Lastolite’s HiLite Background

m3rdpwr wrote in post #6436214
Thank you!

Please let us know what size what fit with what.

Also, the quality of the Amvona grid.
As I would think they are cheap and may tear apart easy after some use...

-Mario

I am actually very surprised at the quality of these Amvona softboxes, they are very well made. The grids are indestructible. Very durable thick fabric like the nylon straps you find on lifejackets etc.

I will include a picture.

I'd be curious to see the Amvona grids and boxes. I haven't seen them first hand and the only experience I had with Amvona was a horrible one involving a crappy boom and light stand that I had to fight with them over getting them to pay the return shipping.

I was very turned off to them after that.

I had no success with the grid on the soft box. I ended up using a large reflector to completely block the main light from falling on the Hilite. This worked very well.

I would like to mention that the Hilite does not require a lot of power. I am using a SB-800 Speedlight on 1/4 power to get f/8 metered from in front of the Hilite. With the subject metered at f/5.6 this is more than enough to blow out the background when shooting the pure white. For these gelled shots I had the SB-800 on 1/8 power. To darken the BG all that would be required is to lower the power. A speedlight will last a long time and recycle quickly at these settings. A cheap Vivitar would work just fine.

I have a Rosco sample pak of gels and this gives me hundreds of different shades to choose from and it takes about 30 seconds to change. Very convenient.

Here are three samples where I changed the gel and re-shot them all in about a minute. I would add a vignette to a final print I think.

I don't understand why you had no success with the grid, but in the end, no matter how you get there, if you can control the spill from your main light hitting the background and can get the output of the bg lighting below that of the subject lighting, it will darken.

I think maybe these grids are not the best...Not sure though because I have never used them before for this purpose. Samples of the Amvona softbox below. They come with a speed ring, grid, diffusion screen, baffle and several masks.

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The most obvious thing that comes to mind is that you're using a very large softbox and more than likely, even with a grid, you have the box pointing at the background and not directing it off to the side. It's hard to tell from the images but it looks as if the grids are far from the best because the opening are rather large and it doesn't appear to be that deep. Both of those factors help direct and focus the light.

I really don't have anything against Amvona but this demonstrates how they skimp and cut corners and it's more of a hype to be able to include or sell grids with boxes than actually having a quality product that is fully functional.

If I were looking for grids to control directionality and control spill I would not be looking at these grids.

For Mario.... I do not suggest getting these grids even if it means saving some money. I think you're much better off getting a quality product from Photoflex for your Photoflex softboxes.

I agree with you on this, I had only briefly looked at the grids about a year ago and although they are strong, they are not very useful. Wouldn't they need to be about 4 inches deep with smaller openings?

Smaller openings for sure, and typically fabric grids are about 2 inches deep.

The openings in that grid are monstrous and I wouldn't expect them to do much at all.

TMR Design wrote in post #6436969
Smaller openings for sure, and typically fabric grids are about 2 inches deep.

The openings in that grid are monstrous and I wouldn't expect them to do much at all.

That's the one thing I noticed about Amvona grid's in the picture.
They didn't have as many grids, which I would assume would have less control on spill...

-Mario

This is the Photoflex grid in the 24" x 32" Softbox. I could have mounted it perfectly but I didn't bother.

The depth of the grid is 2" and the grid itself is 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" squares.

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TMR Design wrote in post #6437270
I could have mounted it perfectly but I didn't bother.

Heh, that's better than I can ever get the grid to fit...

TMR Design wrote in post #6436949
For Mario.... I do not suggest getting these grids even if it means saving some money. I think you're much better off getting a quality product from Photoflex for your Photoflex softboxes.

Point taken, thanks...

-Me

The grid pattern is three times as dense as the Amvona that I have. Mine only has 60 squares. Yours has over 200. And yours are deeper.
This one has 4"x4" squares x 1.5 inches deep.

I guess mine can go back in the garage...

BCRose wrote in post #6437330
The grid pattern is three times as dense as the Amvona that I have. Mine only has 60 squares. Yours has over 200. And yours are deeper.
This one has 4"x4" squares x 1.5 inches deep.

I guess mine can go back in the garage...

4" x 4" squares? you might as well not even bother. That's pretty much useless. I would imagine there is a small about of focusing and directionality but not really much help at all. You could just as easily turn the softbox or attach a black flag and get better control.

I just read a tutorial over on Shootsmarter.com that a pro did for the Hilite and he uses 2 x ProPhoto strobes, one inserted in each side.

About $1500 worth of kit to light it...this is totally not required. Perfect even lighting with one speed light set in the centre is all it takes from my experience.

No, it's not necessary but if you're into critical exposure and perfectly even backgrounds then 2 lights does make a difference. The fact that Profoto's are used is not the issue. I've seen many demos of the HiLite and the second light with the large HiLite does make a difference.