overview

Light Shaping Comparison for Soft Light
Browsing internet photo-communities or talking to photographersmusing about buying into studio flash equipment, it doesn‘t take longand they shoot one question at you:
What can one do with this or that light former?
Nice catalog pictures tell nothing about the results one can reasonably
expect, let alone how well it will work for the aspiring studio operator‘srequirements. Even skilled professionals don’t know the effect of eachand every light shaping tool.
This is where this document starts. We show almost every Hensellight former from our vast portfolio under repeatable field conditions.
The studio set up is listed below:
We put up a gray backdrop in the studio, because gray shows best
gradual shadows and contrast.
The backdrop is 2,75m/9ft long and we put it up with the top
ending at a height of approximately 2,7m/8,9ft.
The model‘s position is 2,5m/8ft away from the backdrop which
in turn is approximately 2m/6,5ft away from the back wall due toroom requirements of the tripod. The red marks on wall and floor
are 0,5m/1,6ft apart. The light former is always positioned with its
front edge 2,5m/8ft away from the model and the center of the lightformer is on the same level as the forehead of our model. The distance
between front edges of the light former to the back wall is about
5m/16ft. The position of the model is slightly out of lens axis, whichallows us to judge nose shadow and light/shadow transition in general.
The whole scene is recorded with four cameras from different angles.
The power setting was adjusted for every Lightformer so that acorrect exposure was obtained at f 8.0. We used a Hensel Strobe
Master flash meter for precise measurements. The main new feature ofthis meter is an integrated radio trigger and remote control compatible
with the Hensel Strobe Wizard Plus system, allowing us to work much
faster.
Additional meter readings were taken at the right and left edge ofthe backdrop at a height of 1,5m/5ft above ground. This gives animpression of the falloff to the edges of the light beam. The powerthat was needed to achieve f 8,0 on the model is stated for every
Lightformer. This offers a basis for calculation according to yourpersonal wishes for depth of field and room conditions. One f-stop moremeans doubling power (Ws) and vice versa.
Color balance on all cameras was set to factory preset „Daylight“(sun symbol) picture style „Neutral“. Except for scaling there was nopost processing involved.

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

2
5

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 250Ws
Meter reading: f=8,0,�  f=5,6 +1/10,�  f= 5,6+6/10

1Special thanks to Michael Quack, Head Of Photography, Visual Pursuit GmbH Düsseldorf, www.visualpursuit.de who developed the set up and took all the pictures

The pictures in detail:1 The effect of the light former shown on a portrait. Canon EOS 5D Mk
III with EF 4.0/70-200mm lens at 200mm focal length. Distance fromthe model to camera 9ft. ISO 100 / f 8.0. Distance from the model tofront edge of the light former is 2,5m/8ft.
2 The effect of the Lightformer shown on a full length figure. Canon EOS
5D Mk II with EF 4.0/24-105 mm USM IS L at 50 mm focal length.
Distance from camera to model 11ft. ISO 100 / f 8.0.
3 The set from above. The sharpness, edges and spread of the shadow
behind the model can be judged very well. Canon EOS 1D Mk II with
EF 4.0/17-40mm lens at 17mm focal length. Distance from Model tocamera 4,5m/15ft. ISO 100/f 7.1.
4 The set from above left. The edges of the light beam are clearly visible
and the amount of stray light that the Lightformer produces can beestimated. Canon EOS 450D with EF 3.5-4.5/0-22mm at 10 mm focallength. Distance from camera to mode15,5m/18ft. ISO 100/f 8.0.

5 Same as image 4, with an added exposure by a Hense1 EH Pro Mini
3000 flash head attached to a Hensel Tria 24SF power pack bounced
over the ceiling. This basic exposure alone would have been sufficientfor f 4.0. This is two stops below the main exposure and shows thesetup areas that would otherwise get no light. Also here are the power
values that this light former required in order to achieve f 8.0 on themodel and the meter readings from the left and right edges of thebackdrop.
6 A picture of the light former, including information of the meterreadings at the metering points.
We hope that this information will be helpful in choosing your lighting
equipment and inspires you to use new Hensel light shaping tools.

* Due to the longer period of time the pictures where taken cameras and lampheads may differ fromone set to another.

