Octaboxes

[symbolphoto]

Westcott, Elinchrom, Alienbees..? preferably 48".

Who do you guys recommend for a decent quality but not going to break the bank version?

What i consider breaking the bank? Over $300. for an octabox at least.


Looks cheap;
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/331863-REG/Interfit_PSOR120_Octobox_48_.html

Too expensive;
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/283855-REG/Bowens_BW_1650_OctoBox_150_Umbrella_Style.html

Guide me o lighting experts...

TIA

[SnlpeR]

great question
i was about to order the AB octobox earlier but thought id wait a day or 2

[pepperoni]

I looked at the Photoflex octa (slightly larger), but I went with the AB foldable octa w/grid and I'm happy with it. It opens like a umbrella so set up is simple.

My $.02

[sdipirro]

The medium-sized Photoflex octabox is a little over $300, and I really like it...although assembling it the first time is a workout!

[SnlpeR]

whats the quality like of the AlienBee standard one and the foldable one?

[Rudi]

The Elinchrom 53" Octa Midi is $308 at B&H. Internal and external diffuser, beautiful light!

[TMR Design]

I don't own the Elinchrom octa but I hear endlessly great things about the quality of light it produces. I'm a big fan of Photoflex boxes and they make a very nice 5 foot octa.
The box I'm going to get is the Photek 52" Illuminata, which is an octa with a round mask. Build is great, light quality is supposed to be superb and the round mask comes with it, all for a better price than the other options. How good it is remains to be seen. :D

[Faolan]

The Elinchrom Octa-Midi is a very nice box and for indoor work it's my first modifier of choice. The light it produces is brilliant and gives skin a luminescent quality when doing monochromes.

Build quality is top notch as well and has handled being rough housed during location shooting.

[symbolphoto]

Under $300?

[Rudi]

Under $300?

Believe me, that extra $8 is money well spent!

[TMR Design]

I would be very curious to see and Octa shoot out :D

It would be great to see comparisons between the Elinchrom Octa, Photoflex Octa and Photek Illuminata.

[crazyseany]

Robert ..... since you volunteered to do it.... can you include the amvona lightbank and maybe another ebay cheapy so we can see if its worth the extra $200?

we will be atiently waiting for your results

TIA,

sean

[TMR Design]

Robert ..... since you volunteered to do it.... can you include the amvona lightbank and maybe another ebay cheapy so we can see if its worth the extra $200?

we will be atiently waiting for your results

TIA,

sean

I just reread my post about 10 times and I don't see anywhere that I said I would be the one to do it :D

I just said it would be great to see.

Right now I don't have the funds or time needed to do comprehensive testing and comparison of modifiers. But I surely would love to see the results myself.

[crazyseany]

I would be very happy and excited to DO an Octa shoot out :D

It would be great to see comparisons between the Elinchrom Octa, Photoflex Octa and Photek Illuminata. AND will post results shortly

Robert are you sure? LOLOLOLsean

[crazyseany]

Disclaimer:The quote of Robert above may have been slightly "modified".......

[TMR Design]

Tell you what... you buy them and have them shipped to me and I'll test them providing that after the testing I get to keep them.:cool:

Seems fair, doesn't it? LOLOL

[pepperoni]

Tell you what... you buy them and have them shipped to me and I'll test them providing that after the testing I get to keep them.:cool:

Seems fair, doesn't it? LOLOL


I'll even volunteer my time if that's the gig. :cool:

[Bumgardnern]

I just recieved an Alien Bees Octobox today from my girlfriend as a b-day gift. I am still kind of unsure about it. I have a lot of experience with the Elenchrom 53in Octobox and can say that it is an amazing product I have two friends that have them and I have used them on numerous occasions. The Alien Bees Octobox mounts to the flash like a normal soft box instead of inside the softbox pointing at the reflective material.

[DavidPhoto]

FWIW: The Elinchrom 53" mini octa also mounts like a normal softbox. The head is not inside or poionting backwards like the large octa.

[DavidPhoto]

Also, unless you really need a larger octa I highly recommend the Elinchrom Deep Throat. It is unique and gives a more focused light but the light quality is awesome. I really love it.

[TMR Design]

Also, unless you really need a larger octa I highly recommend the Elinchrom Deep Throat. It is unique and gives a more focused light but the light quality is awesome. I really love it.

Hi David,

I've heard that before and I'm wondering if you can elaborate on that a bit.
When you say the light quality is awesome what is it you mean? Do you have an example of an image shot using the Deep Throat, and perhaps something to show the difference or benefits?

[symbolphoto]

No offense here, but the only thing i've concluded from reading this thread is that, there needs to be an Octabox shootout.

/end.

[TMR Design]

No offense taken ;)

[DavidPhoto]

Hi David,

I've heard that before and I'm wondering if you can elaborate on that a bit.
When you say the light quality is awesome what is it you mean? Do you have an example of an image shot using the Deep Throat, and perhaps something to show the difference or benefits?

I've only used a little so far but I found that because it is more focused it is easy to control and feather the light for very nice effects. It can also be used like more traditional rectangular or square soft boxes and you can remove the diffusion material too for a more direct-light effect (though I have not tried that yet). It's also very easy to transport, put up and down. As far as the quality of the light itself, you are probably going to have to use one first hand but there is a very soft and intimate feel to it.

Maybe one of these days I can try and shoot some portraits with it and a rectangular softbox for comparison but I think the real benefits are in its versatility. I'll see what I have for images that can be posted (if I can remember which used what). Its fairly new to me so I've only used it a couple of times and one was mostly nudes. But so far I am very happy with it.

[SteveNC]

No offense here, but the only thing i've concluded from reading this thread is that, there needs to be an Octabox shootout.

/end.

Second the above, need to spend more $$$ on toys.

[Rudi]

Also, unless you really need a larger octa I highly recommend the Elinchrom Deep Throat. It is unique and gives a more focused light but the light quality is awesome. I really love it.

I have heard this from several people now. I have the 53" Octa Midi which I love, but I know quite a few people who use the Deep Throat for main and the Midi for fill, and that is all they use! Everyone that I know who uses the Deep Throat loves it. No exceptions! So... I'm thinking the Deep Throat is on my list of things to get. :)

[digitaljoe]

Rudi - could one use an umbrella for fill instead of the midi - in combo with the deep throat?

[Rudi]

Rudi - could one use an umbrella for fill instead of the midi - in combo with the deep throat?

Don't see why not. The beauty of the Midi is that it's there when you need it for main! :)

[TMR Design]

Rudi - could one use an umbrella for fill instead of the midi - in combo with the deep throat?

Umbrellas work very nicely as a full source.

[Tareq]

I like mine

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/242345-REG/Hensel_4000150_Octaform_Lightbank_Silver_.html

[ben_r_]

What about the norman ones? Anyone have any experience with those?

They have a 60" from B&H for about $255. LINK (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/350619-REG/Norman_812325_Octagonal_Softbox_60_.html)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/350619.jpg