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Beauty dish for Speedlite
- Thread starter sacentre
- Start date
Howard Moftich
Veteran Member
LouCioccio
Senior Member
rockjano
Senior Member
You can buy an adapter which can accept bowens compatible lightmodifiers.
With taht you can put any beautydish onto a hotshoe flash even a 70cm big one.
With taht you can put any beautydish onto a hotshoe flash even a 70cm big one.
flbdig
Senior Member
I have 2 16" Lumodis and they work great and are super light weight. The company has excellent service also.
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1Co 13:13 But now we still have faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is LOVE!!!
http://www.flbdig.com
--
1Co 13:13 But now we still have faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is LOVE!!!
http://www.flbdig.com
Many thanks for the replies. I like the look of the 18" Lumodi although I'm always a bit suspicious when goods are described as "handmade" as if it's an indication of better quality somehow than products made by automated machinery. Exactly which bits are made by hand I wonder and how much of the product is actually made in country (by hand or otherwise) to qualify for that "HANDMADE in CALIFORNIA" tag? From the photos, the support brackets and ball swivel look identical to the ones Phottix supply with their knockoff Lastolite softbox. Probably from the same Chinese factory so I doubt there's much that's hand made as far as the bracketry is concerned.
However, that's not to say the Lumodi isn't well made for the price and performs as expected so I will check it out. I can always return it if I don't like it. Thanks again for the link. At the end of the day, it's the price/quality ratio that counts -not where or how it's made.
On the "handmade" issue though, I watched the video of Lee filters being made and I saw nothing in that process that leads me to think they are necessarily better quality than would be the case with a carefully monitored automated process. Yet this is clearly implied in their advertising. I'd say it's simply because the company is small and can't justify the capital costs of automation given the volume of product they move at present that they are hand made. I'm not saying the filters don't do what they are supposed to do but my set shows slightly uneven edges where the polymer sheet has been hand cut and hand finished. No big deal but in a properly set up automated process the cut edges would be accurate, square and sharp. Lee filters are expensive. Is this because they really are superior or just a reflection of a labour intensive manufacturing process in a country where labor costs are sky high?
IMHO, the only time that "handmade" ever means anything (or used to) is in tailoring. A handmade, hand stitched suit by a master tailor is likely to look and fit much better than an off-the-shelf machine made one. Just my ten cents.
Trevor
However, that's not to say the Lumodi isn't well made for the price and performs as expected so I will check it out. I can always return it if I don't like it. Thanks again for the link. At the end of the day, it's the price/quality ratio that counts -not where or how it's made.
On the "handmade" issue though, I watched the video of Lee filters being made and I saw nothing in that process that leads me to think they are necessarily better quality than would be the case with a carefully monitored automated process. Yet this is clearly implied in their advertising. I'd say it's simply because the company is small and can't justify the capital costs of automation given the volume of product they move at present that they are hand made. I'm not saying the filters don't do what they are supposed to do but my set shows slightly uneven edges where the polymer sheet has been hand cut and hand finished. No big deal but in a properly set up automated process the cut edges would be accurate, square and sharp. Lee filters are expensive. Is this because they really are superior or just a reflection of a labour intensive manufacturing process in a country where labor costs are sky high?
IMHO, the only time that "handmade" ever means anything (or used to) is in tailoring. A handmade, hand stitched suit by a master tailor is likely to look and fit much better than an off-the-shelf machine made one. Just my ten cents.
Trevor
Azra
Forum Enthusiast
Hi,
I'd like to make it clear the message I'm posting isn't to wind anyone up.... but can you find me any photos where people have used speedlight beauty dish's to any decent effect?
I've only ever used bd or assisted when people have used BD, and we rely on the edge of the lighting to be ocnstantly moved (hence why we keep the modelling light on).
I would love to see examples of how a speedlight beauty dish can be used well, as I've always found it hard to believe that they are any better than a octabox or flagged reflector at such small sizes.
