that you can find great used lighting. I picked up the M-R 200 watt Fresnel for, I think, $125.00 off of eBay. It is in perfect shape. They go for about $350.00 new. I did spend about another $150.00 getting 4 way barn doors, a snoot and full scrim set for it. The accessories were bought new. I am still WAY ahead, price wise, with that light. I do like Fresnel lights and I have 5 750 watt Fresnels. Those 750s are Altman 8" Fresnels; designed for stage lighting. I DO NOT RECOMMEND BUYING THEM over Arri's or Mole-Richardson, NO WAY. The thing is, the price for the one's I got, used of course, was just two good to pass up. I had one that I got for about $30.00 way back in the day and just a while ago I ran across 4 of them on eBay and I got them for a little under $200.00 ($50.00 a piece). I couldn't pass that up. All I had to do was add TVMP adaptors*, to use them on stands and I was good to go. I got two sets of 4 way barn doors with them and I picked up a bunch of gel frames and have cut some hardware store metal screen, to use as scrims (Full single, full double, half single and half double), to fit the frames. If I had my druthers, for 6 Fresnel lights, I would want the 200 watt M-R, but I would love to have 3 1000 watt Arri or M-R and 2 2K Arri or M-R lights. However, we rarely get to have our druthers. I did the best I could with the resources I have and I think I ended up with a good set of lights. I just think that keeping year eyes open to used lights is a useful way to get some good gear for good prices.

* http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124760-REG/Avenger_E390_E390_TVMP_Yoke_to.html
 
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Yes, I am keeping an eye open for used ones. Buy back to my original question with my setup based around 650w liliputs would 300w be much use or should I go for 650w ones. I guess the simple answer is 650w with a dimmer.

Secondly in terms of Stage Fresnel do Fresnels have a ajustable beam, I have seen very cheap ones on ebay, I guess it depends if I can get bard doors/filter holder for them.

Ben

Ben
 
Be aware that dimming the light will change the color temperature of the light, where using scrims will drop the intensity of the light without changing the color temperature.
 
There are a couple of other reasons to use a 300W instead of a 650W that's dimmed or scrimmed. There's the issue of space - you may want a smaller fixture for some circumstances, and also, there's the issue of household AC - it is limited and you may already have draw on it, so a 300W light is going to be less draw than a 650W.
 
OldCorpse said:
There are a couple of other reasons to use a 300W instead of a 650W that's dimmed or scrimmed. There's the issue of space - you may want a smaller fixture for some circumstances, and also, there's the issue of household AC - it is limited and you may already have draw on it, so a 300W light is going to be less draw than a 650W.
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THE AC is less of an issue in the UK as 230v means you can run over 2k on a household circuit. My main issue is if 300w will create a useful amount of light for my setup. In terms of scrimms/dimmer I tend to use ND gel, I dont think you can get scrimms for my lights.
 
It all depends on how much draw you put on household AC. For example, a not unlikely scenario could involve a 2K light outside blasting into the window(s) to simulate daylight/moonlight, and then add a few lights inside, and you might be surprised how fast you run out of room even if you switch everything else off (like a fridge).

The other thing, is you can use different powered bulbs in the same housing, so, f.ex., if you have a, say, 300W fresnel, you can stick a 150W bulb in there, and except for lens size, you've lowered the intensity without changing color like on a dimmer. Of course, it may or may not be convenient to change bulbs depending on your workflow demands.
 
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