Kaeser umbrella boxes

[Jannie]

I just got these in the mail, I already have an love his Umbrella Softboxes and these look to be the same quality which is pretty impressive, he could be asking a lot more for them. They are so easy to set up, just push them open like a regular umbrella and it's all there ready to go. Looking forward to the opportunity to test them out..

http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/the-376/%282%29-40%22-UMBRELLA-SHOOT/Detail

Pretty neat, I just set one up on a Elinchrom BX400 head using the accessory umbrella bracket ( not the one inside by the bulb) and it lines up perfectly. Now I expect using a wider reflector might be in order like what is used with the Elinchrom brolly ( I forget what they call it) but these are very nice. Got them for my 580EXII's as an alternative to the umbrella softboxes etc. so we'll see. Sure seem better made than most of what I've seen at my local photo store.

Just a couple of quickie snaps to show the coverage with the Elinchrom umbrella reflector (I think it's 6") that comes with the BX400 kits.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb200/palousegirl/Kaeserumbrellabox.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb200/palousegirl/Kaeserumbrellabox-2.jpg

[TMR Design]

Those look nice Jannie. The only problem I have with brollies of that type are that there's just too much non-directional light and more often than not I need the control. Also working very close to those modifiers forces me to be much more careful about lens flare from the light that pours out the side.

It's just me. I prefer a modifier with a leading edge and recessed front diffusion panel to control spill. Perhaps if I was shooting groups I might light brollies more.

[Jannie]

Agree Robert, but for $29.95 for the pair and seeing I like his umbrella softboxes so much, I was curious and thought I'd give them a try.

And they seem to be much better quality than what I have from Westcott.

These are the ones I really like.
http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/the-607/40%22-UMBRELLA-SOFTBOX-REFLECTIVE/Detail

[TMR Design]

Agree Robert, but for $29.95 for the pair and seeing I like his umbrella softboxes so much, I was curious and thought I'd give them a try.

These are the ones I really like.
http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/the-607/40%22-UMBRELLA-SOFTBOX-REFLECTIVE/Detail

Ahh yes, I remember you getting those and how happy you were with them. I still like the Photek Softlighter if I want a modifier of that design but it's not my favorite. I'm as picky as you are but it's not the quality of light that bothers me, but rather, the catch light. I would rather not have to edit my catch lights and my problem with a modifier that has the strobe and light stand in the line of fire is that I always see the strobe head and light stand riser in my catch lights. If I'm not shooting people or spherical reflective objects then it's fine but given the choice I stay away from this type of modifier for portraiture.

[Jannie]

Here's one using a 580EXII using just the built in diffuser, not the stofen. With my incident meter it reads @ ISO 100 , f5.6 at 6'

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb200/palousegirl/Kaeserumbrellabox580EXII.jpg

[Jannie]

I agree with you and don't use the umbrella softbox as key lights on people, they do make nice hair/kick and background lights, nice for modeling a room; so far I haven't used anything with my speedlights as key lights, always lugging around my Elinchrom lights, or using natural light which seems to work well around here since we usually have so much overcast light, it's easy to get in the edge of shade or using window light and get a nice ratio, especially with the 85L but then again that's a particular style.

Did use the 69" Elinchrom Octobox the other day with a person who had very heavily framed glasses and it worked well, what reflection I do see in the lenses is not really a problem and is very soft yet the eyes popped well enough.

Interesting though, when I want that nice fall off into the shadow side I think I'll still be using my 53" octobox.

Mostly I enjoy doing the natural light, walk around grab stuff and I'm finding it to be fun and getting good reception so I'll probably still continue that way most or the time.

Where I love lighting the most is when doing table top and food stuff.

[TMR Design]

Interesting though, when I want that nice fall off into the shadow side I think I'll still be using my 53" octobox.

I can understand that. The 69" seems like it takes a bit more futzing to find the right position to feather the light so you get that falloff you like.

Your statement is the exact reason why we have many different modifiers in our kit. There are personalities and characteristics of each one and sometimes it's difficult to replicate with another type, shape or size.

[Jannie]

Robert I'm finding so far, and this is only because I do not own a square or rectangular softbox, that I am really liking the round reflection in every thing I do but have not shot angular products of any type yet. I may be shooting some or a lot of stuff made out of mylar, icarex and other kind of high tech fabrics along with carbon rods etc. and that may prove to be a different scenario. I know I often enjoy flat panel reflections that parallel a products surface and most often those lights turn out to be angular softboxes. I've yet to feel the interest in owning or using a tent but I do see that sometimes they do work.