Diffuser or Reflector for Fluorescent fitting above work bench?

I have recently put up a 4ft fluorescent fitting that I had laying around above my bench; primarily to be used for video filming and for small and fiddly work where extra light is needed.

Distance between fluorescent tube and bench is 103cm.

Cant decide now if I should:

A: Leave it as is with no diffuser or reflector.

B: Get a diffuser.

C: Get a white gloss reflector.

D: Get a aluminium reflector.


The Bench.



Regards: Elliott.

A, most likely you could knock the tube, smash it get covered in glass.
B, will get dusty inside and get flies etc dying in it.
C, Good for accidental knocks and reflects light down
D same as above, but one major retailer changed all there ceiling light diffusers from white to satin silver at a cost of millions, so who knows.

333rocky333 said:

A, most likely you could knock the tube, smash it get covered in glass.
B, will get dusty inside and get flies etc dying in it.

Click to expand...

Good points, especially point B. Suppose a Aluminium diffuser gives a harder light where as a gloss white diffuser gives a softer light.

Wonder what RF Lighting has to say on this subject given his handle on here.

I would leave as it is. I know we should use a Cat 2 reflector not sure what it does and if really still required with LED displays. I use LED for photography I use a CD angled to the light to see spectrum of colours or rather which colours are missing. White LED seems very good with colours. I have never noticed the strobe effect even with shutter at 1/2000 second. As to smashing you can get plastic coated tubes designed to retain the glass used a lot in food industry but I think just leave as it is.