Excited about my new fresnel strobe adopter

[texxter]

While I still don't have images to show what light this modifier will give me, I am pretty excited to have this fixture available in my studio for old fashioned Hollywood studio portraits. I got it from Germany thru an Ebay seller. Not cheap, but hopefully it'll give me a light I cannot get with my existing modifiers, but I can still use with my strobes.

Images coming soon!

[z-monster]

Hey now that looks exciting! Hope to see the result you get soon!

[J Eddington]

OMG. I want to see that baby work! Hurry up and take some photos. Where is that lovely wife?

[texxter]

While I didn't have a chance to do Hollywood style images, I did try the fresnel with an Einstein on my neighbor :-) she's not only beautiful, but is a doctor in rocket science or something like that!

#1. Fresnel in flood mode to camera right, 5 ft. octabox right behind me as fill with a 1-fstop ratio between the two, and a weak hair light above. Background lit separately. You can see the quality of light that a fresnel creates, strong shadows with a soft shadow transfer edge imparting nice dimensionality to the face. I love this light! And what's more, it produces light similar to what you'd get with a 1K Arri hot light, without the power requirements, heat and weight. I can take this fixture with me anywhere and power it with a portable battery. Sweet!



#2. Daylight coming from the open garage door - no fresnel. I am posting this here as a reference - pleasant but flat lighting, with little dimensionality, but very appropriate for her symmetrical facial features.

[SergeiR]

Calumet selling those for like 700$. I am still trying to find old spot to cannibalize instead ;)

New ones to cannibalize are on ebay for like 140$. Neat stuff, if you want to try yourself in old style portraits and need spot light

[texxter]

Converting an old Mole Richardson fixture has crossed my mind, but it's too heavy. I have used the Norman conversions and they weigh a ton!

[SergeiR]

yep. thats why i prefer narrow angle grid on strobe so far. Almost same hard edges of shadow, once you move it out out for few yards - less worries ;)

But it lacks focus like you will get with that Frensel..

there are special mods for portable strobes, that are basically snoot with wee lens on the end. But they look weird :)

[texxter]

One from the set with old fashioned B&W postprocessing, still not Hollywood style because hair and makeup are contemporary, but getting a little closer.

[zurkzees]

how big is the front lens?

[texxter]

Originally Posted by zurkzees

how big is the front lens?

22cm or 8.6 inches.

[princer7]

Beautiful photo!!! Your Einstein looks so tiny with the fresnel attached.

[zurkzees]

Your post is right on time. I've been
looking for one for some time now.

I would like to see the beam pattern
with spot vs. flood.

[texxter]

Jennifer, thanks! The image is quite postprocessed, which is not my style when I do lifestyle or regular portraiture, but I felt it was ok to idealize this woman when doing a beauty shot.

Zurksees, I will do some test with the fresnel in spot, flood and in between.

[princer7]

What is in the frensel's housing? Is it just a spacer to allow the light to focus? Never seen one in person.

[digidawg87]

It's more then just the spacing. It's that piece of glass at the front.

Fresnel lens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia