barn doors vs snoot?

[Dave Pickett]

Can barn doors with honeycomb give a similar effect to a snoot, Or is this something else I need to buy?

(Thinking of trying them as a hair light)

 

[HoppyUK]

Similar, but a bigger light pool and harder to control. Okay if you're close. Snoot is favourite for a hairlight.

Barndoors are for controlling spill, shielding the lens or background. Snoot is for putting a small pool of light where you want it, and nowhere else.

 

[Garry Edwards]

I almost agree with Richard (above) but not quite

Snoots typically come with (removable) honeycombs) so do a pretty good job as a hairlight, but the only reason that the honeycomb in the snoot produces a small area of light is that it's physically very small - the honeycomb itself us normally pretty course, which limits its position to a fairly acute angle.

So, you might want to consider a standard reflector with a fine honeycomb fitted, either a 10 or 20 degree - it will do everything that a honeycombed snoot will do but is more versatile, and because the angle is tighter you will be able to use it at a less acute angle without risk of flare.

The honeycombs supplied with most barn doors are pretty useless IMO