Affordable Beauty Dish for Alien Bees?

Hey guys, I've been doing shoots outdoors often with my AB1600 + umbrella. However, I'm tired of the problem with strong winds. I have an assistant with me on all shoots and they hold down the stand with the light/umbrella, however, there have been several times when there was a strong gust of wind out of nowhere which completely turns the umbrella inside out and breaks it.

I guess a beauty dish would be best since it won't turn inside out. I'll still have an assistant holding down the stand as I don't trust sandbags as much as an entire human body. :P

Which beauty dish would you recommend? I would prefer 22" or larger. Would prefer something with free shipping as I am from Hawaii and s/h is a rip off to ship overseas. Paul Buff Beauty dishes are no option. The shipping to HI is over double the cost for the beauty dish.

I would prefer cost to be as low as possible a long as quality is good. Mola beauty dishes are good, but cost tons.

Anyone have any experience with Cowboy Studio's beauty dish? (http://www.amazon.com …ning-Strobe/dp/B003M63F9C). It's from amazon so the shipping is free, even to hawaii.

Whats wrong with Buffs BD. I use 2 of them with socks. They are cheap,tinny,,Thin and light.........but they work great.

They costs $79.00 and come with the sock

http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/22hobd-w.php

so 80x2=160 is problem. Not sure how much you pay more for getting other things shipped there. I would spend money on Kacey than AB dish.

The silver Buff Beauty Dish is VERY focused. The sock reduces that of course. There are others around that aren't as focused if you prefer. There is no standard for Beauty Dish light properties. The Cowboy (also sold under other names) is less focused but heavy.

I like the FTX Beauty Dish. Nicely made, and good focus. I prefer silver because then I have the option of focused or broad with a sock.

umphotography wrote in post #15796621
Whats wrong with Buffs BD. I use 2 of them with socks. They are cheap,tinny,,Thin and light.........but they work great.

They costs $79.00 and come with the sock

http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/22hobd-w.php

nothing wrong with them... its just that ups considers it a bulky item, and costs a TON to ship to hawaii...

I'm fairly certain that THIS is the same BB that I purchased a few years ago. Build quality is very good and even includes an aluminum grid.

DavidR wrote in post #15798378
I'm fairly certain that THIS is the same BB that I purchased a few years ago. Build quality is very good and even includes an aluminum grid.

Sadly, they do not ship to Hawaii.

fashionrider wrote in post #15797813
nothing wrong with them... its just that ups considers it a bulky item, and costs a TON to ship to hawaii...

Sorry to butt in but again but TON is $80. You getting BD for $160 total. Most BD cost money to ship as they bulky item. Maybe buy used to save some money.

bobbyz wrote in post #15798441
Sorry to butt in but again but TON is $80. You getting BD for $160 total. Most BD cost money to ship as they bulky item. Maybe buy used to save some money.

If I bought the dish from PCB, I would also want the carrying bag. It would be $109 + $140 s/h = $250. ouch! :P I wish I didn't live in Hawaii, haha.

Don't get me wrong, but if you were to sell one of your items on your tag, then you should be able to buy a PCB Beauty Dish and still have change left over.

Bond_Savingsbond wrote in post #15799314
Don't get me wrong, but if you were to sell one of your items on your tag, then you should be able to buy a PCB Beauty Dish and still have change left over.

Very true. I'm actually selling me 28mm f1.8 so i'll have money. But I just want a good affordable one. And if possible, I'd rather not pay for shipping that's more than the dish itself.

You gotta paid if you want to play.

kouasupra wrote in post #15799340
You gotta paid if you want to play.

and I want to play so badly. BTW, you got the gear that I want: the 85L Give me a beauty dish and 85L and I'm done buying things for a while... i think....

Kacey dish is pretty light. Wonder if shipping would be cheaper.

I just did a check of USPS rates for a 24x24x12 box weighing 5 pounds. Its around $35 from Nashville to Honolulu. Its apparent that the price is based on package size more than weight.

That's also probably why all the stuff from China takes so long, its coming postal service and in a container rather than via air.

What about your local camera stores?

Kacey is a nice dish but shipping from Seattle is probably about the same as Nashville.

eBay Chinese sources may be just as good as others given the shipping cost.

And, as a practical matter, stay away from the dishes that have the 3 spring wires sticking up to hold the deflector. Its a very fragile design.