MY understanding (which maybe be incomplete) is that unless the Bd is large, the "magic" bit of light is too small to be of use, and if you use a BD w/ a sock, you may as well use an octa or softliter.
[any constructive repleis welcomed].
cheers
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url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
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Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
I'd like to make it clear the message I'm posting isn't to wind anyone up.... but can you find me any photos where people have used speedlight beauty dish's to any decent effect?
I've only ever used bd or assisted when people have used BD, and we rely on the edge of the lighting to be ocnstantly moved (hence why we keep the modelling light on).
I would love to see examples of how a speedlight beauty dish can be used well, as I've always found it hard to believe that they are any better than a octabox or flagged reflector at such small sizes.
MY understanding (which maybe be incomplete) is that unless the Bd is large, the "magic" bit of light is too small to be of use, and if you use a BD w/ a sock, you may as well use an octa or softliter.
[any constructive repleis welcomed].
cheers
--
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
Hi Azra
What you're asking is perfectly reasonable and I'd be interested in any responses you get. I don't see why anyone should feel "wound up" by your query but can understand sometimes while one feels the need to preface ones questions in that way.
I've seen some examples of shots taken with 18" or 22" dishes and while the shots look very good, I wonder how a properly set up softbox of appropriate size would compare.
I've never used a large BD but have fooled around with a small self made one of about 7" mounted on a Speedlite on a stand very close to the subject. I wasn't impressed but there's always the possibility I just wasn't using it right.
I'm also playing around with a spherical globe diffuser similar to the Gary Fong product and was very surprised by the ease with which I could get very soft, evenly distributed light. Again, it would be a question whether this is any better or worse than a softbox for portraits. A softbox doesn't spray light around in 360 degrees for a start. However, one test shot I took in my living room with a 17mm lens with the globe lit the entire field of view with soft,even, shadow-less light which was quite pleasing. I tried it on a close up of the wife's face and got a very soft, even light with no blown highlights even when used as main light in a fairly dark room. The BD produced hot spots which were very hard to control. Again, it may be lack of expertise or the dish is simply too small to be useful.
Trevor
What you're asking is perfectly reasonable and I'd be interested in any responses you get. I don't see why anyone should feel "wound up" by your query but can understand sometimes while one feels the need to preface ones questions in that way.
I've seen some examples of shots taken with 18" or 22" dishes and while the shots look very good, I wonder how a properly set up softbox of appropriate size would compare.
I've never used a large BD but have fooled around with a small self made one of about 7" mounted on a Speedlite on a stand very close to the subject. I wasn't impressed but there's always the possibility I just wasn't using it right.
I'm also playing around with a spherical globe diffuser similar to the Gary Fong product and was very surprised by the ease with which I could get very soft, evenly distributed light. Again, it would be a question whether this is any better or worse than a softbox for portraits. A softbox doesn't spray light around in 360 degrees for a start. However, one test shot I took in my living room with a 17mm lens with the globe lit the entire field of view with soft,even, shadow-less light which was quite pleasing. I tried it on a close up of the wife's face and got a very soft, even light with no blown highlights even when used as main light in a fairly dark room. The BD produced hot spots which were very hard to control. Again, it may be lack of expertise or the dish is simply too small to be useful.
Trevor
FlyNavy
Forum Enthusiast
http://www.lumodi.com/buy.html
I use the lumodi. The owner will answer any questions you have by calling the number on the website. I am very rough on mine and although it is very light weight it has stood up well. The owner is about to launch an new larger version.
--
http://www.jmledy.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi40rP_k-XA
I use the lumodi. The owner will answer any questions you have by calling the number on the website. I am very rough on mine and although it is very light weight it has stood up well. The owner is about to launch an new larger version.
