Why is Profoto’s Wide Zoom Reflector called “wide” if the Zoom Reflector lists a larger spread angle?
Asked 8/3/2015
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I’m comparing Profoto’s Zoom Reflector and Wide Zoom Reflector. On the product pages, the Zoom Reflector is listed as having a light spread of 105° at position 10, while the Wide Zoom Reflector is listed as 80° at position 10.
Since 105° is a larger angle than 80°, why is the second one called “Wide”? What practical difference should I expect between these two reflectors?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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Without going into technicalities, I can provide some user experience.
Having hired both reflectors for a previous job; firstly, the Zoom reflectors were a lot smaller, 7-8in in diameter and about 6in depth and the Widezoom reflector was a lot larger, about twice the size from what I can recall. The zoom reflector at position 10 gave a harder shadow than the Widezoom at position 10, maybe it was the actual size of the reflector doing this.
Due to the larger size of the wide zoom, the lightspread was very definitely softer. I was photographing the front quarter of a car, i.E front light, wheel arch with half of the front grill and needed hard light fall off, so opted for the Zoom Reflector and used the wide zoom as a fill in side light.
The figures you mention, could be something to do with the actual size of the reflectors, but it also may have something to do with the zoom reflector sitting further back at position 10. Either way, the wide zoom definitely had a softer spread of light and I would have preferred it for fashion.
Originally by user34085. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user34085
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The name can be confusing if you only compare the quoted beam angles. From user experience, the Wide Zoom Reflector is physically much larger than the standard Zoom Reflector, and that larger apparent light source gives a softer, broader-looking quality of light in practice.
So even though the listed spread angle at one zoom position may be smaller, the Wide Zoom can still produce softer shadows and a more wrapping fill because of its larger size. The standard Zoom Reflector is smaller and tends to give a harder, more contrasty look with crisper shadow edges.
In practical use:
- Zoom Reflector: smaller, harder light, stronger falloff, more defined shadows.
- Wide Zoom Reflector: larger, softer light, better for fill or broader coverage feel.
The published angle numbers likely don’t tell the whole story by themselves; reflector size and light quality matter as much as beam angle.
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