Light Shaping Comparison for Soft Light

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Softbox 30 x 40 cm, front diffusor only(max. 300 W pilot light)

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Page 1Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 500 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6,  f= 5,6+7/10

Softbox 30 x 40 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle(max. 300 W pilot light)

next pageback to overview

Page 2

Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 500 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6,  f= 5,6+7/10

60 x 80 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 3Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 500 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=5,6,
 f= 5,6+7/10

Softbox 60 x 120 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 4

Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 406 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0 + 7/10 , f= 5,6+6/10

Softbox 90 x 120 cm + Louvers

next pageback to overviewHensel Tria 3000 AS + EH Pro Mini Head,power delivered 2799 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0 +4/10,
 f=2,8 +4/10

Page 5

Softbox 60 x 120 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle, horizontal

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Page 6Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 435 WsMeter reading f=8,0, f=5,6,
 f= 5,6+6/10

Softbox 90 x 120 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 7Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 500 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=5,6+1/10,
 f= 5,6+7/10

Softbox 120 x 180 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 8Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 467 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=5,6,
 f= 5,6+8/10

Softbox 60 x 60 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 9Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 467 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0+8/10,  f= 5,6+6/10

Softbox 100 x 100 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

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Page 10Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 406 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+8/10,
 f= 5,6+6/10

Stripbox 30 x 90 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

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Page 11Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 574 Ws
Gemessene power delivered
 f=8,0 , f=4,0+8/10,
 f= 5,6+6/10

Stripbox 30 x 90 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle, horizontal

next pageback to overview

Page 12Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 574 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+7/10,
 f= 5,6+5/10

Stripbox 30 x 120 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 13Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 616 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+9/10,
 f= 5,6+5/10

Stripbox 30 x 120 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle, horizontal

next pageback to overview

Page 14Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 659 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+6/10,
 f= 5,6+6/10

Stripbox 30 x 180 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 15

Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 659 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+8/10,
 f= 5,6+4/10

Stripbox 30 x 180 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle, horizontal

next pageback to overview

Page 16Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 758 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+9/10,
 f= 5,6+8/10

Softstar, ø 105 cm

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 330 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6 +2/10,  f=5,6 +8/10

Page 17

Master Umbrella White 40“ / ø 105 cm

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Page 18



Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 354 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6,  f=5,6 +4/10

Economy Umbrella, ø 82 cm

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 354 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +8/10,  f=5,6 +5/10

Page 19

Master PM, ø 80 cm, white

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Page 20

Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 406 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0+8/10,  f= 5,6+4/10

Parabolic Umbrella Master PXL, ø 135 cm, white

next pageback to overview

Page 21Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 330 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+6/10,
 f= 5,6+5/10

Parabolic Umbrella Master PXL, ø 135 cm, silver

next pageback to overview

Page 22Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 406 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+9/10,
 f= 5,6+6/10

Parabolic Umbrella Master PXL, ø 135 cm, silver, with diffusor covernext pageback to overview

Page 23Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 574 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=5,6,
 f= 5,6+8/10

Octabox, ø 90 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 24



Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 467 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+8/10,
 f= 5,6+4/10

Octabox, ø 120 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 25Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 406 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+8/10,
 f= 5,6+4/10

Octabox, ø 150 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 26



Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 467 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+8/10,
 f= 5,6+4/10

Octabox, ø 200 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 27Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 406 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0, f=4,0+8/10,
 f= 5,6+7/10

Grand softbox, ø 90 cm, inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 28

Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 88 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0+4/10,  f= 2,8+1/10

Grand softbox, ø 90 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 29



Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 467 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0+6/10,  f= 5,6+1/10

Grand softbox, ø 120 cm, inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 30



Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 177 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6+2/10,  f= 5,6+5/10

Grand softbox, ø 120 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

next pageback to overview

Page 31Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 467 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6,  f= 5,6+7/10

Grand softbox, ø 190 cm, no diffusors

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Page 32Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 77 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6,  f= 2,8+8/10

Grand softbox, ø 190 cm, inner baffle

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Page 33

Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 95 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6+1/10,  f= 2,8+8/10

Grand softbox, ø 190 cm, front diffusor + inner baffle

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Page 34

Expert D 1000 compact head, power delivered 354 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0+8/10,  f= 5,6+1/10

Beauty Dish white

next pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 1000, power delivered 616 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6,  f=5,6 +5/10

Page 35

Beauty Dish white + 22“ (ca. 58 cm) Full Gridnext pageback to overview

Page 36Expert Pro Plus 1000, power delivered 1000 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +2/10,  f=1,4 +6/10Beauty Dish white + 7“ (ca. 18 cm) Gridnext pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 1000, power delivered 406 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +9/10,  f=4,0 +6/10

Page 37

Beauty Dish silver

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 134 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +4/10,  f=2,8 +6/10

Page 38

Beauty Dish silver + 22“ (ca. 58cm) Full Gridnext pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 203 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +6/10,  f=1,0 +8/10

Page 39

Beauty Dish silver + 7“ Gridnext pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 117 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +6/10,  f=2,8 +4/10

Page 40