Elinchrom D lite 4, about to order, question on size of softbox

[neliconcept]

I am about to order the dlite 4, speedo b dish and an impact heavy duty light stand (or so it says...)

to be specific

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=478438&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=350716&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=133201&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=253066&is=REG


I was looking at the 39" octabox from elinchrom and was looking for something just slightly cheaper and was wondering if that size is to big or what are my options as far as other boxes.

Sorry if this has been rehashed, i searched a bit but Im not sure of what keywords to put in to get a great selection in the search.

Thanks in advance for any help!

~Blake

[TMR Design]

Hi Blake,

The only way to help you determine which size modifiers are best for you is for you to tell us what you'll be shooting and in what size space. What is the long term goal of your shooting?

[neliconcept]

Hi Blake,

The only way to help you determine which size modifiers are best for you is for you to tell us what you'll be shooting and in what size space. What is the long term goal of your shooting?

probably should have explained that lol

I think the biggest i could go on softbox is probably 44 inchs or so anyways since I will be using the living room space of my apartment, maybe bigger, the ceilings are 9 feet and i think the space itself is maybe 14x9? most likely portrait/ fashion and beauty, I will also hope to get maybe a vagabond or some small generator to take on location with myself so a softbox would be good for that as well (something that could be gridded possibly?)

thanks

[Rudi]

In that case, get yourself the Deep Octa. It's the most versatile softbox that I have, and I have the 39" square Rotalux and the 53' Octa Midi as well. If I could only keep one, it would be the Deep Octa! :)

[TMR Design]

I agree with Rudi but would add that if you see yourself doing full length work then the 53" Octa might be a better choice or something to add to your arsenal.

[neliconcept]

another quick question for Rudi or Rob

should i get the boom stand and just that? I know I need to get the light above my model when i shoot beauty (not exactly above but close to it) and could a boom stand be dragged down to the closeness of a light stand

also ill check out the deep octa, thanks for the help guys!

[TMR Design]

A boom is very nice but for your main light you don't need one and you can always add it later. I've done a lot of work with no boom on my main light without any problems.

Nice to have but not a necessity.

[neliconcept]

A boom is very nice but for your main light you don't need one and you can always add it later. I've done a lot of work with no boom on my main light without any problems.

Nice to have but not a necessity.

awesome well that sums it up then! thanks again Rob and Rudi!

[Calbeee]

i vote for 53 octa, it's amazing 2 thumbs up!

[TMR Design]

i vote for 53 octa, it's amazing 2 thumbs up!

You are correct SIr!!

The 53" Octa is my favorite and most flexible modifier. The coverage and ability to control varying degrees of soft light to light with greater contrast is wonderful for portraiture from head shots to full length work and doing full length with the 53" Octa is a dream.

[neliconcept]

I may have to hold off on a softbox or the 53" octa since yall seem to give it great reviews

I dont want to cheap out on something that may not work for me

so for now ill get the 4 things linked above and get the octa hopefully within the month of april, especially since the weather is getting nicer out and I can get some location stuff done

[Motofreak429]

i like C-Stands better than the boom arms, i guess im just weird.

[TMR Design]

C- Stands are great but if you're working by yourself and you have to carry a bunch of c stands in addition to the rest of your gear it's a pain in the neck and a lot of grunt work.
If you've got assistants or a crew it's a whole other story.

[Motofreak429]

assistants are saviors.

but also you can buy casters to put on the bottom. how much is a good boom stand?

[neliconcept]

assistants are saviors.

but also you can buy casters to put on the bottom. how much is a good boom stand?

the ones i was looking at from manfrotto were typically in the 180-250 range for a good boom stand

of course you have to buy counter weights and sandbags to keep the stand grounded.

I did see a good bogen man boom stand for 139? im not sure if its a heavy duty one, but with just a dish and mono i think it would be fine? probably not for something like a 3'x4' box and head

[hawk911]

has anyone bought the 53" Octa from the ebay seller? they seem to run a bit cheaper, but are they the same quality/same unit as the B&H unit?

