HonlPhoto Rosco Gel Kit
After trumpeting my love for the LumiQuest FXtra (LQ-121), the good people at Mack Camera sent me a HonlPhoto Gel Kit to play with.
Any gel system is going to work. We’re shining light through a color tinted piece of plastic and that’s not exactly rocket science. We’re reviewing the delivery system of placing and keeping the gel over the strobe, easy removal and changing of said gel. Nothing more, nothing less.
When I opened the HonlPhoto Gel Kit box I was quite surprised. Here is a box of 2×4″ pieces of colored plastic with velcro. It was so simple, a breath of fresh air…
I’m expecting loose gels and something that somehow holds them to the strobe. The simplicity blows my mind. Ten 2×4″ gels in every flavor a serious shooter would need and on each gel two velcro strips to attach to your flash unit. And get this, at 2×4″ you’ll probably be hard pressed to find a strobe these WON’T fit on, unlike the FXtra.
Attaching the gels work just like the FXtra, they mount to a strip of (loop side) velcro that is on your flash head. For you flash head purists out there that don’t want to attach velcro to your strobes, you can purchase the HonlPhoto Speed Strap for about $10. Myself, I don’t mind a custom cut strip of velcro on the top and bottom of my strobes. As I mentioned in the previous review go to Home Depot and get yourself a roll of 1″ wide velcro and cut it yourself, rounded edges and all. Even though we’re working with professional gel sheets here, I still leave a little space between the lens of my strobe and the gel with a little room for heat to escape, know that if you’re in a situation where the extra space will allow non-gelled light to leak out, you’ll need to pull the gel tight against the lens. This gel system also has a clear gel sheet to put between the flash and the Red/Blue/Green gels which are usually thinner and can melt easier.
Now I know what you’re thinking – ten 2×4″ gels, velcro, $25, why in the world wouldn’t I make these myself? Let’s be honest, these are very easy to make. Gel, velcro and you’re done. But, unless you have a ready source of gels in all of the flavors you need sitting around are you really going to get ten different Rosco gels for under $25? No. At some point you need to cut the DIY cord and just buy what you need and go out and shoot. Think about it, $25 and you’re done. For your light correcting needs you now have a Cinegel Quarter Blue (1/4 CTB), Cinegel Tough 1/2 PlusGreen, Cinegel Tough 1/4 PlusGreen, Cinegel Roscosun CTO, Cinegel Roscosun 1/2 CTO, Cinegel Roscosun 1/4 CTO, Cinegel Roscosun 3/4 CTO and for fun you even have a Roscolux Primary Blue, Roscolux Moss Green and a Roscolux Light Red. Rosco Gels are tough and HonlPhoto really took something as simple as velcro on plastic and made it feel like it will last forever. Take care of these and they will last a very long time.
How about the down side of the HonlPhoto Gel Kit? In all, I would say nothing. This is a very well thought out collection of gels and unless you’re shooting on a different planet the gels here will be everything you need for 98% of your work. Even though the gels are larger they’ll still play nice with other HonlPhoto accessories.
Give the HonlPhoto Gel Kit a try, you won’t be dissappointed in this quick, easy, effective gel system. DIY is nice, but so is a solution that you don’t have to worry about. Keep it in your lighting bag and it’ll always deliver.
Also give Mack Camera in New Jersey a try for the HonlPhoto Gel Kit and your other photographic accessory needs, they can be reached at 973-467-2291 extension 111.
-J
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Great review John!!
We are glad that you liked the Gels. Pretty sure David Honl will be happy as well.
Mack Camera
pretty good, Just subscribed to your feed. Was searching for “film cameras” when I found “Review: HonlPhoto Rosco Gel Kit”. This has been a great read and a help; especially in the current economic climate.