Arri Varicon

[Joe Cage]

Hey Guys,

I came accross the Arri varicon, and I must say I am intrigued by it. I am even considering building something like this for myself (3D printer, LED lights, and a glass filter if that is all it takes), so that is also smaller in size and more portable then the Arri varricon. Anybody got good results with the Arri Varicon. Are there any cheap alternatives to this? As I love to shoot at night mostly, but the noise is always killing me, and this thing might be a godsaver for me.

Thanks,

 

[Les Hillis]

Funny coincidence, was thinking about the old Lightflex/Varicon devices myself just the other day.

Have never used one myself, so I can't talk from first-hand experience.

I think though that digital capture and post-processing might have rendered the on-camera Varicon type devices mostly obsolete.

I'd be curious to hear what the experts think, but in terms of using one to reduce noise in the low-lights, I'm not sure it would really work, (seeing the effect as more of a veiling flare, where the shadows are lightened, but without revealing any more actual detail).

 

[Erich Roland]

Freddy Francis was a master at using this technique.