softboxes / chimeras

[steven moreno]

Hey all -
So I inherited these cheap NRG lights a few years back and they have sat in my garage since, collecting dust. They are like 400w - 500w, similar to Lowel Omni lights. They are hot and throw off some decent light, but the paint on the barn doors isn't heat resistant... so when light hits the doors, they fry, smoke, and paint melts.

I was going to give them away, but decided that I could put them to use as softboxes, as the barn doors come off easy. At first I was thinking about a paint bucket light that I read about on another forum. Then a few DP friends said, "just use foamcore to build a box". And then I just realized that I could buy a softbox and not have to build anything or worry about any foam or plastic melting.

I haven't had a lot of experience with softboxes or chimeras. Any suggestions on where I could find an inexpensive softbox that would fit on a a light with a 5.5" diameter front? I have been looking online, but I'm sure there are some resourceful folks around here that could chime in on where to buy, or what to avoid, etc. Also the lights are hot, so I assume that I need a softbox rated for continuous lighting, not stills/flash.

Thanks!

 

[Bob Gundu]

You have to figure out what speed ring will work with your lights. Finding a softbox is easy after that.

 

[steven moreno]

Copy that, Bob - I may just head to filmtools with the light and spend the few extra bucks on a chimera

 

[Christopher Barrett]

The Chimera speed ring for the Lowel omni sort of clamps around the front of the reflector. It should work on most things of that diameter. If you're lights have a similar sized reflector, that might be a good solution.

CB

 

[Michael Notar]

with speedrings for hotlights being really expensive i bought some all metal speedrings for photography studio strobes made by chimera/photoflex, bought them used when i could for like $20. i got a 5in square electrical junction box cover at home depot for less than a buck, screwed it on there and put a house hold socket on it ($2 bucks) and made another with a ceramic 1k socket i had laying around from a baby light repair ($20 online). the speedrings i bought also had 1/4-20 screw on the bottom and i got a screw in baby pin for maybe $5-8, thread locked it in there and bought 10 ft of cable and a HD plug from Home depot ($15). considering the softbox is shaping the light i dont see a reason to have a fixture do it with lenses.

i am also looking at having a welding shop make me some speed rings for my medium lights, 2ks/1.2k HMI vs the $400 speed rings commercially available. i think i should be able to make them for about half.

 

[steven moreno]

Chris, I was eyeballing one of those at Filmtools a few days ago, but I didn't have time to bring the light in with me to test it. I do have 2 omni lights so if it that speedring fits my cheapie NRG, it's a no brainer for me.

Michael, that sounds like a great DIY fixture. Could you post a few pics?

I appreciate the input guys.

 

[Michael Notar]

I used the the thin bar of metal one the one instead of the plate cuz its what I had around the house and didnt want to run out for another $1 metal plate. On one unit both lead wires are black because I shrink wrapped them. I also forgot that I had Lowel inline switches on each cord, which only ran a few bucks. I also had some ceramic hi temp beige tape that I use when redoing tungsten lights that I used to beef up the wires and clean my up cable routing.