First Elinchrom Rotagrid Available - but no info

[TMR Design]

Just as I was initially told by Thomas at Elinca, the first Rotagrid is available for the 27" square softbox.

B&H does not have an image, description or any info on the product.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/612127-REG/Elinchrom_EL_26117_ROTAGRID_EGG_CRATE_f_ROTALUX.ht ml

There is an image on the Elinchrom.com website but no additional information.

They are showing the hooded diffusers for other boxes which, when added to the front of a Rotalux box or octa, gives you a recessed front diffusion panel which will reduce spill and scattered light, as most other softboxes do.

[adebartolo]

Robert
Are these a very worthwhile accessory or should I say are they a must. Is there any prices from Elinca on that devise that would hold the grid?

Tony

[TMR Design]

Robert
Are these a very worthwhile accessory or should I say are they a must. Is there any prices from Elinca on that devise that would hold the grid?

Tony

Hi Tony,

No additional info yet on the upgrade kits.
Honestly Tony, you have no reason to get one or think it is a must.

[Rudi]

Tony,

you will only need these if you have a need to control the light further than what a bare Elin softbox does. For the moment, I am holding off buying any, since when I need more directionality and control in a softbox, I use the Deep Octa (and that does all I need, for the time being).

[adebartolo]

Thx Rudi, Thx Robert! I appreciate the quick response.

Tony

[TMR Design]

Tony,

For the kind of shooting you're doing right now I'd stick with the 53" Octa, learn about lighting, contrast, highlight and shadow, and take advantage of the coverage and spill. For now it will work to your advantage and give you some very nice results.

[TMR Design]

Well, it would appear that things are progressing in terms of having grids available for Elinchrom softboxes, octaboxes and strip boxes.

This link shows the hooded diffusers with pricing but not in stock listed as 'Accepting Orders'. I'm sure that the grids and other accessories (possibly masks) will stat to show up and hopefully the approximate May availability I was given will actually be correct.

Elinchrom Hooded Diffusers for Rotalux series boxes (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=0&shs=hooded+diffuser&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=jsp%2Fproductlist.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=submit)

From the list of items it would appear that most or all of the boxes will have the ability to add the hood and then other accessories.

Time will tell.

[Jannie]

Thinking about getting one to try it out, spent a lot in the last few days but I've wanted one for one of my boxes.

[TMR Design]

They won't actually be available until May and we have yet to see any info as to release dates for the grids.

[Rudi]

I fear that the grids might take a bit longer than that, although I hope I'm wrong about that. My dealer has had pricing for the hooded diffusers for a couple of months now, but still no info about the grids... :(

[Rudi]

Thinking about getting one to try it out, spent a lot in the last few days but I've wanted one for one of my boxes.

What have you been spending your money on, Jannie? More lighting gear? :)

[Jannie]

Yeah Rudi, got a couple of 580EXII's, kinda want to see what I can do with strobist type stuff. I seem to be doing mostly available light people photography and would like something very portable to help out light wise. Now to see if I can get a good look from it all, unsure but at least no more dark eyes and a better shot at catchlights using a speedlight off camera. If nothing else it a fun new challenge.

[Cathpah]

I fear that the grids might take a bit longer than that, although I hope I'm wrong about that. My dealer has had pricing for the hooded diffusers for a couple of months now, but still no info about the grids... :(

I really hope you are wrong somehow! The hooded diffusers are nice as all, but the grids are the real breakthrough in my mind. Either way though, this is a step in the right direction...

[TMR Design]

Based on my last correspondence with Elinca I'm still being told that we're going to see these products shipping in May. I'm hoping that it does happen on schedule.

[Hermes]

Based on my last correspondence with Elinca I'm still being told that we're going to see these products shipping in May. I'm hoping that it does happen on schedule.

Do we have any info at all on the grids themselves yet? - spread, pricing, e.t.c.

I think it's fairly obvious that whatever they come out with, it's not going to be cheap - $70 for the hooded diffuser alone, you can get a complete gridded softbox with Elinchrom speedring for that sort of money. I only hope (for the sake of you who have a lot invested in rotalux boxes) that they've put enough work into the grids to make them worth the price.

[TMR Design]

The only thing we know, as far as I've been told, is that the new boxes and the upgrade kits will be available in May and that the first grid to be made available will be the 27" square. No idea of what will come next or how fast the rest will be available.

