I have been wanting to run these tests for a while since building up the camera and G&E package over the last year. I finally got some time together with friends and rented out Painted Tiger in Glendale to run these tests. I planned to test my lenses, documenting each focal length at both a static frame and static camera, as well as compare contrast ratios and different diffusion fabrics I had in the van.
Talent – David Stallings
Production Design – Sean Pedrick
Cinematographer – Paul Moldenhauer
Gaffer – Isaac Trunko
Key Grip – Cole Powers
Crafty – Madalen Zachry
OVERVIEW
Camera and Light set to 4000K using a 100mm Lens at T/2.4. Subject was 8 ft. away from the camera and
the background was 29 ft. from the subject.
- Bounce Test – Shot a 600C into 3 different 8×8 bounces angled 45-degree from the subject.
- Diffusion Test – Shot 1200b through 6 different 8×8 diffusion rags angled at 45-degree angle. Light
Intensity was adjusted to maintain a f/2.8 light meter reading on the highlight side of the subject
facing the light. In retrospect, I would like to redo this test without adjusting the light intensity to
compare how much light each diffusion cuts. - Contrast Ratio Test – Set up a book light using the 1200b, Ultrabounce, and Silent Half Grid Cloth.
Utilized and 4×4 Ultra-flop as a bounce and neg fill to achieve different contrast ratios. 1200b was set
to 14% to maintain a f/2.8 light meter reading on the key side of the subject. - Lens Comparison Test – Static Camera – The ultra-flop was then used as neg fill to maintain a 2-
stop contrast ratio, and I filmed the subject at 6 different focal lengths to compare the lenses when
the camera stayed 8 ft. away from the subject. - Lens Comparison Test – Static Frame – I then tested all 6 lens again, moving the camera to
maintain a similar medium close up frame (chest up) of the subject to compare the lens distortion
changing as the camera moves closer to the subject.
Bounce Comparison
Shot a 600C into 3 different 8×8 bounces angled 45-degree from the subject.
Diffusion Comparison
Shot 1200b through 6 different 8×8 diffusion rags angled at 45-degree angle.
Light Intensity was adjusted to maintain a f/2.8 light meter reading on the highlight side of the subject facing the light.
In retrospect, I would like to redo this test without adjusting the light intensity to compare how much light each diffusion cuts.
Contrast Ratio Comparison
Set up a book light using the 1200b, Ultrabounce, and Silent Half Grid Cloth.
Utilized a 4×4 Ultra-flop as a bounce and neg fill to achieve different contrast ratios.
1200b was set to 14% to maintain a f/2.8 light meter reading on the key side of the subject.
Lens Comparison Test – Static Camera
The ultra-flop was then used as neg fill to maintain a 2-stop contrast ratio, and I filmed the subject at 6 different focal lengths to compare the lenses when the camera stayed 8 ft. away from the subject.
Lens Comparison Test – Static Frame
I then tested all 6 lens again, moving the camera to maintain a similar medium close up frame (chest up) of the subject to compare the lens distortion changing as the camera moved closer to the subject.
Conclusions
- Favorite Bounce – Ultrabounce but intrigued to test the muslin by compensating with the white balance. It had a very nice soft quality to it, but it made it way too warm during the test when I matched the camera to the light fixture
- Favorite Diffusion – Half Grid, but did like how the ¼ silk looked for a more natural, less diffused look. I was surprised I liked the poly silk more than the China silk and can see a lot of great uses for the ¼ grid.
- Favorite Contrast Ratio – I was a fan of the 2 and 2.5 stop contrast ratio, but would love to test even larger stops in the future for both soft and harsh lighting scenarios
- Favorite Lens for Interview – I really loved how the 75mm looked when framing a standard medium and medium close up shot but love how the 100mm and 135mm look when trying to compress the background and make the bokeh larger. I think these thrive for close ups and extreme close ups but look a little too
compressed when having to step 12-20 feet back to achieve a medium shot.