GOOD HAZER/FOG MACHINE?

[Nick Morrison]

Can anyone recommend a good FOG/HAZER machine? Something relatively affordable and portable that can add some "smoke" texture to small shoots? I have to imagine a couple of unites have started to become popular.

All and any thoughts are welcome.

thx.

PS - I know FOG and HAZE machines are supposed to be different (haze lasts longer), but I'm willing to get a fog machine if its affordable and does a reasonably good job as well. I'm just looking for the best ratio of SIZE/PRICE/RESULTS.

 

[NateWeaver]

One thing you should probably know, is that haze is what you're used to seeing on bigger budgeted shoots and almost all concerts.

It's hard to explain, but glycol based fog never gets to a nice, light effect. It's usually a whole bunch cloudy, poofy, and too much, and then it goes away into nothing. It's much harder (if not impossible) to keep it at a consistent level, which is really important for shoots that go for hours and hours.

Technically speaking, hazers make a much smaller oil or glycol droplet that scatters light prettier. Foggers make a bigger particle.

I've also known hazers to be more reliable, but I don't know if that's a by-product of higher-quality/bigger units for more commercial use vs novelty/Guitar Center fogger units. I know back when I did stage lighting, even a relatively expensive High-End Systems F100 fogger that we had would break down repeatedly (and I eventually learned how to fix it), whereas I've never heard of the same problem with hazers, even though they'll run for much longer during any given show.

I do know one thing, if I showed up on a job I'm shooting and I told them to get a hazer and they got a fogger instead, I'd politely tell production they need to go swap it. Foggers are just too hard to get a consistent look on a shoot.

 

[Clint Lealos]

For less than $500, I like this one... http://www.adorama.com/ROA900FM.html?gclid=CLD-u5qei7kCFcxAMgodEFEAgg

 

[Florian Stadler]

DF-50

 

[Steve Das]

DF-50

Shane Hurlbut agrees. Great article on smoke.

One tool. My go to smoke/diffusion is the DF-50 by Reel EFX.

http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2012/05/diffusion-for-the-digital-age/

 

[Frank Martin]

MDG Atmosphere APS Hazer produces a beautiful haze. uses Co2, has a little less residue. and the Particles are also finer than the DF-50 ( industry standard) . 50% more money though.