Beauty dish recommendations

Hello strobist,

What are you guys using? Any pros and cons?

I am looking to add a bowens mount beauty dish to my ad200 setup that will be boomed above my subjects. Needing something around 20" with a grid attachment and under $180.

Thanks!

I have Kacey's beauty dish but haven't got to modify it for the bowen's mount. There is a speedotron dish which is < $150 @B&H. But you would need a mount.

There is also this from Bowens:

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …eauty_dish_refl​ector.html

The white one is cheaper.

Lots of folks like that speedo BD

Thanks for the link Bobby.

Maybe I should rethink the size, if I am lighting primarily the face maybe I should try a smaller size?

I did some digging and found this version under $100 with the diffuser sock and 40 degree grid which I would use a lot.

https://www.adorama.co​m/glbd17sbo.html

I have a small bowens mount that I have used but its hard to travel with it as it takes up so much room they have the folding ones now if I had it to do over thats how I would go.

You made a specific request for gear suggestions with constraints and also for our experience. I am forced to answer them separately because the dish I use is out of your price parameters.

If you use the tube shaped bulb, Godox makes an AD-S7 which is 17" and has a metal deflector and a grid. It was designed for the AD360. I would guess it fits on the AD200 in the bulb configuration, but I don't know that for a fact. It's about $35.

There is also a Fotodiox dish which is available in various sizes and includes a grid. Currently $70 for 16", more for larger sizes.

https://www.amazon.com …UE4XK&colid=1VD​ZKZ0EMLSPH

I don't have direct experience with what you are attempting with the items above, but they easily meet your requirements for $35-70.

As for size of dish, bigger tends to have more flexibility in use, if you have enough space to use it. Smaller dishes are easier to transport and can be used in smaller spaces. For headshots, 16" is enough. As a starting point, BDs are typically used at 1x to 2x the diameter from the subject (so between 16 and 32" with a 16" dish). This isn't a rule, just a starting point. Your own taste should be your guide.

I have a Mola dish, but even used it will probably exceed your budget. It works well with a Godox 360. I consider the Demi and Setti quite good. I own the Demi.

The differences between beauty dishes are mostly subtle within a similar design category, but that isn't to say insignificant. And when you change design, as to a Setti, the results are almost more similar to a Rotalux deep Octa (in certain configurations) to my eye, than to a typical beauty dish.

Unless the two shots are taken side by side with different dishes, people cannot tell which dish was used looking at the image. A perfect dish won't help in unskilled hands and the worst dish in skilled hands will do well. In skilled hands, the differences in dishes can make a difference. But good post processing skills probably matter more.

A little searching here will reveal some direct comparisons. You can see for yourself if the relatively subtle differences matter to you. If they do, your task will become harder.

Thanks for the recommendation and explaining each aspect. I ended up purchasing a 17" glow beauty dish from Adorama with a grid that was way below my budget.

The glow is a great dish it's just a bit heavy so when booming it I have to use a c-stand which I found at a great price as well. Good thing is the glow was cheap so my next purchase will be an umbrella style that is easier for transport but more expensive. I had the wescott rapid box for speedlights before and I loved it. I didn't want to spend that much again but I already see the benefit of having something more portable.

At this rate Godox will probably make a beauty dish soon so I will be patient

Osa713 wrote in post #18423074
Thanks for the recommendation and explaining each aspect. I ended up purchasing a 17" glow beauty dish from Adorama with a grid that was way below my budget.

The glow is a great dish it's just a bit heavy so when booming it I have to use a c-stand which I found at a great price as well. Good thing is the glow was cheap so my next purchase will be an umbrella style that is easier for transport but more expensive. I had the wescott rapid box for speedlights before and I loved it. I didn't want to spend that much again but I already see the benefit of having something more portable.

At this rate Godox will probably make a beauty dish soon so I will be patient

I think your choices will serve you well.

A c-stand and boom are a great addition to your gear. If you got a good price, you can probably sell it used in ten years and get most of your money back. That's the funny thing with c-stands...they don't loose much value. And be sure to use sandbags or the equivelent even though you have a c-stand. You can rig a way for your gear to act like a weight, depending.

Godox already does make a beauty dish.

https://www.amazon.com …r=8-2&keywords=Godox+dish

Thanks for the follow up. I always appreciate hearing back what choices were made and how they worked out.

The Phottix Spartan is a Beauty Dish and a softbox, depending on how you configure it. There is a 20 and 28 inch version.

I have the 20 inch version but have not used it extensively yet. It is well made and easy to put together. I like the idea of using one piece of equipment for two purposes, smart design by Phottix.

Some more information here: http://flashhavoc.com/​phottix-spartan-beauty-dish/

I have the PCB 22" white beauty dish. I still need to modify it to accept the bowens mount but will do this soon.

Photoflex just brought out a new product called the RapiDome, a collapsible Softbox Kit for Speedlights. It reminds me a lot of the Phottix Spartan but easier to setup and take down. More information here: http://www.photoflex.c​om …tbox-kit-for-speedlights/

The beauty dish/softbox products appeal to me.

TheDocAUS wrote in post #18425653
Photoflex just brought out a new product called the RapiDome, a collapsible Softbox Kit for Speedlights. It reminds me a lot of the Phottix Spartan but easier to setup and take down. More information here: http://www.photoflex.c​om …tbox-kit-for-speedlights/

The beauty dish/softbox products appeal to me.

Seems for speedlites and still with that flimsy photoflex bracket.

TheDocAUS wrote in post #18425653
Photoflex just brought out a new product called the RapiDome, a collapsible Softbox Kit for Speedlights. It reminds me a lot of the Phottix Spartan but easier to setup and take down. More information here: http://www.photoflex.c​om …tbox-kit-for-speedlights/

The beauty dish/softbox products appeal to me.

It's just like the wescott rapid Box.

Osa713 wrote in post #18425902
It's just like the wescott rapid Box.

I didn't say that was good either. Buy a nice beauty dish if you need a beauty dish. They aren't that expensive, well Mola is but still nothing compared to any decent L lens IMHO.

I have an old photoflex softbox with similar bracket. It is pain and flimsy. Wouldn't recommend it. And I like photoflex modifiers, have their softbox as well as 5' octadome.