When I asked them about the angle of the grid I was just told that they're trying their best to make the best product they can that will appeal to as many as possible. Avery diplomatic statement. My guess is that the angle will be around 40 degrees, just as other generic grids are. I couldn't get any info on other products or if there would be grids with different angles.

I'm very curious to see what happens but I'm not convinced yet that the upgrade will be good enough for those of us that really need and want control over some modifiers.

[Hermes]

All generic softbox grids I've ever seen have had a spread of 60 degrees or above (and that's in manufacturers measurements which are just made over 2 stops). It's a big step from there to 40 degrees (going from 5 inch openings to 2 inch openings). Either way though, 60 degrees is still much better than no grid at all. If you really wanted tighter grids, you could always get them custom-made by light-tools.

[Cathpah]

All generic softbox grids I've ever seen have had a spread of 60 degrees or above (and that's in manufacturers measurements which are just made over 2 stops). It's a big step from there to 40 degrees (going from 5 inch openings to 2 inch openings). Either way though, 60 degrees is still much better than no grid at all. If you really wanted tighter grids, you could always get them custom-made by light-tools.

I think Robert may have meant "generic" meaning "general" not "ebay-cheap," and if that's the case I think many/most "standard" grids--without a specialized use or at one extreme or the other--would usually be about 40 degrees. Photoflex's grids are 40 degrees, as are the Chimera's, and I believe that's also the center of the range of those grids produced by light-tools.

I'd actually expect the grids to be about 2" square, so a 5x5" opening--while better than nothing--would still be VERY dissapointing in my eyes.

[TMR Design]

I think Robert may have meant "generic" meaning "general" not "ebay-cheap," and if that's the case I think many/most "standard" grids--without a specialized use or at one extreme or the other--would usually be about 40 degrees. Photoflex's grids are 40 degrees, as are the Chimera's, and I believe that's also the center of the range of those grids produced by light-tools.

I'd actually expect the grids to be about 2" square, so a 5x5" opening--while better than nothing--would still be VERY dissapointing in my eyes.

That's correct Jeff. That is what I meant and I do see a significant number of grids that are 'generically' 40 degree grids with about a 2" opening.

I very much agree that anything larger with less control, while better than nothing, would not be the kind of grids I would pay to add. For my purposes, grids for softboxes and strips should be from 10 degrees to about 40 degrees.

[Calbeee]

what are those hooded diffusers? got any pics?

[TMR Design]

You can see this in PDF form on the Elinchrom site.

[Hermes]

That's correct Jeff. That is what I meant and I do see a significant number of grids that are 'generically' 40 degree grids with about a 2" opening.

I very much agree that anything larger with less control, while better than nothing, would not be the kind of grids I would pay to add. For my purposes, grids for softboxes and strips should be from 10 degrees to about 40 degrees.

I regularly use softboxes with 50 degree grids and add tighter grids to get down to 20 degrees only when necessary. Because softboxes are used so close to the subject anyway, the difference between the various spreads isn't as significant in real life as you might think. It seems lke you get diminishing returns the tighter the grid gets.

I did initially assume that I'd want to use the tightest possible grid on everything but I soon found that 50 degrees was enough to stop light spill and flare for most of my day-to-day work. Now I only take it to 20 degrees on those fairly rare occasions where I want maximum contrast or very rapid fall-off within the frame of a shot.

[DavidPhoto]

actually I didn't know there was a 17" square SB by Elinchrom. I thought the 100cm box was the smallest they offered. Is it new?
Looking forward to the info coming on the grids.

[TMR Design]

I regularly use softboxes with 50 degree grids and add tighter grids to get down to 20 degrees only when necessary. Because softboxes are used so close to the subject anyway, the difference between the various spreads isn't as significant in real life as you might think. It seems lke you get diminishing returns the tighter the grid gets.

I did initially assume that I'd want to use the tightest possible grid on everything but I soon found that 50 degrees was enough to stop light spill and flare for most of my day-to-day work. Now I only take it to 20 degrees on those fairly rare occasions where I want maximum contrast or very rapid fall-off within the frame of a shot.

Ordinarily I would agree 100% but in my space, which is on the smaller side, I have to deal with spill and isolation in a way that you may not. If I had several more feet in each direction of my studio it would significantly change the type of control I need.

I do also find that using flags and gobo's is a great way to have greater control.