Thoughts on open-faced lights?

[Theta]

So I'm looking to build my lighting package. Nothing ridiculous, just a few different levels of wattage.

So I notice on B&H Arri has open-faced lights with some pretty high wattage (1K), that's substantially cheaper than a fresnel (hell, the difference between a 1K and a 650 is, literally, two bucks).

My thought process is:

Hell, either I'm bouncing it off a wall or board or I'm firing it through diffusion ANYWAY. True, a Fresnel is a lot more even in the light...but I can always buy a lens later, if it comes to that.

Thoughts?

[Yannick Hagman]

The only purpose for them is inside a softbox. For everything else they suck IMO, zero atmosphere, making everything just plain bright... and very hard to control even with reflectors. If you get one, I would buy the 1k and a large softbox.

[OUinLA]

I like them bounced off of some foam core or bead board but still prefer fresnel

[Chris Newman]

I have some of each. Here are a couple of other reasons why I prefer the fresnels:
- They are harder (i.e., the light seems to come from a smaller (and more uniform) point, so they can be barn doored / masked / gobo'ed more easily and cleanly.)
- As you said, the light is more uniform. It is true that lights on actors are usually diffused somehow, but lights on set pieces and backlights don't have to be. If you decide that you will just always put diffusion in front of your open face lights, they will be even harder to control.

Open face lights that have diffusion built in (e.g., Lowel Pro Lights), are exceptions, and do well in the areas I listed.

Also, as you said, open face lights are cheaper, and plus they produce more light per Watt, so they are good to have around for when you need lots of light.

650W is the biggest light I use (except for maybe 5% of shots), so I would definitely choose a 650W fresnel over a 1000W open face.

[Nikolai]

Hey guys!

quick question: What do you think of using 500W worklights? I mean those kind from Home Depot or Lowes or wherever.

like this: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=246907-52757-WL500SP-L

Please don't yell at me, I know it's nothing professional. I just want something that can give me more control over my lighting. I'm in high school, so I don't need it for anything too important...maybe just for short films and what not. I really want to experiment with those high-key type looks.... I hear Cool Lights barn doors for them. So what do you think?

Thanks.

PS: sorry if it seems out of place. I wasn't sure if it merited it's own thread.

[Yannick Hagman]

The problem with them are

a. heat output (very hot)
and
b. controllability, barndoors will help a bit with that.

You might consider a styro-reflector to bounce it of. They are great for indoor night settings if you place them outdoors behind windows IMO.

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

I have 5 open faced lights.
Not the best type, so I'll need to bounce and diffuse a lot.

I need soft sources now.
I think I'll get two 2000W Softboxes...

[Peter Majtan]

Who is this Lusas guy? Looks like spam to me, but there is no links... Dude, if You are dude, start making some sense and my apology for calling You spam, but I have the feeling I am talking to spambot... :D