[TMR Design]

has anyone bought the 53" Octa from the ebay seller? they seem to run a bit cheaper, but are they the same quality/same unit as the B&H unit?

Just make sure you're buying genuine Elinchrom and not 'for Elinchrom'. The wording can be sneaky. There is an ebay seller that sells reflectors that are 'for Elinchrom' and while I can't vouch for the quality I would stay away from them and buy the branded items.

[hawk911]

seems to be the genuine article. I think they typically go for $200-250 depending on the auction:

Elinchrom Rotalux Octa (http://cgi.ebay.com/Elinchrom-Rotalux-Octa-Softbox-53-135-cm-Elinca_W0QQitemZ280328435178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item280328435178&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A3%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

[TMR Design]

seems to be the genuine article. I think they typically go for $200-250 depending on the auction:

Elinchrom Rotalux Octa (http://cgi.ebay.com/Elinchrom-Rotalux-Octa-Softbox-53-135-cm-Elinca_W0QQitemZ280328435178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item280328435178&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A3%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

Yeah, that looks like a private sale and based on the number of feedback he's not an ebay power seller with knock-offs.

Knowing a little bit about what you shoot I would definitely say that you're going to love the 53" Octa.

SIDE NOTE: Geoff, I spoke to Glen at Innovatronix last night and it would seem your XT got held up due to weather conditions. :D

[hawk911]

heck- I don't care about weather. I want my battery pack :mad: :mad: ;)

[PacAce]

I am about to order the dlite 4, speedo b dish and an impact heavy duty light stand (or so it says...)

to be specific

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=478438&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=350716&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=133201&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=253066&is=REG


I was looking at the 39" octabox from elinchrom and was looking for something just slightly cheaper and was wondering if that size is to big or what are my options as far as other boxes.

Sorry if this has been rehashed, i searched a bit but Im not sure of what keywords to put in to get a great selection in the search.

Thanks in advance for any help!

~Blake

If you haven't pushed the "Order" button yet, you might want to consider replacing your Impact heavy-duty stand with the air-cushioned version. It's a few dollars more but, IMHO, really worth the price.

[H2OSkier]

seems to be the genuine article. I think they typically go for $200-250 depending on the auction:

Elinchrom Rotalux Octa (http://cgi.ebay.com/Elinchrom-Rotalux-Octa-Softbox-53-135-cm-Elinca_W0QQitemZ280328435178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item280328435178&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A3%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

I happened to see that auction too. I asked if the auction included the Elinchrom bag and he stated it did not. I was under the impression that it did come with one. If this is new like the seller is stating, I find it odd that the bag is missing.

Ken

[hawk911]

my boxes stay setup, so the bag isn't a big issue for me.

[neliconcept]

Ive been thinking about using my 430 as a back light, when put to slave will it trigger from the dlite 4?

[Rudi]

Ive been thinking about using my 430 as a back light, when put to slave will it trigger from the dlite 4?

Nope. The 430EX has no optical slave. You could buy an optical slave very cheaply though (a few dollars). Or, if you decide to trigger the D-Lites remotely (radio trigger), just get an extra receiver for the 430EX. While it will cost you more, it will be more reliable if you ever shoot outside, or in a room with other photographers (their flashes will set off your optical slave, which is something you don't want).

[hawk911]

you can trigger the Dlites using the 430 as long as you can trigger it remotely. Rudi kinda hinted at that.

[neliconcept]

Nope. The 430EX has no optical slave. You could buy an optical slave very cheaply though (a few dollars). Or, if you decide to trigger the D-Lites remotely (radio trigger), just get an extra receiver for the 430EX. While it will cost you more, it will be more reliable if you ever shoot outside, or in a room with other photographers (their flashes will set off your optical slave, which is something you don't want).

ah, yeah ill be using this in my apartment so their wouldnt be a problem with that.

ill check into an optical slave then, may use it as hair light too, going to be an experiment thats for sure.