--
http://www.jmledy.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi40rP_k-XA
Azra
Forum Enthusiast
Hi,
Thakns for the reply - I was hoping you could post some examples ofyour work please? As i am well aware of how companies 'cherry pick' real life examples. Plus the company owner is hardly going to tell me I'd be wasting my money
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url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
Thakns for the reply - I was hoping you could post some examples ofyour work please? As i am well aware of how companies 'cherry pick' real life examples. Plus the company owner is hardly going to tell me I'd be wasting my money
--
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
Azra
Forum Enthusiast
Hey,
Thakns for taking the time to post those images. To my eyes they look no different to anything I've shot using an octabox (without the diffuser) or a gridded reflector.
If you can rememebr - where was the Bd pointed at for th efirst shot (the model in the pruple dress)?
cheers
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
Thakns for taking the time to post those images. To my eyes they look no different to anything I've shot using an octabox (without the diffuser) or a gridded reflector.
If you can rememebr - where was the Bd pointed at for th efirst shot (the model in the pruple dress)?
cheers
--I have a 22" Beauty Dish and have used it with with canon speedlights.
--
---
Brook
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url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
Forgot to mention that some of the photos of the guy are with a gridded Beauty Dish.
The "Model" (lol) in the purple, the BD was camera left, about 8 feet high, and about 6 feet away from the model. If you look closely at the nose shadow you can get an idea of the placement.
---
Brook
The "Model" (lol) in the purple, the BD was camera left, about 8 feet high, and about 6 feet away from the model. If you look closely at the nose shadow you can get an idea of the placement.
----I have a 22" Beauty Dish and have used it with with canon speedlights.
--
---
Brook
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
---
Brook
Azra
Forum Enthusiast
cheers !
For the first time in a long time, I'm able to say no to buying gear
- the speedlight BD does nothing I can't do with a sml parabolic brolly and my eli quadra kit.
but if you have only speedlights, I can see this being a useful tool [beofre anyone thinks I'm being a gear snob].
--
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
For the first time in a long time, I'm able to say no to buying gear
- the speedlight BD does nothing I can't do with a sml parabolic brolly and my eli quadra kit.but if you have only speedlights, I can see this being a useful tool [beofre anyone thinks I'm being a gear snob].
--
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
deanr1968
Well-known member
Joseph S Wisniewski
Forum Pro
No. Sorry. But there are adapters around to mount speedlights to just about any "mainline" studio flash accessories, whether it's a Bowens S mount, a Paul Buff mount, or a Profoto mount.
That is not true. Beauty dishes are pretty high efficiency light sources. They take in over half a flash's "sphere of light" and reflect that pretty much straight forward with a lightly textured aluminum surface. So, as long as you're not operating at insane distances from the subject (like trying to use a beauty dish to light a subject 10 feet away) you're transferring a good portion of a flash's energy towards the subject. Losses are typically only a stop or two.
This whole "bigger modifiers need more power" thing is a misconception that comes from the "real" rule "bigger subjects need more power". Because bigger subjects usually demand bigger modifiers, people got it into their heads that it's the bigger modifiers that cause the need for more power. At optimal "subject distance = reflector size" portrait work, you need pretty much the same amount of power for a 2 foot softbox as a 6 foot one. I can (and have) run a 7 foot octo off a 300 w-s studio strobe.
--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.
Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.
Ciao! Joseph
http://www.swissarmyfork.com
Speedlight or not, it's the light that the modifier produces that matters. The idea, as I understand it, of using a standard large beauty dish is to get soft light with a bit more definition and contrast than a similar sized softbox. If you put a sock on the front, you get softer light from the diffusion but still a lot of control. The main issue with using a beauty dish with a speed light is power.
All else equal, a smaller beauty dish will have harder light that a larger one. But if it's really close, a small dish with a speedlight might be really interesting.
It's all a matter of what kind of light one wants to create.
-Dan Rode
http://rodephoto.com
All else equal, a smaller beauty dish will have harder light that a larger one. But if it's really close, a small dish with a speedlight might be really interesting.
It's all a matter of what kind of light one wants to create.
