Printable View
The proportions looked wrong for inches although I have 2- 72" umbrella softboxes and an 84" strip light. When I started softboxes were made from plywood so I really like the light weight, folding modifiers we have now.Quote:
Originally Posted by dxp
The 6 foot umbrella softboxes (Impact) are $100 at B&H and with a bare flash head inside, pointed toward the rear light falloff is only 2/3 of a stop center to edge. Not bad for the money and folded, takes very little space.
I've never seen a plywood softbox so I guess that means I'm "young".Quote:
Originally Posted by Mal Paso
Yeah it's pretty amazing what $100 can get these days you in terms of a quality modifier. I spend about the same on a Godox QR-P120 120cm quick-release "octa", which goes from collapsed to assembled and back again in less than a minute, has 16 panels so is close to a perfect circle as far as catchlights go, and produces a lovely quality of light. I've not measured the fallouf, but it's using two layers of diffusion and seems relatively even.
—
I'm most of the way through a 'capacitor detox' day for my flashes and packs. Something like 14 monolights done with another five or six I need to track down, and halfway through what must be a dozen battery or mains powered generators.
And not a single puff of smoke or popping sound from any of them!
Attachment 260744
I've got more Elinchrom monolights than I'd realised (and there's a cheap Godox snuck in there too).
Magic Smoke once it escapes is almost impossible to put back and electronics won't run without it.
I'm up to 7 power packs, 16 heads including 2 optical spots and 4 monos for about 20KW. I keep saying "No more good deals" but we'll see how long that lasts.
We built plywood softboxes in the late 60s. Braun might have had their fiberglass softbox for a small fortune but there wasn't much on the marker. I bought the large Chimera softbox about 1980 with a Manfrotto Super Boom and had an instant skylight.
I'm exercising my strobes too; My three Primo 2 packs (which I use all the time) are AOK fine. Two of my Opus 2 packs were fine. The third one was plugged into my basement outlet, it was going ok, but when I fired it again, there was a loud "crack" and it popped the breaker. No smoke. I took it out to my garage for now, and called Samy's in LA, they might be able to do something, although it's passed the thirty day return window. My new Primo 2 Heads all seem good so far, really I bought them for the flashtubes which look kinda pristine. Even the modeling bulbs are still good.
I paid very little for all of this, so it's all to the good. I figure I paid about $100 for my fiberglass Hazylight. Back in the day I used the top line Chimera medium and large softboxes, stilll have them stored away. Had two of the big top line Chimera Strip Lights too. These fit nicely in my old apartment studio, but not now in my smaller studio space. Ah Well. Five packs have tested OK, one is questionable. Next I will check my Monolights, two C200, a C80, and a bunch of Impact units. And four more packs to check too.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cb2eee45_b.jpgFive Broncolor 1600J Power Packs all aok by Nokton48, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f4de3d6d_b.jpgSlate New James Bright 8x8 foot Background CFV16 100mm CT Star F11 Octobox 150 by Nokton48, on Flickr
I bought this James Bright Background "Slate" on Ebay, it was 10 foot by 20 foot. So I took it outside, and spread it out in the sun. Folded it over on itself to make two equal pieces, and cut it in two. Then measured two feet in on one side, and cut both backgrounds down to eight feet. Then using Gaffer Tape, taped one end securely to my background holding rod. Then rolled it up tightly and installed it to hang from the studio ceiing, along with my other muslin and paper backgrounds. This is lighting test Hasselblad 500C/M with CFV16 Digital Back, and 100mm CT* Zeiss Planar. Lighting by Broncolor Octobox 150 powered by Opus A2 1600J setting. F11 at ISO 100 recorded by my Broncolor Strobe Meter. The other background is folded up, I'll be using it elsewhere. Very good price for what I paid. I like this new background it'll get some use.
Samy's in LA is giving me a refund on the Opus A2 that popped (loud crack and breaker popped, reset.) So GOOD on Samy's! :) Refund headed my way.
James Bright backgrounds were expensive, they are in the Sinar and Calumet catalogs of the time.
That's a nice background you've got there, I could find a use for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Unkefer
Good news about your refund for the Opus A2. I finally received a refund for that "new" Broncolor 75cm Octa that was actually well-used, with the stained front diffusor (turns out it also has a couple of small holes in it as well) along those other issues I mentioned. The seller made no effort to resolve things through PayPal, and in the end PayPal refunded me by default, with no requirement to return the octa. So I need to see if I can track down a replacement front diffusor and straighten some of those rods a little.
Separately, in an ironic twist given the long time it took for me to find that Picobox I purchased a couple of weeks ago, another used one was advertised a few days back, this one less than 40min drive away, and offered in a set containing a Picolite, the Picobox, the snoot with its three grids and pair of aperture masks, and a Picolite to Pulso adapter. The price was too good to let pass by (the seller accepted 400€ for the lot), especially as I don't require either the snoot or Pulso adapter (already have enough of each) and will find new homes for them to further lower the cost of the lamp and Picobox.
That's nearly it for me an Picolite accessories. I'd like to find one more Fresnel spot attachment so I have a pair, and I'll grab another Picolite when another deal pops up, but my collection of Pico-series bits is almost done. Now I need to start putting them to work.
The photographer I bought the set from was offering all sorts of goodies as he downsizes to operate from home rather than his current studio. He showed me a bunch of FOBA items (unfortunately, all items I already have and don't need extras of) some basic stands, and even a very solid Cambo (maybe?) camera stand he was willing to part with for 50€...but we measured it and it's 15cm too tall to fit under my domestic-height ceilings. A real shame!
If you put the supplemental diffuser on it, it might smooth out the lighting enough to use it for some things? I put Architectural Vellum cut precisely with tabs cut out also, I used a Swingline Stapler to secure the Vellum tightly inside my Octobox 75. Now if Broncolor ever gets any Supplemental Octobox 75 Diffusers, I will bite the bullet and buy one for myself. My Small Octo 75 does produce beautiful light, and I have the Grid for it too, it popped up on B&H.... Everything I want from Broncolor is sold out right now, so I wait and watch EBay.Quote:
Originally Posted by dxp
Yeah I think with the supplemental diffusor it would be fine, just another thing to track down!Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Unkefer
I picked up Bron's honeycomb grid for the Flooter S last week, too. Almost in perfect condition, and it survived a journey with DHL in less than robust packaging. I don't currently have the space to set up the Flooter though, so just have to admire it looking pretty with its new accessory and imagine what the light might look like from it. Now I only need to find a set of barn doors for it and my big fresnel set up is complete!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0744b5fd_b.jpgSONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr
I will need to drill a lot of holes to finish this. Will be brass hobby bolts to hold it solidly together. This is a very Kewl little Softlight; I bolted the circular plastic diffuser directly to the exact center of the very thick grid. An Easy Peasy Solution, converting Elinchrom to Broncolor Pulso easiest best way. The light it's making is unique and I'm glad I grabbed this one for $65 plus shipping. Looks about $300 Plus on B&H so Good Good. BTW I have three other Diffusion Disks to change the quality of the Beauty light. The quality is not the same as an umbrella or a softbox so far IMO.
With my Flooter Spot equipped with Grid, I find it's quite useful for lighting small objects and backgrounds. With the Grid Broncolor recommends it for Fashion Photography. Definitely useful for Portraiture.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...abacbe1d_b.jpgBroncolor Fresnel Spotlight Test Simulated Sunlight by Nokton48, on Flickr
Instant Simulated Sunlight very beautiful. I love it. Couldn't do this without the Flooter Grid.