Fresnel lights vs. open face lights

[David Bigeleisen]

I'm thinking of beginning to work with constant exposure tungsten lights. What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of fresnel lights vs. open face lights?

David

 

[wiltw]

Fresnel focuses light in a way in which they are all highly collimated (parallel beam). As such, the shadows cast by a Fresnel source results in very sharp edged shadows. That can be useful when you do not want much beam spread (.e.g stage light focus on one person) or you want to cast a shadow patter (e.g. using cuculoris). For most portrait shots, that is what do NOT WANT...why softboxes as used instead of openfaced reflector lights. Adjustable parabolic reflectors are desired by some because a single source can be adjusted between parabolic parallel beams or less focused umbrella-like beam.

 

[AZD]

Short answer, more control of the beam, and an approximation of direct sunlight that softer sources cannot produce. One disadvantage is a lot of light can be lost in the tightest beam setting, so a 500W fresnel might seem surprisingly dim sometimes.

There should be lots of information available online and in older books and magazines. If you google “Hollywood Glamour Lighting Fresnel” there’s a lot to read.

 

[btaylor]

Fresnels provide a more even light across the beam and are more controllable. And you're going to be able to easily use scrims and barn doors. But they are heavy, cumbersome and less efficient than open face fixtures which is why the Lowel Light became so popular for docs and small films back in the '70's.
This stuff is so cheap now why not try both?

 

[Steve2997]

Seconding the advice by the previous posters, and I'll add that some fresnels can be "lamped down," fitted with a lamp that is half the wattage of the standard lamp. This reduces heat in the studio and lets you put more fixtures on an electrical circuit. I think that more commonly, people do this with open face fixtures, but it has worked very well for me with Mole Richardson fresnels and Dedolights.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Arri Fresnel hot lights are really a luxury to work with, except that they are hot! I needed only one as an adjustable accent to peripheral broader, more diffuse Lowell hot lights.

 

[Bob Merlin]

Fresnels are spotlights, usually with adjustable beam. Open face are generally flood lights without adjustments.
There's lots of LED lights out there too.