Westcott Joel Grimes Rapid Box beauty dish BTS Video.

Hey everyone,

Here's a quick look at the new Joel Grimes Beauty dish.



Craig Beckta

That was a nice presentation.

But, I hate to seem rude, so excuse the blunt question. It appears to be built on an umbrella framework. To me that does not seem like it would hold up well. So explain what makes this umbrella worth $300?

The price of things is sometimes hard to determine.

Why is a Mercedes more than a Kia?

They are both cars...

I always tell people to buy what they can afford.

I believe that the BD is priced similar to other Beauty Dishes on the market.

I own 5 Beauty Dishes and I can say it is the lightest and most portable.

bigVinnie wrote in post #18059038
That was a nice presentation.

But, I hate to seem rude, so excuse the blunt question. It appears to be built on an umbrella framework. To me that does not seem like it would hold up well. So explain what makes this umbrella worth $300?

Vinnie,
I think the price is based on Westcott clinging to a perception that they are still a premium brand in the photographic business.

There is also a celebrity name association that has to be amortized.

If it can be demonstrated that it provides a unique lighting character that is desirable then we have to judge if its worth the money to get the lighting character.

What I see in the video is a soft box type light that is essentially the same as available from most octagonal boxes of similar size. Especially if there is a deflection disk as with the EZ-PRO boxes from Fotodiox for about 1/3 the price.
Its a nice video but it doesn't demonstrate anything unique about the Westcott modifier.

Let me start by saying I am not making any money from the video above or was I paid to create it...

I just do gear reviews from time to time for my YouTube channel.

In regards to your post dmward it doesn't appear that Fotodiox sells a similar product.

I wasn't able to find a collapsible beauty dish on their website.

Granted their prices are lower but you know how the saying goes.

"You get what you pay for."

Having never used Fotodiox products before I can't vouch for their quality.

But with prices that low you have to cut corners somewhere.

The cheapest solution is very rarely the best one in the long run.

But if that is within your budget then it's a good place to start.

craigbeckta wrote in post #18061146
Let me start by saying I am not making any money from the video above or was I paid to create it...

I just do gear reviews from time to time for my YouTube channel.

In regards to your post dmward it doesn't appear that Fotodiox sells a similar product.

I wasn't able to find a collapsible beauty dish on their website.

Granted their prices are lower but you know how the saying goes.

"You get what you pay for."

Having never used Fotodiox products before I can't vouch for their quality.

But with prices that low you have to cut corners somewhere.

The cheapest solution is very rarely the best one in the long run.

But if that is within your budget then it's a good place to start.

I didn't look to see if they still offer it. In the past the Fotodiox octa was available with a plastic deflection disk. As were many other of their soft boxes.

I was referring to Joel Grimes with the comment about celebrity cost.

As for the phrase "you get what you pay for" it cuts both ways. My point is that the much less expensive Fotodiox octa with deflection plate has a visibly more substantial umbrella type mechanism and most importantly, probably puts light on the subject that is indistinguishable from the Westcott product.

I did a comparison HERE with a foldable beauty dish, metal beauty dish and a Westcott foldable octa. I think it illustrates that the character of the light is difficult to distinguish.

Not really wanting to ruffle feathers about this. Just I've been doing this for about 3 decades and sometimes it feels that companies take advantage of photographers especially when they attach a celebrity name to something.

I do own some Westcott items. One of my go to items is a collapsable umbrella. Compact enough that I always have at least one with me as backup. Even that required a little reinforcing because of a design flaw. But it is reasonably priced for something I can promise costs about $2 out of the Chinese factory it comes from.

When I watched your video I immediately compared it to the folding beauty dish I currently own. I believe it is made by Phottix but I have the Cheetahstand branded version QS33. http://www.cheetahstan​d.com/product-p/qs33.htm Fstoppers has a simple review of the white one on their site as well https://fstoppers.com …lapsible-beauty-dish-2516

I for one would be curious to see a video comparing these head to head. Especially in build quality. My gear takes a beating since I'm generally not the one handling it. I used to use softlighters but the umbrella design could not hold up, I was constantly replacing them. Traditional softboxes require to much wresting for setup and tear down. So quick to setup and durable are high on my requirements.

To be honest for me I have not tried the Westcott beauty dish but do have some Westcott products and they are mediocre at best I feel the Cheetahstand Rice bowl with beauty dish attachment does everything plus a lot more than this $300 modifier but that's just me the Ricebowl with beauty dish attachment is just a little more than 1/2 the cost of Westcott's beauty dish
http://www.cheetahstan​d.com/product-p/rb-90t.htm
http://www.cheetahstan​d.com/product-p/rb-dsp.htm

If any companies want to send me some gear, I will gladly shoot a comparison video.

When it comes to lighting, it's really about subtle differences.

I know some people swear by Profoto gear, although I find it a little expensive.

Nice BTS video and i like the result as well.

As for the modifier... UGH any product marketed by a "celebrity" name i discard. If the product can't sell on it's own merits its simply not good/unique enough.

The collapsible BD is not new or unique, so that would explain the need to "brand" it..

As for profoto, many working professional swear by them and so does rental studios. This for good reason. Westcott as a brand is not even close to have the same recognition in the industry.

Dear CRAIG,

Thank you for taking the time to make and post another one of your entertaining & informative videos, all of which must require a lot of effort.

I always like to keep an open mind to the vast array & proliferation of photography equipment, techniques, or human behavior (while always trying to keep things simple, effective & efficient, with differentiating quality & artistry).

Regardless of any debate/discussion about the product - as you correctly summarily state it's totally an individual subjective value-equation decision.

You have learned one of the secrets of the being a good & differentiating photographer (as often softly & scholarly remarked by many an elder/master photographer who helped define the photography industry), that of: "to be a good photographer - you have to first be a good human being!"

Well done - your enthusiasm, persistence, determination, endurance & courtesy must be the result of your military experience, combined with having had good parents and perhaps a sprinkling of maritime/"Bluenoser" values...
all of which is resulting in an increasingly evolving quality & consistency in your photographic images & work - hallmarks of what can rightly be called a "photographer" (in todays so frequently & loosely described term). Your work has evolved beautifully even before your brought the high resolution, dynamic-range Nikon D810 on-board for portrait applications.

Again, thank you Craig for your video.

Just one view...

Mary

P.S.
[Re: Profoto Lights (such as D1's & B1's) have lovely consistent light-temperature quality & crisp refresh rates. But as for modifiers, my Profoto OCF Beauty Dish's wire spokes are not that great a quality, subject to bending; in contrast to its very durable traditional RF & newer RFi modifiers, of which I have many. Chimera has been making portable BD's for a few years. As you indicated it is up to the buyer & his/her needs to decide].

Hoping to make it to Nova Scotia for a vacation in the next year or so (have camera-will travel, right), including Halifax, picturesque Lunenburg, Fort Louisbourg, etc.

Thank You, so much for your kind words Mary.

I wasn't sure where the post was headed at first. lol

Thanks again,

Craig

My apologies for that.

I do always appreciate video examples showing gear in use. So much more useful that "unboxing" videos. What is the purpose of those anyways?