Beauty Dish

[Tareq]

Hi again,

Can someone give me an explanation about a beauty dish? is it use on the flash of camera or the studio strobes? and what will be the difference?

Which is better, the white one or silver one? which one i should use if i want something soft but contrasty?

Is there different sizes and does it matter or i should go with standard size [22" i saw mostly]?

[DerekW]

Generally they are made for stuio strobes, but people have modified them for speedlight flashes.
As far as colour and size, the 22" and white does seem to be the standard, I assume the silver will give a more specular light. I bought a cheap ebay 16" silver and have a 22" white alien bees on it's way, so maybe I'll post some tests in the coming week.

If I don't like the silver with my alien bees, I'll modify it for a speedlight. If I don't like it then, I'll spray paint it white and see how it looks

[Tareq]

Generally they are made for stuio strobes, but people have modified them for speedlight flashes.
As far as colour and size, the 22" and white does seem to be the standard, I assume the silver will give a more specular light. I bought a cheap ebay 16" silver and have a 22" white alien bees on it's way, so maybe I'll post some tests in the coming week.

If I don't like the silver with my alien bees, I'll modify it for a speedlight. If I don't like it then, I'll spray paint it white and see how it looks

I tried this beauty dish once in the store where i bought my H3D from and i didn't like the light, it was strong exposure on face little bit [white one], but i tried same beauty dish [No, i think it was much smaller second time and also white] in a studio i went 2 days ago and the results were amazing, so that i decided to buy one, but i can't decide which size and if i should go with white.

By the way, i read about the word specular, what does it mean?

[TMR Design]

Specular = mirror like quality

[Tareq]

Specular = mirror like quality


hmmmm, thanks!
[seems like using a direct light]

[GenuineRolla]

I'm a huge fan of the Alien Bee 22" white beauty dish.

Very nice soft light, wide too bight i add. It's great to use on location when its a bit breezy.

I use mine all the time.

[Tareq]

I'm a huge fan of the Alien Bee 22" white beauty dish.

Very nice soft light, wide too bight i add. It's great to use on location when its a bit breezy.

I use mine all the time.

OK, now i forgot one question, will different brand of beauty dish will work on any flash, for example, will Profot beauty dish will work on Elinchrome? or Alien Bee BD will work on my Hensel strobes? [ I mean fit].

[TMR Design]

OK, now i forgot one question, will different brand of beauty dish will work on any flash, for example, will Profot beauty dish will work on Elinchrome? or Alien Bee BD will work on my Hensel strobes? [ I mean fit].

Unfortunately not. The dish has to have the correct mount, as does any modifier or speed ring.

Beauty dishes can produce soft light but are more often associated with a higher contrast light source.

I believe Hensel makes a beauty dish or if you're into DIY's then you can perhaps adapt a dish to fit your Hensels. Myself and others have taken the 22" Speedotron beauty dish and modified it with an Elinchrom mount to fit our Elinchrom strobes. The Speedotron is popular because of it close resemblance to the Mola.

[Tareq]

Unfortunately not. The dish has to have the correct mount, as does any modifier or speed ring.

Beauty dishes can produce soft light but are more often associated with a higher contrast light source.

I believe Hensel makes a beauty dish or if you're into DIY's then you can perhaps adapt a dish to fit your Hensels. Myself and others have taken the 22" Speedotron beauty dish and modified it with an Elinchrom mount to fit our Elinchrom strobes. The Speedotron is popular because of it close resemblance to the Mola.

I see, good i knew that now before i get the wrong mount.
Yes, in fact i was looking for high contrast light results.
Thanks again!

[Hermes]

I've used the Hensel dish and it is very nice if you block the centre portion completely - I'd rate it alongside the Speedotron which is probably my favourite beauty dish ever behind the Mola Setti. You can also get grids in different spreads for the Hensel which is a plus, although they are quite expensive.

In general, it's very difficult to explain the light you get from a beauty dish - you really have to try it yourself.

