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The CHIMERA System
Using Your Lightbank
Chimera Lightbanks transform a direct, hard light source into a directional, controllable soft light source. The quality of light blends well with natural light and gives form to the subject without spilling into unwanted areas of your subject.
Traditional wisdom places the Lightbank close to the subject — as close to the subject as shooting conditions allow. Move the Lightbank off the lens axis to create the most beautiful modeling on your subject. Install the Lightbank’s hook & loop-attached internal diffusion panel if you want a second layer of diffusion. It is suggested that you use either bare bulb lights or adjust lighting instruments to full flood. Use extra-wide lenses on Pars, and protective screens on open-faced lights when using in Lightbanks.
Selecting a Lightbank By Usage
Although the Lightbanks are quick and easy to use, the Chimera system is quite extensive, and it can be confusing when you’re trying to decide which Lightbank is best for your needs. Perhaps you’ll find this sequence helpful.
Film/Video Line
The vast range of film, video and broadcast lighting instruments requires that special attention to given to the compatibility of the lights, Speed Rings and Lightbanks that are selected to work together. To ensure proper compatibility of the lights, Speed Rings and Lightbanks that are selected to work together. To ensure proper compatibility, refer to the film/video Speed Ring tables.
There are two major differences in Lightbank models — depth and fitting size. Regarding depth, Video PRO and Quartz Banks are shallower and designed for open-faced and broad-beamed instruments. Daylite series Banks have a deeper profile to allow the narrower beam of the Fresnel light to fill the Lightbank’s front screen. Regarding fitting size, Video PRO’s and Daylite Juniors fit dimensionally small light sources (these are the ones up to about 1000 watts), Quartz and Daylite Banks work well with large lights, and Daylite Seniors are designed to work with 12, 18 and 20 K’s.
About the Still Product line
All Lightbanks and Speed Rings for strobe are compatible with one-another, with only the occasional adjustment of pole length for a perfect fit. (Note — Video PRO and Super PRO Banks are dimensionally identical and therefore interchangeable with each other’s Speed Rings. The difference is that the new Video PRO’s are designed to be used with hot lights in the 1,000 watt range, while the White and Silver Supers should be limited to 650 watts.)
Selecting a Speed Ring
First determine the specific Speed Ring that fits your light, then select a Lightbank model that is compatible with that ring, and a size that delivers the light quality you desire.
- Film/Video
- Dedicated
- Circular
- Adjustable
- Still Photography
- Pro Flash Heads
- On-Camera
Selecting a Shape / Size
“The size of the source — that’s the quality of light.” This statement, made by photographer-educator Dean Collins, defines the select of Lightbank size — namely, it depends upon the quality of light that you want. A traditional rule in determining Lightbank size is in order to obtain a good wrap of light, the Lightbank should be at least as large as the subject.
- Shapes/Size Overview
- Retangle
- Strip
- Octa
- Lantern
- David and Goliath (Mini/Maxi vs F2 Lightbanks)
Selecting Accessories
Last select an appropriate accessory for the front end of the Lightbank — for directional control, you can choose from barn doors, grids, and LiteShaperrs. For color and output, you have color filtration, and bobinette screens.
Fine-tuning the Lightbank Selection
Consider the beam width of your lights, and your shooting style, when choosing between deep and shallow depth Lightbanks. The lighter-weight grid cloth screens, available for Plus Lightbanks, provide more transmission and a more specular quality of light. The photographer’s choice between white and silver Lightbank interiors is a fine-tuning decision between a little softer or a little more specular quality of light. The soft silver interior of Video PRO Banks falls between the white and silver interiors of Super PRO Banks in specularity.
Performance
Chimera Lightbanks are very controlled, highly efficient diffusion sources. If the light source-to-subject distance (prior to attaching the Lightbank) is maintained, the loss of light through a Lightbank mounted on a “bare bulb” or “bare tube” unreflectored source is approximately zero. On high performance sources with built-in reflectors the light loss is about 2 stops. Using the Lightbank’s internal diffusion panel will reduce output by an additional 1/2 f-stop. Also, if the light-source to subject distance is maintained, your exposure will not be significantly changed by switching to a larger or smaller Lightbank.
(Also see Care And Usage in the Support Section)
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