Photoflex is Closing Business :(

Love the durability of there umbrella's, soft boxes and octodome.

I have owned them for the past 4 years and the softbox can take the disassemble and still no tears on any part of the material.

My cheaper fotodiox already ripped from frequent disassemble. The cheaper brand is perfect if you have your own studio and leave them assembled.

Sad to see them go.

I'm on the opposite side: their chinese umbrella was only a few degrees above garbage. I never wanted to buy from them again.

Is this confirmed or just a rumor?

Alveric, actually I like their umbrellas. The RUT Convertible is quite versatile. Do you know of other compatible clones?

EmaginePixel wrote in post #17499498
Is this confirmed or just a rumor?

Probably confirmed..

EmaginePixel wrote in post #17499498
Is this confirmed or just a rumor?

Alveric, actually I like their umbrellas. The RUT Convertible is quite versatile. Do you know of other compatible clones?

I use Photek brollies: simply better built and quality, they don't start unraveling after the second time you remove the black cover, like the Photoflex I got.

I have photoflex umbrellas that are 25 years old and still operate like new.

CAPhotog wrote in post #17500166
I have photoflex umbrellas that are 25 years old and still operate like new.

Bet they weren't made in China back then.

For the record, I don't hate Photoflex. I'm not that sorry to see them go, but on the other hand it does bother me that a number of people have lost their jobs. Whilst the reasons behind the closure are unbeknownst to me and thus I can only speculate –a rather dangerous activity in itself–, I can point out that the decrease in quality might have hurt them somewhat. Funny, companies that once produced top quality products and then started cutting corners and introducing junk made overseas in an attempt to remain competitive in the end didn't. I don't blame the company or companies entirely: we as consumers are to a lesser or greater degree responsible for the quality of goods offered nowadays and for companies foundering.

Hmm, I think us consumers are a fickle bunch. Pocket Wizard was doing good with a reliable radio set, but the cheap chinese is pushing them out. I have wizards that a really old, but still soldier on. Not so much with the chinese clones. And I had good service with Calumet, but they were gone too, as well as other local camera stores.

sincity wrote in post #17500302
Hmm, I think us consumers are a fickle bunch. Pocket Wizard was doing good with a reliable radio set, but the cheap chinese is pushing them out. I have wizards that a really old, but still soldier on. Not so much with the chinese clones. And I had good service with Calumet, but they were gone too, as well as other local camera stores.

Calumet's not gone, you're just in the wrong country.

It's not really the consumers fault here, PocketWizard or whoever are not owed their loyalty they have to keep earning it on a daily basis and if the top end of the market isn't enough for them they've had years to tackle other segments.

I appreciate your point though and it sucks when a local camera shop closes down but I can see why they struggle against the Internet, larger companies and changing times. I regret to think of the history being lost, you can struggle to find information on companies that were trading only a few years ago because most people don't care but it's a niche area after all.

Let's hope it is not a complete dissolution but possibly a reorganization. As for innovations, Photoflex was at the leading edge of bringing studio lighting equipment to an entire generation of photographers in the late 80s-90s. The quality of their umbrellas and introduction of LiteDome softboxes set the standard for many studios. They were the first to introduce quick-release corners to make softbox assembly easier back then. Their assortment of speedrings also made it possible to use their gear with any brand of lighting as well. Their most innovative product was arguably the OctoDome setting a new standard for softboxes and eventually copied by every manufacturer to follow. Nearly every high end fashion photographer used OctoDomes or wanted one, which still sets the standard for similar modifiers to this day. Where Photoflex may have faltered was a lack of continuing innovation and addressing new shooting trends while proliferation of cheaper products was accepted by photographers. They also had missteps investing in electronic development of lighting on the heels of cheaper offerings from the East rather than advancing their highly respected core products of light modifiers and stands. Who would not have been excited to see them introduce a collapsible Octodome or a C-stand for example? Another error was their absence from forums like this and not supporting their talented professionals who loved their products for decades. Had they allowed those professionals to have direct input in development or to actively promote new products, they may have stayed the tide. Still, my fingers are crossed that the brand sticks around and I will continue to use my Photoflex gear for years to come. I should also add the people at Photoflex were always good and exhibited great values of a small company seeking quality without industry gimmicks.

sincity wrote in post #17500302
Hmm, I think us consumers are a fickle bunch. Pocket Wizard was doing good with a reliable radio set, but the cheap chinese is pushing them out. I have wizards that a really old, but still soldier on. Not so much with the chinese clones. And I had good service with Calumet, but they were gone too, as well as other local camera stores.

Calumet is reorganizing. 3 Chicago area stores are open and they have a store on Amazon http://www.amazon.com …=n%3A172282%2Ck​%3Acalumet

I've placed several orders. They have been filled quickly and the gear is the same as before the implosion.