Adapting a projection lens to a studio light

[bdial]

A condensor light source for a microscope might work.

 

[jim10219]

Do you have an old camera and speedlight? you might try opening the back of the camera, setting the shutter to B or T (just something that allows you to keep the shutter open indefinitely) and placing the speedlight on the film plane. Then you can focus the light. You might have to defocus the lens a bit, or you might pick up the grid pattern on the flash. You might also try pulling the flash back a bit from the film plane, and covering the back in a heavy cloth. You'll need some kind of remote trigger for the flash, of course.

I haven't done this exact same thing, but I have done something similar to project the image of a slide using this same basic technique, only with a piece of slide film inserted between the camera and flash. I know the OP has probably moved on from this, but someone else might find this useful in the future.

 

[AgX]

"Then you can focus the light."
But you cannot control the focusing, unless you made tests before and by that can scale focus. The projector solution in contrast yields continuos lighting, and thus easy focusing of the light.

 

[M Carter]

Mentioned this earlier in the thread, but there are lights made for this exact purpose and they're very cheap used (Lekos).

Shot a music video the other day and brought a Leko with me - the venue owner said "I just gave away ten of those". I know some of you guys like to tinker, but if you want a hard, focused beam that's not the softer fresnel look, a Leko (or a Source 4 par with a lens set, much wider beam though) is purpose-made.

 

[David Brown]

Mentioned this earlier in the thread, but there are lights made for this exact purpose and they're very cheap used (Lekos).

Shot a music video the other day and brought a Leko with me - the venue owner said "I just gave away ten of those"...

I would be willing to take a chance on a Leko, but I have yet to come across one cheap. We know different people ...

I also fear one would be too big for what I need, both in physical size and wattage. 1000 watts in a single light and I’d be tripping breakers left and right in my underpowered studio space. The quest continues.

EDIT: Maybe one of these down the road:
https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/23...MIi4bi_9nt3wIVDtbACh1Z6QEiEAQYBiABEgI5NPD_BwE