[Tareq]

I've used the Hensel dish and it is very nice if you block the centre portion completely - I'd rate it alongside the Speedotron which is probably my favourite beauty dish ever behind the Mola Setti. You can also get grids in different spreads for the Hensel which is a plus, although they are quite expensive.

In general, it's very difficult to explain the light you get from a beauty dish - you really have to try it yourself.

hmmmm, too bad i didn't have much time to try that 22" beauty dish of Profoto in the store [it is out of stock now there], so i am confused if i should go with that 22" or try with smaller which i tested 2 days ago and i loved the results very much.

I hope that 22" BD can give me pleasing results as that small, but i am not sure, i can use a Sock with it, and i found a grid as will, but i am confusing, but seems i should try, the problem is that i found 1 silver in stock and one new model of Hensel BD not sure, and the normal or old one is out of stock [or it is accepting orders], so what i can do?

[TMR Design]

If you're pleased with the results of a 15" or 17" dish then I can't imagine you not liking a 22". Depending on the dish, there are diffusion socks available and many have interchangeable central deflectors to allow you to go between a translucent white, silver or gold. I think the larger dish is more useful because when you do want soft diffused light you've got a larger light source and you've got more flexibility in terms of feathering and placement for soft wraparound light with less rapid falloff.

[Tareq]

If you're pleased with the results of a 15" or 17" dish then I can't imagine you not liking a 22". Depending on the dish, there are diffusion socks available and many have interchangeable central deflectors to allow you to go between a translucent white, silver or gold. I think the larger dish is more useful because when you do want soft diffused light you've got a larger light source and you've got more flexibility in terms of feathering and placement for soft wraparound light with less rapid falloff.

i think it was the settings that made the results first time not so much good [even i feel they are good with some pp], so maybe i should give it a try, in all cases many pros used it with amazing results, so i should know how to use it, when, and where then i will be fine.

[Hermes]

hmmmm, too bad i didn't have much time to try that 22" beauty dish of Profoto in the store [it is out of stock now there], so i am confused if i should go with that 22" or try with smaller which i tested 2 days ago and i loved the results very much.

I hope that 22" BD can give me pleasing results as that small, but i am not sure, i can use a Sock with it, and i found a grid as will, but i am confusing, but seems i should try, the problem is that i found 1 silver in stock and one new model of Hensel BD not sure, and the normal or old one is out of stock [or it is accepting orders], so what i can do?

Get the version with the solid deflector in the middle rather than the honeycomb grid. I'd also stick to white if I were you, the silver is harder to get flattering light with.

[Tareq]

Get the version with the solid deflector in the middle rather than the honeycomb grid. I'd also stick to white if I were you, the silver is harder to get flattering light with.

Yes, i want the white as well.

[TooManyHobbies]

I didn't see the need to get one since the light would be basically the same as using a ring/moon light off camera with the white reflector. Same pricipal; whereas a white umbrella would be different due to parabolic focusing instead of spreading light.

[Tareq]

Finally i received [or delivered] my new beauty dish 22" Hensel today, hope to test it soon when i can.

Thanks all!

[winterlim]

anyone has a link or sample of the results of a beauty dish? compared to softboxes, etc etc. what are the effects? newbie at studio lighting here :D

[Tareq]

anyone has a link or sample of the results of a beauty dish? compared to softboxes, etc etc. what are the effects? newbie at studio lighting here :D

If you look at this website then you will see many portraits i think taken by softbox and beauty dish, from the eye catchlight you can see mostly which with softbox and which with beauty dish.

http://www.stepheneastwood.com/

[TooManyHobbies]

Wilt posted this link in another thread. I thought it was awesome for seeing how different modifiers change light. I realize they don't have a dish, but still worth looking at.

http://www.bron.ch/vt_pd_lg_sc_en/index.php

[Tareq]

I like my Beauty Dish so far.
The results are great [not interesting for you here, but for me i like them].