According to Rob Galbraith's site, it gives you +2.2 stops center brightness relative to the standard 7" reflector, but, I wonder if the light becomes too narrow. I'm thinking in terms of bounced, not direct.

Care to share your experieces?

This season will be my first using the long throw reflector, but in practice, here has been what Ive found.

I love it. I do bounce the light off of the ceiling and I did have to play around a little bit with getting the right angle down, but I have been very happy with that I have now. I did try the difference between the standard and the long throw, and I seem to be getting more light on the court other than it being spilled everywhere. It almost makes me want to try a grid on there to see if I get even more light on the court, but then I think it might be too tight. Maybe something to play with in the future.

Thanks for commenting!

Since I only have one B800 now, the notion of gaining +2 stops is intriguing. Yeah, I can see where aiming would be more important.

basehorhonda wrote:
...It almost makes me want to try a grid on there to see if I get even more light on the court...

The grid will only "tighten" the light, you won't get "more."

tag

basehorhonda wrote:
This season will be my first using the long throw reflector, but in practice, here has been what Ive found.

I love it. I do bounce the light off of the ceiling and I did have to play around a little bit with getting the right angle down, but I have been very happy with that I have now. I did try the difference between the standard and the long throw, and I seem to be getting more light on the court other than it being spilled everywhere. It almost makes me want to try a grid on there to see if I get even more light on the court, but then I think it might be too tight. Maybe something to play with in the future.


How close/far from the ceiling do you have the strobes mounted? I would think mounting them closer to the ceiling would reduce the spill as well.

I use both the standard reflectors and the sports reflectors.

Let me first talk about the sports reflectors. These are designed for directed firing in a arena or stadium. Lets say your strobes are in the catwalks a good 100 to 150+ feet up. The ideal placement would be pointing down one at each corner of the basketball court (6 strobes is better with two strobes at mid court). The Sports reflectors narrow the beam and focus it. So, by the time your light reaches the court, if pointed correctly, should cover the sideline to the middle giving you even light from sideline to sideline. It is not always possible to place your strobes like this, but even if you are off to the side some, pointing your strobes should be relatively easy.

The smaller standard reflector has a wider throw and from the catwalks of an arena, the spread would be way too much and you would not have enough light reaching the court to work well.

Now, in a high school gym, direct strobing with the sports reflectors may not be the best idea. The beam may be too focused and would act more like a spotlight. If you could place your strobes 100 feet away, then it would be great. Bouncing the strobes with the sports reflectors can work, or it may not. It is a lot of trial and error. If you dial it in right, sports reflectors can give you wonderful light bounced, but not dialed in can give you bad light fall.

Standard reflectors work well direct, and if your gym is small and white, bouncing these reflectors is great. Mount them as high as possible point them towards the ceiling above the center of the top of the 3 point arc, and tweak as needed.

I shot in a small white gym last night and used the standard reflectors but could not get them placed where I wanted them. I was hoping to have them at the top of the bleachers pointed down direct firing them, but the conduit I wanted to use was not strong enough for my super clamp, so i had to come down the bleachers about half, and the bleachers on the other side were not pulled out at all, so I clamped my strobe as high as possible and bounced. I got ok results, but I would have rather had the sports reflectors because bouncing with the standard reflectors from how low they were mounted the entire gym was lit, and my ISO was not as low as I would have liked.

DennisC wrote:
Thanks for commenting!

Since I only have one B800 now, the notion of gaining +2 stops is intriguing. Yeah, I can see where aiming would be more important.

basehorhonda wrote:
...It almost makes me want to try a grid on there to see if I get even more light on the court...

The grid will only "tighten" the light, you won't get "more."


Yes I am aware that I wont get more light, but it will get the light on the court and not the stands, when aimed properly.

Right now I have them on the second level of our gym, so once they are raised, Id say they are about 15ft below the ceiling.

basehorhonda wrote:
Right now I have them on the second level of our gym, so once they are raised, Id say they are about 15ft below the ceiling.


Post some images when you can! Looking forward to your results.

Carl,

Thanks for taking time to comment. Very useful info. "My" gym is small-ish and quite bright, so I may be good to go with the standard reflectors.

Another quick question for those with the long throw reflectors.

What are you using to carry your strobes and those reflectors? I have a photoflex transpac dual case that works fine with my strobes and regular reflectors, but those long throws won't fit in there with all the stands, cords, etc.

Place stands inside reflectors. Unzip the top compartment over the reflectors half way (if not loaded). Works great for me with 4 long throws.

I just got my long throws in the mail. I'll be curious to see if I can see any difference.

If interested, I have 3-11" reflectors up for sale I bought from Buff on the B/S forum. I only used them a couple times in large gyms bounced and the did work better but no side by side test.

timgangloff wrote:
I just got my long throws in the mail. I'll be curious to see if I can see any difference.


Please post some photos and give us your assessment.