Light Shaping Comparison for Crisp 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 reasonablyexpect, 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 Hensel
light 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 StrobeMaster 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.

overview

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Expert Pro Plus 500, Leistung 250Ws
Gemessene Blende: f=8,0,  f=5,6 +1/10,  f= 5,6+6/10

Special 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.

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Umbrella-/Floodreflector

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

Page 1

7“ Reflector (ø ca. 18 cm)

next pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 203 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6 + 1/10,  f=5,6 + 6/10

Page 2

7“ Reflector (ø ca. 18 cm) + Grid #1

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 330 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=2,8 +8/10,  f=1,0 +3/10

Page 3

7“ Reflector (ø ca 18 cm) + Grid #2

next pageback to overview

Page 4

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 330 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +3/10,  f=1,0 +6/107“ Reflector (ø ca. 18 cm) + Grid #3

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 330 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +8/10,  f=1,4 +2/10

Page 5

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm)

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 88 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +8/10,  f=4,0 +6/10

Page 6

9“ Reflector (ø ca. 23 cm) + Grid #1

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 189 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=2,8 +8/10,  f=1,0 +3/10

Page 7

9“ Reflector (ø ca. 23 cm) + Grid #2

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 134 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +3/10,  f=1,0 +6/10

Page 8

9“ Reflector (ø ca. 23 cm) + Grid #3

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 134 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +8/10,  f=1,4 +2/10

Page 99“ Reflector (ø ca. 23 cm) + Grid #4next pageback to overview

Page 10Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 117 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +5/10,  f=1,4 +6/10

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type M

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 125 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6 +1/10,  f=5,6 +3/10

Page 11

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type M + Grid Nr.1

next pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 218 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +9/10,  f=1,0 +2/10

Page 12

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type M + Grid #2

next pageback to overview

Page 13Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 177 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +3/10,  f=1,4 +3/10

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type M + Grid #3

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 165 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +6/10,  f=1,4 +8/10

Page 14

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type M + Grid #4

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 154 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +5/10,  f=2,8 +3/10

Page 15

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type L

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 144 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=5,6 +1/10,  f=5,6 +7/10

Page 16

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type L + Grid Nr.1

next pageback to overview

Page 17Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 250 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0,  f=1,0 +3/10

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type L + Grid #2

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 268 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +6/10,  f=2,0Page 18

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type L + Grid #3

next pageback to overview

Page 19

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 177 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +4/10,  f=1,4 +9/10

9“ Reflector (ø ca 23 cm) Type L + Grid #4

next pageback to overview

Page 20



Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 189 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +6/10,  f=2,8 +3/10

12“ Reflector (ø ca. 30 cm)

next pageback to overview

Page 21Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 82 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +7/10,  f=4,0 +3/10

12“ Reflector (ø ca. 30 cm) + Grid Nr.1

next pageback to overview

Page 22Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 117 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +1/10,  f=1,0 +4/10

12“ Reflector (ø ca. 30 cm) + Grid #2

next pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 134 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +5/10,  f=1,4 +3/10

Page 23

12“ Reflector (ø ca. 30 cm) + Grid #3

next pageback to overview

Page 24



Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 117 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +6/10,  f=1,4 +6/10

12“ Reflector (ø ca. 30 cm) + Grid #4

next pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 109 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +5/10,  f=2,0 +7/10

Page 25

14“ Reflector (ø ca. 34 cm) „Longhorn“

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 33 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +5/10,  f=2,8 +5/10

Page 26

14“ Reflector (ø ca. 34 cm) „Longhorn“ + Grid #3

next pageback to overviewExpert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 44 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +2/10,  f=1,4 +1/10

Page 27

14“ Reflector (ø ca. 34 cm) ”Longhorn“ + Grid #4

next pageback to overview

Expert Pro Plus 500, power delivered 47 Ws
Meter reading f=8,0,  f=4,0 +4/10,  f=2,0 +1/10

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