OMNI 18-inch Reflector, Paul C. Buff for Einstein

Anyone have any experience and/or photos taken with the relatively new light 18 inch reflector from Paul C. Buff, as well as the 20 degree grid and 3 layer diffusion sock? Mounted to an Einstein 640 or Alien Bee.

I've been really happy with it so far. I don't have the grid yet and didn't even know they had them available, but it's become my primary outdoor, kill the sun type of modifier. I don't think I have any outdoor examples online and I'm at work right now, but I can post a couple of shots I took in the studio using it as my only light source.

These were all taken with an Einstein and the OMNI reflector with the triple layer sock and a reflector below me, leaned against my knees:

Wow, thanks! How tight would you say the focus of the light is without the sock? I'm guessing your light is very close to your model in these shots? I'm wondering if I can use this light for real estate with the grid. Seems like it's pretty flexible!

For these shots, the distance varied from maybe 6 or 8 inches to maybe 24 inches above her head. It seems to focus the light pretty tightly. Maybe a 40º spread or so would be my guess.

Thank you very much for your help, I really appreciate it! I went ahead and purchased both modifiers based on your feedback.

Thanks for these examples. I just purchased the reflector and grid. Wonderful use of light.

I like the super smooth fall off/gradation. I wonder if its due to its triple diffusion fabric or the design.

try using multiple diffusion with your strobe and you will get super soft light. So soft, the skin photographs super smooth.

I've done it with a silver 22" PCB beauty dish with a sock and a white diffuser from my 5-in-1 reflector. The further the distance from the source of light from the 2nd diffuser, the smoother the light produced. This is actually a similar principle in what they use in movie sets too.

PhilF wrote in post #17681974
try using multiple diffusion with your strobe and you will get super soft light. So soft, the skin photographs super smooth.

I've done it with a silver 22" PCB beauty dish with a sock and a white diffuser from my 5-in-1 reflector. The further the distance from the source of light from the 2nd diffuser, the smoother the light produced. This is actually a similar principle in what they use in movie sets too.

Phil, I mean the gradation of transition between highlight and shadow like in the photo above. Very gradual.
But maybe because I never observe the fall off quality of my softbox I will do a check.

nixland wrote in post #17682144
Phil, I mean the gradation of transition between highlight and shadow like in the photo above. Very gradual.
But maybe because I never observe the fall off quality of my softbox I will do a check.

I think you see that transition more because when I shot these I had the reflector less than a foot above the model's head. Since it was that close the light falls of extremely fast.

I never use mine because it's huge and I've also moved on to Bowens mount stuff. I should bring it into the studio some day to play around with the one Einstein 640 I have sitting in my office.

My review of the 18" PCB Omni. Although not shot with an Einstein, you can see how it performs on location.
http://www.markkitaoka​.com …w-pcbs-omni-18-reflector/

What exactly is a triple-layer diffusion sock? I mean, I know what it sounds like, but how does it work? Is it just three diffusion panels build into one sock? I assume they're spaced out? Am I completely wrong here?

Yes the sock simply goes over the modifier and is held in place using strong elastic. It is indeed three layers of diffusion fabric and works well. It is large enough to fit over their 22" beauty dish as well.