Today we’re going to review the Quasar Science Crossfade LED Tube lights or Quasar X-fades as they are called as well. These lights have become especially popular in music videos and science fiction films. Many DPs are actually using these lights in the scene to create unique lighting setups. Check out the full Quasar Crossfade Review below after you’ve watched the video for more info.
Quasar Crossfade Review: What’s The Power?
In particular, the nice thing about these tubes is they have 50 watts of power in each tube in the 4’ versions. So they have a really powerful but soft output. We especially like using them for interviews. We lit this episode using only 4’ Quasar Crossfade lights. In fact, just a single Crossfade is being used to key Ash and Christian in the video!
We were using a Kino Flo 4’ 4Bank previously, but now we can use just 1 or 2 of these Quasars for a key light and it’s got plenty of juice. Plus they are dimmable so you can adjust and dial in your output. Check out the Quasar Crossfade Review video above or watch our video How To Film A Car Scene At Night to see them in action!
Quasar Crossfade Review: LED Light Sizes & Color
In addition to the power, they come in different sizes: 1’, 2’, 4’, 6’, and 8’. We tested the 4’ Crossfade tubes in this video, which are bi-color (ranging from 2000 – 6000 kelvin). As far as color rendition, the Quasar Crossfades have a CRI of 95 which is very good and they are really accurate in the testing we’ve done. They are flicker free, which is super nice too! Especially, if you plan to do any high speed filming.
Quasar Science Price
For $275 a pop, they’re a great starter light if you’re looking to build a light kit, and more versatile than a Kino Flo or a 1×1 Litepanel style LED light. They’re really versatile lights and a lot of fun to use in the studio or out in the field as well. They’re not too big, so you can have a little kit of four of these instead of packing a much larger Gaffer’s kit.
Quasar LED Light Accessories
Now, we want to go over some of our favorite accessories for the Quasar Crossfade’s with you:
- Cases: Of course, there are a couple different options available for cases. For example, you can use a case from Kino Flo, typically used to store Kino Flo bulbs, but can fit up to 6 Quasar 4’ tubes. Unfortunately, it’s not a hard case, but does offer decent protection. They go for about $65. On the other hand, our favorite little secret is a gun case from Amazon. You can fit about 5 tubes in here, and it’s only $25! It’s also a hard case, so you get that little extra peace of mind if you’re traveling.
- The Quasar Tube Holder: There are a some variations of these that hold anywhere from 1 to 4 tubes. In addition, they range from $35 to $100. Generally, these are great to attach your Quasar tubes to a C-stand.
- Dimmers: You will need one of these bad boys if you want to dim your Quasar Crossfades. So, grabbing a couple of these is a must if you want to control your output! These go anywhere from $15 to $40 online. In other words, dim it while it’s hot!
In conclusion, Quasars LED Tubes are a lot of fun, and if you haven’t added any to your light kit, they aren’t a huge investment. Leave a comment below and let us know if you have any questions! Thanks for checking out our Quasar Crossfade Review.
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Gear used in this video:
CAMERAS
-Canon C300 – https://amzn.to/2Fe9SlD
-Canon EOS R – https://amzn.to/2QaPZlK
LIGHTS
-Quasar Science 4ft Crossfade LED Tube Light – https://amzn.to/2HJ7HJj
QUASAR ACESSORIES
-Kino Flo Carry Case (6 Bulbs) – https://amzn.to/2HMxW1n
-Quasar Hard Case (5 Bulbs) – https://amzn.to/2UiAIkJ
-600w Dimmer – https://amzn.to/2lPCsm9
-Quasar Single Tube Mount – https://amzn.to/2HLEqxJ
-Quasar Double Tube Mount – https://amzn.to/2U4lalj
LENSES
-Canon 24-105mm – https://amzn.to/2ILo9tp
Other equipment we use to film:
CAMERAS
-Canon 5D Mark iii: https://amzn.to/2DCJqBS
-Sony A7III – https://amzn.to/2TAoYqK
-Canon C100 – https://amzn.to/2u04CMm
LENSES
-Canon 100mm macro – https://amzn.to/2KsZuaF (product shots & CUs)
TRIPODS
-Sachtler – https://amzn.to/2KTXbfH
MICS
-Sennheiser MKE600 – https://amzn.to/2ILulBP
-Sennheiser 416 – https://amzn.to/2INrtQy
LIGHTS
-Litepanel Astra 6x – https://amzn.to/2KUBYCB
-Kino Flo Diva LED – https://amzn.to/2BuunZp
PHOTO GEAR
-Profoto Beauty Dish – https://amzn.to/2zgfjPV
-Profoto D2 500 Strobe Kit – https://amzn.to/2J28AZx
-Canon 5D mkIII – https://amzn.to/2KRE3zl
-Profoto Air Remote – https://amzn.to/2MU7MZa
Filmed on location at: https://www.LitewaveMedia.com in St. Petersburg, FL.
Special Thanks to the St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission Digital Creator Program
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost any more for you, and helps support the channel so we can continue to make more videos like this. Thank you for your support!
