Lighting interiors for mini35 at DVinfo.net

Dominic Jones · June 3rd, 2005, 08:07 AM

Hi all,

We're now looking at buying a Micro35 adaptor, but I have to admit to being slightly unsure as to whether we're going to need a whole new lighting kit to go with it!

Currently I'm using a range of fresnels from 650w - 2Kw, plus the odd redhead and a couple of inkie-dinks (150w).

My thinking is that I'm going to lose 2 stops of light through the adaptor, plus however many stops the "taking" lens is giving us - so on our Z1 we're talking a minimum effective f-stop of about 2 (the Z1's stop zoomed in) - 2 stops (the adaptors loss on the ground glass) - 1-3 stops (the taking lenses maximum aperture) = about f5.6 - f11!!!

Given that, on an average interior lighting setup, I'm at about f4 now, that's put me something like 1 to 3 stops short of an exposure, so I've got the option of (a) adding a load of gain, which I'd obviously like to avoid or (b) putting something like 4 to 8 times the light into the scene...

Has anyone got any experience of shooting with these kinds of adaptors in interiors (we've shot with a mini35, but largely for the reason that the entire shoot was exteriors!) - is it simply a case of going back to what you might call "old-school" lighting practices - i.e. 5k Brutes everywhere, etc??

Chris Hurd · June 3rd, 2005, 08:37 AM

Dominic, I'm a little confused by your post.

Your thread title says "Mini35" but the first sentence of your post refers to "Micro35." These are two completely different tools. I've reserved this forum specifically for P+S Technik Mini35 and Pro35 discussions.

Please direct all "Micro35" questions to their off-site message board at http://www.redrockmicro.com/forum.

As this is first and foremost a lighting question, I may move it to our Photon Management forum, but the main thing I want to stress is that this particular board is specific only to P+S Technik image converters and nothing else.

Zack Birlew · June 3rd, 2005, 08:56 AM

Well, may I turn this board around in the right direction then? =)

Same question, but for the "Mini35". I'm interested in purchasing one in the future and I would like to know if lighting changes will be required. I'm currently planning to use some Home Depot and Lowes work lights for my lighting, should I change to professional movie lights (ie. Arri light kits)?

Dominic Jones · June 3rd, 2005, 08:59 AM

Well, I was a little unsure as to whether to post here or in the Photon Management section, as it's a specific question about lighting re: the use of 35mm adaptors, and of course I didn't want to cross-post so I flipped a coin for the best area - perhaps it landed on the wrong side, and if so my apologies.

As for their differences, none are relevant to this question, which is specifically about light loss through the adaptors, which is common to all designs - so I don't think drawing a distinction between different makes and models is an issue... The same discussion could be had, identically, as regards the Pro35, Mini35, Micro35 and even - although it loses slightly less light, I believe - the Guerilla35. They're not different tools, they are different makes and models of the same tool, after all - let's be sensible, the question is equally valid for the Mini35.

Feel free to move the post if you feel it should be a part of the Photon Management board, that's not a problem at all...

Dominic Jones · June 3rd, 2005, 09:01 AM

Ha ha, well - there ya go - concurrent typing rules!

Let's see if the same exact discussion *can* be had, shall we? ;)

Dan Diaconu · June 3rd, 2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominic Jones

As for their differences, none are relevant to this question, which is specifically about light loss through the adaptors, which is common to all designs - so I don't think drawing a distinction between different makes and models is an issue...

Dominic,
although not as actively promoted as the above image converters, I have developed a "version of the same idea" that does not seem to have any light loss. I have extensive tests of various GG on my site (including brightness comparison) including some night shots to support the claim. As I am also not sure if this is the right thread for the question, I will invite you to check it out and direct your future questions (if any) on the "new GG moving mechanism" under alternative imaging methods.

Added latter: Thank you Chris.

Chris Hurd · June 3rd, 2005, 10:46 AM

Thread moved from our P+S Technik board to our Photon Management board.

Dominic Jones · June 3rd, 2005, 11:07 AM

Thanks Dan, that's interesting stuff - I'll pop over to alt img.. and have a chat!

June 3rd, 2005, 08:07 AM	#1
Dominic Jones Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 225	Lighting interiors for mini35 Hi all, We're now looking at buying a Micro35 adaptor, but I have to admit to being slightly unsure as to whether we're going to need a whole new lighting kit to go with it! Currently I'm using a range of fresnels from 650w - 2Kw, plus the odd redhead and a couple of inkie-dinks (150w). My thinking is that I'm going to lose 2 stops of light through the adaptor, plus however many stops the "taking" lens is giving us - so on our Z1 we're talking a minimum effective f-stop of about 2 (the Z1's stop zoomed in) - 2 stops (the adaptors loss on the ground glass) - 1-3 stops (the taking lenses maximum aperture) = about f5.6 - f11!!! Given that, on an average interior lighting setup, I'm at about f4 now, that's put me something like 1 to 3 stops short of an exposure, so I've got the option of (a) adding a load of gain, which I'd obviously like to avoid or (b) putting something like 4 to 8 times the light into the scene... Has anyone got any experience of shooting with these kinds of adaptors in interiors (we've shot with a mini35, but largely for the reason that the entire shoot was exteriors!) - is it simply a case of going back to what you might call "old-school" lighting practices - i.e. 5k Brutes everywhere, etc??

June 3rd, 2005, 08:37 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Dominic, I'm a little confused by your post. Your thread title says "Mini35" but the first sentence of your post refers to "Micro35." These are two completely different tools. I've reserved this forum specifically for P+S Technik Mini35 and Pro35 discussions. Please direct all "Micro35" questions to their off-site message board at http://www.redrockmicro.com/forum. As this is first and foremost a lighting question, I may move it to our Photon Management forum, but the main thing I want to stress is that this particular board is specific only to P+S Technik image converters and nothing else. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 3rd, 2005, 08:56 AM	#3
Zack Birlew Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 613	Well, may I turn this board around in the right direction then? =) Same question, but for the "Mini35". I'm interested in purchasing one in the future and I would like to know if lighting changes will be required. I'm currently planning to use some Home Depot and Lowes work lights for my lighting, should I change to professional movie lights (ie. Arri light kits)? __________________ "Babs Do or Babs Do not, there is no try." - Zack Birlew www.BabsDoProductions.com

June 3rd, 2005, 10:46 AM	#7
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Thread moved from our P+S Technik board to our Photon Management board. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 3rd, 2005, 08:59 AM	#4
Dominic Jones Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 225	Well, I was a little unsure as to whether to post here or in the Photon Management section, as it's a specific question about lighting re: the use of 35mm adaptors, and of course I didn't want to cross-post so I flipped a coin for the best area - perhaps it landed on the wrong side, and if so my apologies. As for their differences, none are relevant to this question, which is specifically about light loss through the adaptors, which is common to all designs - so I don't think drawing a distinction between different makes and models is an issue... The same discussion could be had, identically, as regards the Pro35, Mini35, Micro35 and even - although it loses slightly less light, I believe - the Guerilla35. They're not different tools, they are different makes and models of the same tool, after all - let's be sensible, the question is equally valid for the Mini35. Feel free to move the post if you feel it should be a part of the Photon Management board, that's not a problem at all...

June 3rd, 2005, 09:01 AM	#5
Dominic Jones Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 225	Ha ha, well - there ya go - concurrent typing rules! Let's see if the same exact discussion can be had, shall we? ;)

June 3rd, 2005, 11:07 AM	#8
Dominic Jones Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 225	Thanks Dan, that's interesting stuff - I'll pop over to alt img.. and have a chat!