Richard Andrewski
REDuser Sponsor
Here's one to look for when you go to NAB this year.
DVXuser Puredrifting sent me this link. Seems Litepanels is introducing two or three models of LED fresnel at NAB this year. They say they've licked the single vs. multiple shadow issue:
http://provideocoalition.com/index....s_introduces_revolutionary_new_sola_fresnels/
I'm sure it will be expensive given the features (motorized focus, DMX, touch screen). And only up to 500w equivalent model so not so usable for larger scale needs or coverage.
We were working on something like that back in 2007 and talked a bit about that and the 60w monster LED we were using here:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=111317&highlight=fresnel
Also you can see my first small experimental bi-color LED panel in that post as well. Anyway, with all the normal expectations around a fresnel and what it can do, I eventually gave up on it though as it seemed it would be far too expensive to be practical.
The issues as I saw them were you really need to use just one high wattage LED to do it right (single vs. multiple shadows) and then you get into serious heat management issues. When it comes down to that, you have basically two choices--attach a heavy, large finned aluminum heat sink to the back of it or use a fan. Most that have made LED instruments up till now have chosen the fan route which makes them less attractive for video/film use. Try to use the heat sink and the instrument becomes ungainly and you can't use the normal focusing sled type mechanism but rather perhaps the front of the fixture might need to move back and forth on the heat sink.
Will be interesting to hear from someone who visits NAB and sees these in action what they think. To be a real fresnel, it needs the following qualities in my opinion:
1). Should focus between narrow and wide beams
2). Has a fresnel lens
3). Creates a single shadow when its light is cast upon a subject
4). Has holder for barndoors and potentially for scrims
5). Reasonable price.
Its interesting the fresnel picture shown in the link doesn't show barndoors or scrim/accessory holder. Some will want to be able to at least use a half scrim at times with a fresnel, if not a full scrim. Barndoors would seem to be invaluable for shaping the light. Hopefully the final model will have provision for these things. If they used a single LED, will be interesting to hear about how they managed the heat as those larger wattage LEDs do get HOT. If multiple LEDs, how did they beat the single vs. multiple shadow issues. We'll see more on this soon no doubt.
DVXuser Puredrifting sent me this link. Seems Litepanels is introducing two or three models of LED fresnel at NAB this year. They say they've licked the single vs. multiple shadow issue:
http://provideocoalition.com/index....s_introduces_revolutionary_new_sola_fresnels/
I'm sure it will be expensive given the features (motorized focus, DMX, touch screen). And only up to 500w equivalent model so not so usable for larger scale needs or coverage.
We were working on something like that back in 2007 and talked a bit about that and the 60w monster LED we were using here:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=111317&highlight=fresnel
Also you can see my first small experimental bi-color LED panel in that post as well. Anyway, with all the normal expectations around a fresnel and what it can do, I eventually gave up on it though as it seemed it would be far too expensive to be practical.
The issues as I saw them were you really need to use just one high wattage LED to do it right (single vs. multiple shadows) and then you get into serious heat management issues. When it comes down to that, you have basically two choices--attach a heavy, large finned aluminum heat sink to the back of it or use a fan. Most that have made LED instruments up till now have chosen the fan route which makes them less attractive for video/film use. Try to use the heat sink and the instrument becomes ungainly and you can't use the normal focusing sled type mechanism but rather perhaps the front of the fixture might need to move back and forth on the heat sink.
Will be interesting to hear from someone who visits NAB and sees these in action what they think. To be a real fresnel, it needs the following qualities in my opinion:
1). Should focus between narrow and wide beams
2). Has a fresnel lens
3). Creates a single shadow when its light is cast upon a subject
4). Has holder for barndoors and potentially for scrims
5). Reasonable price.
Its interesting the fresnel picture shown in the link doesn't show barndoors or scrim/accessory holder. Some will want to be able to at least use a half scrim at times with a fresnel, if not a full scrim. Barndoors would seem to be invaluable for shaping the light. Hopefully the final model will have provision for these things. If they used a single LED, will be interesting to hear about how they managed the heat as those larger wattage LEDs do get HOT. If multiple LEDs, how did they beat the single vs. multiple shadow issues. We'll see more on this soon no doubt.