--
-Dan Rode
http://rodephoto.com
Azra
Forum Enthusiast
Thakns for taking the time to write that reply.... I've been away shooting and only just got a chance to get inform of a computer.
In my opinion you cant tell the difference between a gridded sfotbox and a BD with a sock on it. Dave Hill, in a few interviews, alludes to the same. My experience of using BD on fashion shoots (as assistant or as photographer) certainly agrees. Add cinewrap / cinefilm and you've got all the options you want.
Currently I'm a massive fan of parabolic umbrellas and use them instead of softboxes or BD's whnever I can, but thats my current fad. I feel you can get a BD style contrast / punch with a decent amount of softness. Then again ,I've bene using 2.5m tall parabolics so maybe I'm the wrong person to be commenting, lol.
Seriously tho, thansk for the replies, Ive found this thread interesting and was wondering if i was missing a trick by not using a small BD wirth a speedlight to go with my studio stobes... from what has been posted here I dont see me getting one as I feel my current gear allows me to get a similar effect.
I prefer to use strobes as I like using the modelling lights to set the "edge" of my light.
BUT if i was a speedlight user, I think i'd be tempted by a small BD.
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
In my opinion you cant tell the difference between a gridded sfotbox and a BD with a sock on it. Dave Hill, in a few interviews, alludes to the same. My experience of using BD on fashion shoots (as assistant or as photographer) certainly agrees. Add cinewrap / cinefilm and you've got all the options you want.
Currently I'm a massive fan of parabolic umbrellas and use them instead of softboxes or BD's whnever I can, but thats my current fad. I feel you can get a BD style contrast / punch with a decent amount of softness. Then again ,I've bene using 2.5m tall parabolics so maybe I'm the wrong person to be commenting, lol.
Seriously tho, thansk for the replies, Ive found this thread interesting and was wondering if i was missing a trick by not using a small BD wirth a speedlight to go with my studio stobes... from what has been posted here I dont see me getting one as I feel my current gear allows me to get a similar effect.
I prefer to use strobes as I like using the modelling lights to set the "edge" of my light.
BUT if i was a speedlight user, I think i'd be tempted by a small BD.
--
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
Azra
Forum Enthusiast
It's relative size that matters (all relating to the distance from the light source).... I've seen pictures of cars taken using huge light banks the size of a supermarket shop front and some arri lights..... and the same effect reproduced on a tiny miniature toy car using a speedlight. However, you'd be hard pressed to get even light coverage from a speed light in a 2m strip softbox, compared ot using a larger more powerful strobe. Thats exactly why I upgraded my kit
Likewsie, I've a lot of people who have big names and know their craft, use beatuy lights over 10ft away form the subject...... it all depends on what you want the image to look like.
Again - it all depends on if you want a dramatic look or a soft clamshell lgihting type look, and the aperture you want to be using when you shoot If you dispute this, do some experiements, I did and I came to that conclusion.
So to an extent I'd disagree...... you wont have much flexibilty if you ran a 90cm Bd with a nikon sb600 compared to a 90cm Bd through a 1200watt head outside on a fashion shoot on an overcast day......... if this wasnt true then why do people lug such heavy pieces of kit on location ?
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
Likewsie, I've a lot of people who have big names and know their craft, use beatuy lights over 10ft away form the subject...... it all depends on what you want the image to look like.
Again - it all depends on if you want a dramatic look or a soft clamshell lgihting type look, and the aperture you want to be using when you shoot
If you dispute this, do some experiements, I did and I came to that conclusion.So to an extent I'd disagree...... you wont have much flexibilty if you ran a 90cm Bd with a nikon sb600 compared to a 90cm Bd through a 1200watt head outside on a fashion shoot on an overcast day......... if this wasnt true then why do people lug such heavy pieces of kit on location ?
--
===============================
url : http://www.al-overdrive.com
rss : tiny.cc/pngnG
Twitter : http://twitter.com/AlOverdrive
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