COB lights attracting moths at DVinfo.net

Paul Mailath · June 16th, 2022, 11:28 PM

I've used COB lights on a couple of night shoots Aputure 120 & Forza 300) and I'm always concerned that moths are going to hit the COB and bugger up the light - Has anyone had any experience of this?

Andrew Smith · June 17th, 2022, 02:43 AM

As soon as I read "bugger up the light" I knew the post was coming from a fellow Aussie. :-)

Andrew

Ronald Jackson · June 17th, 2022, 07:24 AM

An expression which first saw the light of day in England old chap!

Dead night flying insects plastering your car windscreen unfortunately no longer a common occurrence in the Old Country. Lack of insects.

Ron

Oren Arieli · June 21st, 2022, 12:38 PM

If you're using it bare, you can try a scrim which will intercept the critters before they hit your COB...but that will cut your output. There are also honeycomb grids that work with bowens-mount reflectors, although they will narrow your beam angle.

Paul R Johnson · June 24th, 2022, 04:13 AM

Well they don't smell as bad as hitting a real lamp - is this a problem? not exactly a new one. If they get smeared, wipe them down. You can even use fingers which we couldn't on halogen lamps.

Andrew Smith · June 26th, 2022, 06:33 AM

One of those electronic bug zapper lamps might be worth using. The UV light attracts the winged critters and then the high voltage electricity finishes them off. Granted, the bigger moths tend to sizzle for a while.

And if any of the zapping and popping makes it on to the audio you are recording, standard audio tools should be able to rectify it.

Andrew

June 16th, 2022, 11:28 PM	#1
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	COB lights attracting moths I've used COB lights on a couple of night shoots Aputure 120 & Forza 300) and I'm always concerned that moths are going to hit the COB and bugger up the light - Has anyone had any experience of this? __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

June 17th, 2022, 02:43 AM	#2
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,019	Re: COB lights attracting moths As soon as I read "bugger up the light" I knew the post was coming from a fellow Aussie. :-) Andrew

June 17th, 2022, 07:24 AM	#3
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 723	Re: COB lights attracting moths An expression which first saw the light of day in England old chap! Dead night flying insects plastering your car windscreen unfortunately no longer a common occurrence in the Old Country. Lack of insects. Ron

June 21st, 2022, 12:38 PM	#4
Oren Arieli Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 918	Re: COB lights attracting moths If you're using it bare, you can try a scrim which will intercept the critters before they hit your COB...but that will cut your output. There are also honeycomb grids that work with bowens-mount reflectors, although they will narrow your beam angle.

June 24th, 2022, 04:13 AM	#5
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,016	Re: COB lights attracting moths Well they don't smell as bad as hitting a real lamp - is this a problem? not exactly a new one. If they get smeared, wipe them down. You can even use fingers which we couldn't on halogen lamps.

June 26th, 2022, 06:33 AM	#6
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,019	Re: COB lights attracting moths One of those electronic bug zapper lamps might be worth using. The UV light attracts the winged critters and then the high voltage electricity finishes them off. Granted, the bigger moths tend to sizzle for a while. And if any of the zapping and popping makes it on to the audio you are recording, standard audio tools should be able to rectify it. Andrew