old equipment
 

I was looking through my old video equipment from the 80's a found some mics and a wireless mic made by Azden. Also a Sunpak video light. I charged it up and after 10 years it still works. It's kind of bright!! Just wondering if anyone knows if you can buy something that will soften the light that will fit on most lights. It will save me some money right now.

The old Azden mic used to work pretty good, but if I remember it seems like it would have interference if it was around certain types of lights.

Head over to the local arts supply store. In their drafting section, there should be stuff like velum tracing paper. You should be able to find some sheets of paper-thin plastic that's as translucent as velum.

With some skill, it shouldn't be hard to rig up a frame (matte box) that holds a piece of that plastic in front of the light to turn it into a "soft box" of sorts.

CarterTG's suggestion is a good one. Vellum is a sturdy tracing paper designed to handle some degree of heat (from Diazo duplication processes) and has a very even density with no dark spots. Just ask for a pad of "1000H" paper.

I'd bet that you could fashion a pretty good frame/holder from a wire coat hanger if your SunPak looks like I think it does. Cut the hook off below the twist. Bend the long side into a semi-circle that could clip over the light. Then bend the free ends up and then down to enable gels (i.e. the 1000H paper) to be clipped to the wire at 4 points.

Just brainstorming with ya.

If you can't get the tracing paper, just plain ol oven baking paper does a good job and comes in 100m rolls for a couple of bucks

some good ideas,,thanks.