I haven't read all the posts so this may have been mentioned already but I'm pretty sure I remember reading about a product you could put between the camera and multiple strobes that would fire them sequentially. The more flash units you add, the faster frames per second you get.
Carmen Miranda wrote:
My guess would be that this unit is not designed for video or motion photography as much as for high production 360º product photography, done typically using turntables. Interesting from a technical standpoint, but esoteric none the less. Can't think of any reason where I'd need it.
You pretty much hit the nail...I was told by someone from Hensel that the strobe was actually designed for industrial applications. Next came photographers who said "oh, I could make use of such a device, may I get one?"
rickboden wrote:
I haven't read all the posts so this may have been mentioned already but I'm pretty sure I remember reading about a product you could put between the camera and multiple strobes that would fire them sequentially. The more flash units you add, the faster frames per second you get.
Thanks, not that obscure of a product after all. So is it possible anyone can possibly get the same capabilities of this Hensel strobe (I haven't read any specs yet) by ganging up a few monolights with the Multimax
Absolutely. Bron also has that functionality built into some of their packs, so it alternates between them in order to allow the other time to recycle. There are a number of packs that can handle 8-12fps already (not just the $10k Pro-8), so it's just a matter of time before Canon or Nikon adds 24hz triggering to their hotshoes while shooting video.
Again, you run into the whole power issue . . . that's why video makers use very high wattage / high efficiency continuous lights. The fact remains if you are going to do 24 fps from monolight level (600WS) flash units you are going to be limited to around 20WS per shot. To go much beyond that is going to require more power than household outlets can supply as well as rather large and expensive specialized flash units. I fail to see any broad market for this.
What are you really gaining over say 1000W high efficiency gas discharge such as Metal halide lamps running at 60fps?These lamps produce almost white light, and attain 100 lumen/watt light output. Xenon flash tops out at about 45 Lumens per watt. The exposure value between these two methods is about 100 to 1 in favor of the Metal Halides . . . that's why they are used.
As for strobe effect photography at 8-10 fps, this is easily done with current, modest cost flash technology.
rickboden wrote:
So is it possible anyone can possibly get the same capabilities of this Hensel strobe (I haven't read any specs yet) by ganging up a few monolights with the Multimax
Maybe similar capability, but not necessarily the same effect. Unless the light sources (heads) are in the same position, lighting will vary from one shot to another, even if the exposure doesn't. This might not be a big issue for some types of photography, might even be desirable for some sports applications (eg. Bill Frakes), but in most situations this would neither be practical or beneficial.
Dan Martin wrote:
I thought Paul's answers were more insightful than most of the other crap in this thread. There really aren't that many strobe designers on this forum, so Paul's answer seemed to be pretty targeted to the OP's question. I don't think Fred is actively blocking anyone from Hensel from posting here, so they're welcome to chime in if Paul is way off base with his comments.
FWIW, I don't own any of Paul's equipment, so I can't say I'm biased in his favour either. I wish more manufacturers would have reps on this forum to give us insight in to the industry they represent....Show more →
I agree. I would like to see more Paul Buff posts and fewer cathpah/ Brent Ward posts personally.
Carmen Miranda wrote:
Maybe similar capability, but not necessarily the same effect. Unless the light sources (heads) are in the same position, lighting will vary from one shot to another, even if the exposure doesn't. This might not be a big issue for some types of photography, might even be desirable for some sports applications (eg. Bill Frakes), but in most situations this would neither be practical or beneficial.
But you do have bi-tube heads and Chimera's double and triple head speedrings. :-)
Carmen Miranda wrote:
Maybe similar capability, but not necessarily the same effect. Unless the light sources (heads) are in the same position, lighting will vary from one shot to another, even if the exposure doesn't. This might not be a big issue for some types of photography, might even be desirable for some sports applications (eg. Bill Frakes), but in most situations this would neither be practical or beneficial.
I was thinking that they could be very close together with maybe a diffusion panel so the light appears to come from the same source but it might be difficult to keep the highlights and shadows from changing position especially if the light-subject distance is close.
There is one somewhere on YouTube of a runner, shot on video and lit with a bi-tube Profoto head & 2x battery packs, that assistants were carrying as they ran down streets etc, at the same speed as the subject... It was ultimatly still a stop motion look (though more fluid than Hypernover's music clip above, due to the bi-tube head), but shooting this way doesn't mandate ultra expensive permits (it's just a bunch of people out joging), roads to be closed so that lighting vans- housing big generators can used, etc.
My understanding of this approach is that in order to cycle thru 4 strobes you would need to have a total of 5 multimax units. One on the camera and one for each strobe. So at approximately $300 a unit you would have an out lay of $1500 cash. The speed cycler is unique to the Multimax so simply pairing one Multimax with Plus II units would not give you the speed cycler functionality.
shoebox9 wrote:
Well, so far, no one has mentioned the stunning potential of this Hensel unit.
There is an whole vast indusry crying out for 30 fps strobes- film. 30 fps uses less power than continious lighting, and I believe a new generation of strobes will be used by small film makers everywhere.
First off motion pictures are shot at 24fps not 30fps.
"The Clairmont Strobe System provides pulsed light at 7000 degrees Kelvin. The strobe's extremely short flash duration (1/50,000 second) is triggered when the camera is at mid-shutter. The result on film is a blur-free image that greatly enhances photography of moving objects, regardless of camera speed. The exposure time when using the strobe is 1000 times faster than the normal shutter speed of 1/50 second. For this reason, there is no need to compensate for exposure when ramping camera speed during the shot. The exposure of each frame will be consistent throughout the ramp interval." BTW ramping means changing fps during the shot -- going from normal 24fps to slow motion 48/120 fps for instance.
BTW2 this was invented for beer commercials, so that the bubbles would be sharp. Clairmont has always been at the cutting edge of development. If a DP wanted/needed something they did their best to deliver. Good people!
BTW3 I've shot video using only the modeling lights from studio strobes 8-] I've lit many shots, for both commercials and features, by plugging small quartz lights into the wall No big deal, just run a few extension cords to other 20 amp wall plugs in the house.
From the Clairmount site (which I didn't know about, thank you) -
Daily Rental Rate:
USD $1,000.00
Regarding frame rates- some movies with high speed action scenes are now being shot at 60fps, and selectively dumbed down to just the desired amount of blur, scene by scene. Digital is slowly changing everything. Using film at 24fps is no longer a given.
I don't know if low budget films will start doing this too, or just stick to 24fps digial capture, but adding battery pack based stobe is something that I'd love to be able to do in my own commercial video dabbling.
Paul hit the nail on the head when he said that the output per watt is lower using strobes, but only needing say 24fps v continuious light, changes the ratio of necessary battery pack sizes. (I don't know the maths, but am presuming strobes come out well ahead.)
So is it possible anyone can possibly get the same capabilities of this Hensel strobe (I haven't read any specs yet) by ganging up a few monolights with the Multimax
