The quadra killer AKA Cheetahstand CL-600

Whortleberry wrote in post #17606101
Don't actually need yet another flash (7 battery ones,11 mains powered at present) but I might just indulge myself purely for the heck of it.

I certainly don't need another flash either, but the price is right. I wonder when they'll be in stock?

Edward Tang shared
June 20 at 5:52am ·

Cheetah Light CL-600.
Will start accept preorder soon within 10 days...

https://www.cheetahsta​nd.com/product-p/colt-45.htm

CheetahStand High Performance Colt 45 Reflector.
Our Price: $129.95
Sale Price: $95.88

ouch. was expecting a bit lower price point on that one.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17607530
ouch. was expecting a bit lower price point on that one.

Me too.

I think the price is just fine. It running at the average price of any other brands versions. You could buy the same by profoto or broncolor they are 600.00 for the same thing. Elinchroms is running at 140.00

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17607530
ouch. was expecting a bit lower price point on that one.

Yeah me too.

You all get troll points

Two alternatives, available in either Bowens 'S' or Elinchrom fitting, with or without grids (2x2mm [20°], 4x4mm [40°] or 5.5x5.5mm/6mx6mm [60°] or any combination thereof). Can't see the logic of buying a 60° grid for a reflector which is restricted to 45­° by it's shape/depth but the 20° and 40° both work fine.

http://www.ebay.co.uk …&var=&hash=item​1c48def442

https://www.essentialp​hoto.co.uk …comb-grid-s-type-fitting/

Superficially the same, the differences are only really apparent on the grids. The first uses push-in type with leaf spring bearing on the internal rim while the second uses clip-over-the-rim fitting. They are interchangeable - I know as I have both flavours (20° & 40° but not the 60°!)
But by the time you've paid the postage/duty/tax they'd probably work out more expensive than Edward's and without his startling after-sales service.
There's also the teeny problem that they are more than slightly susceptible to dents / dings in the postal system. I suppose that if you tightly close both eyes, they might bear a passing resemblance to a football of some description; but that's no excuse for kicking them all the way from factory to your studio.

abbadon31 wrote in post #17608038
You all get troll points

YES! i like points of any kind.

to be perfectly honest, i think part of it is that the thing just looks small, like a "standard" reflector. It took my brain a while to realize that the bowens mount gives a bit of perspective on how big it actually is. Should this be the case? No. but in the age of internet sales it is important to give a point of reference.

even with the knowledge that the opening is 28cm/11" it can be hard to see it as much more than a small reflector. After all, the 7" is just 20 bucks.

honest question, i've never shot people with such hard light, what's the difference between a 7" with a 40° or 50° grid and this?

My approach, when I want to try a new modifier approach, is to find an inexpensive version on Amazon or eBay. I get one and try it out to see how it works. Then, if I like the look, I decide if the inexpensive version is good enough or if I want one of better quality.

First, Edward is a reseller rather than a manufacturer.

Edward, based on my experience helping him test equipment to make sure it delivers as expected, is dedicated to finding products that deliver for his customers and then making sure that the delivered product satisfies his quality standard.

When I was attending university, my father arranged for me to work in his company's quality control lab for a summer.

Based on that experience, I'd expect that whatever manufacturer Edward has selected for his products has to meet a high QC standard for Edward. Let's say 90%. If 60% of a production run means Edward's standard, that means 40% don't. Guess which one is available on eBay for an attractive price?

Edward, with Scott's help, is doing a lot of research to find products that we can use productively, then creating a demanding QC standard for the manufacturers to meet. Once that's accomplished, the products get Edward's stamp of approval, i.e. the Cheetahstand logo. The rest of the world gets the leftovers and QC failures.

I like that.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17608295
YES! i like points of any kind.

to be perfectly honest, i think part of it is that the thing just looks small, like a "standard" reflector. It took my brain a while to realize that the bowens mount gives a bit of perspective on how big it actually is. Should this be the case? No. but in the age of internet sales it is important to give a point of reference.

even with the knowledge that the opening is 28cm/11" it can be hard to see it as much more than a small reflector. After all, the 7" is just 20 bucks.

honest question, i've never shot people with such hard light, what's the difference between a 7" with a 40° or 50° grid and this?

Your question is like asking whats the difference between a 7' Umbrella compared to a 20" umbrella they do the same thing. Like whats the difference between a Maxi Lite and a Maxi Spot they look the same. Like whats the difference between a barebuld flash compared to a speedlite. Whats the difference between a 12" Godox beauty dish compared to a 33.5" Mola Beauty dish.


The difference is size and knowing that larger the modifier the soft the light in relationship to the subject. The 7" you get about f/32 at 8 feet depending on the strobe/flash used and very hard shadows, and the 11" your getting about a stop more output at the same distance and a softer shadows. (It don't increase the power of the strobe in increase the focus and produces a higher output at lager distances) This means you can shoot at half the power and faster recycle times with a softer shadow. Once you learn there is a difference in modifiers and sizes and how they work, then you will know which one to use to get the right look or the need for it.

Edward put in the wrong price and is accept pre order on 7-1-2015. Pre order special price $88.88 come with free diffusion socks.

Phil posted one with a grid for UK users. I would never buy or use a grid on this type of modifier. These are made for maxim output and long throw and by putting a grid on it is defeating the purpose of the modifier it self. Sure its nice to have options, but I would use another modifier if I need to cut light and spread. Just my 2 cents

abbadon31 wrote in post #17608739
Phil posted one with a grid for UK users. I would never buy or use a grid on this type of modifier. These are made for maximum output and long throw and by putting a grid on it is defeating the purpose of the modifier it self. Sure its nice to have options, but I would use another modifier if I need to cut light and spread. Just my 2 cents

I wouldn't go so far as to say that putting a grid on was defeating the purpose of the modifier. Certainly, the basic function and effect is to concentrate the light into a 45° cone rather than the more normal 55° or 65°. A by-product of this is the apparent increase in light volume, all other factors remaining equal. It's a moot point whether the original intent when Bowens introduced the product 50+ years ago (and Balcar shortly followed with their zoom reflector) in the 'L' fitting was for coning of the light or enhanced output, the two go hand-in-hand.

However, the enhanced 'throw' and increased light output is far from the only way of using them. For example, a 28cm 45° reflector will give the same quality of light at 166cm subject distance as an 18cm 65° reflector will give at 88cm subject distance. Same apparent size but loads more working room between light source and subject. The coning of light with the 45° reflector compensates to a great degree for the light volume loss through distance (inverse square law). This can be particularly useful when used for highlight placement on product photography where the light source is behind the subject. The greater distance enables placing the backlight not only the in right place for desired highlight placement but also out of shot ..... which clients seem to appreciate Being able to control flare with grids can, on occasion, be useful in this situation and does at least give us the option of control. The enhanced light volume from the restricted angle of light is useful here to offset the light loss through further collimating the light.

Having said all that, I don't use mine very often - just kept the options open plus they transport a lot more easily inside the reflector than individually through our postal system. I bet USPS is the same deeply caring, ultra-careful cotton-wool carrier that Royal Mail is? (would that be a 'NO' then?). There's an awful lot of throwing stuff about goes on in our sorting offices and it's a PITA sending stuff back because it's damaged in transit.

The CL-600 has finally be released for Pre orders and will be shipped out by 7.15.15