Cinematographer
Aus DoP-Perspektive ist dieses Element essentiell für die visuelle Gestaltung. Es ermöglicht mir die gewünschte Farbstimmung und das ästhetische Bild konsistent umzusetzen.
Heat-resistant fabric softbox by Chimera designed to mount on continuous tungsten and open-face lighting fixtures.
Overview
The Video Pro (today mostly referred to as Video Pro Plus One) is a fabric softbox – known in film jargon as a lightbank or Chimera – from the US manufacturer Chimera (Colorado). It is not a standalone light fixture, but a light modifier that is mounted in front of the light-emitting opening of an existing fixture. The pyramid-shaped fabric box with a silver interior and one or more diffusion gels transforms hard source light into soft, enveloping light with soft shadow edges.
Characteristic of the Video Pro series is the heat-resistant fabric, specifically designed for the waste heat of continuous lights (Tungsten/Halogen, open-face fixtures, bare-bulb, and PAR instruments). The addition of Plus One / +1 denotes the removable, interchangeable front diffusion panel, allowing the diffusion strength to be changed.
Technical Data
The maximum permissible lamp wattage increases with the size of the box. The following values are from the manufacturer's product specifications:
| Size | Dimensions (Front Face) | Max. Wattage (Continuous Light) |
|---|---|---|
| XXS | 12 x 16 in | 500 W |
| XS | 16 x 22 in | 750 W |
| Small | 24 x 32 in | 1000 W |
| Medium | 36 x 48 in | 1200 W |
| Large | 54 x 72 in | 1200 W |
- Interior Surface: silver (higher efficiency than white)
- Diffusion: full front diffusion gel plus internal baffle; depending on the kit, additional gels of different strengths
- Application: according to the manufacturer, standard for continuous light fixtures below approximately 2000 W
Set Application
The box is attached to the fixture via a suitable Speed Ring (adapter ring, matched to the specific fixture model); the support struts are inserted into the ring and tension the fabric. This allows almost any common Tungsten or open-face fixture to be converted into a softbox light source.
Typical applications include soft key or fill light for interviews, portraits, and set lighting. Accessories such as Fabric Grids or metal honeycomb grids can be used to narrow the light output and control diffusion, preventing spill light onto walls or backgrounds. Due to the heat-resistant fabrics, the Video Pro series is particularly suitable for hot continuous lights; for higher-powered or differently constructed fixtures, Chimera offers other product lines.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Producer
Diese professionelle Lösung erhöht die Produktionseffizienz und reduziert Post-Production-Anforderungen. Sie ermöglicht flexible, schnelle Anpassungen während des Drehs.
Gaffer
Als Gaffer ist dies ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug meines täglichen Handwerkszeugs. Es ermöglicht mir professionelle Lichtkontrolle und schnelle Anpassungen auf Set, was Zeit spart und Qualität sichert.
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Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Chimera Video Pro"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?