Chimera Large

Overview

"Chimera Large" is not a single fixture, but the size designation "Large" within the light bank system (softboxes or light banks) from the US manufacturer Chimera Lighting (Boulder, Colorado). A Chimera light bank is a foldable fabric attachment that is placed in front of a light source and transforms the hard light from open-face, Fresnel, HMI, or LED heads into a large, soft light area.

The designation "Large" stands for a fixed size class that spans several product lines (including Video Pro Plus, Quartz Plus, Super Pro X Plus, and the Pro II series). Within the Chimera range, sizes typically range from Extra Small, Small, and Medium to Large; "Large" is therefore the standard large rectangular bank, above which there are only special sizes like strip and XXL variants.

Technical Specifications

All "Large" light banks share a rectangular front surface:

The remaining specifications differ depending on the product line, as they are designed for different light sources and heat loads:

• Video Pro Plus 1 (Large): very lightweight version for a single, wide-beam open-face head; significantly lower weight and heat resistance than the Quartz line.
• Quartz Line (Large): more heat-resistant construction for high-power Quartz/Tungsten lights; rated by the manufacturer for up to 12,000 W and designed for CHIMERA Circular Speed Rings of sizes 9 to 21.5 inches (23 to 55 cm). Within the Quartz family, there are two closely related Large models with identical dimensions: the "Quartz Plus" (Model 8445), which already includes three diffusion screens, and the "Quartz +1" or "Quartz Plus 1" (Model 8444), where the screens are purchased separately.

Mounting is done via so-called Speed Rings, which adapt the light bank to the respective lamp type. The Speed Ring is a separate, lamp-specific accessory and not part of the light bank itself.

Set Usage

A Large light bank is used when a large, soft, and directional light source is required – for example, as a key light for interviews and portraits, as a large fill light, or for soft illumination of faces and sets. The larger the radiating surface in proportion to the subject, the softer the shadows; the Large size therefore provides noticeably softer light than Small or Medium.

For light control, diffusion cloths (Front Screens) can be placed in front of the front opening, and Egg-crate/honeycomb grids (Fabric Grids, "Eggcrate") can be attached to the opening to focus the beam and reduce spill light. The correct selection of the light bank line and matching Speed Ring depends on the lamp type and wattage – especially with hot Tungsten heads, attention must be paid to the heat-resistant Quartz version.