New Versatile Studio Lighting

Chris, the D4 softboxes that come with the kit aren't wasted space; just not enough for more than 1/2 body shots. I bought a bigger softbox from backdrop outlet, and use the universal finger-clamp speedring until I buy some foamex rings to replace it. If you're buying the bigger octo, then you could sell the smaller boxes and offset the other costs.

hawk911 wrote in post #5909461
Chris, the D4 softboxes that come with the kit aren't wasted space; just not enough for more than 1/2 body shots. I bought a bigger softbox from backdrop outlet, and use the universal finger-clamp speedring until I buy some foamex rings to replace it. If you're buying the bigger octo, then you could sell the smaller boxes and offset the other costs.

Thanks for the info hawk!

I may have a little more $ in my budget, than I thought. I am seriously looking at the D-Lite 4 now.

I had found a site yesterday, that had a whole bunch of D-lite 2 and D-lite 4 combos, but I can not for the life of me, find it again.

On the other hand, I would hate to buy a kit, and get the non fan cooled version. I know ya'll have said that it is not an issue, with them getting hot, but I would just feel like I got ripped off if I paid the same price, and got the non version.

Your best bet is to locate a place that either you or a store salesperson can actually do a physical check. That is the only way to know for sure if you're getting the fan cooled version. One way that I've found to tell is that if the kit price is ultra good that usually means that they are the older ones.

If you know someone in a shop or retailer maybe you can work out a deal so that if you get the ones without the fans that he'll exchange or swap them out for you once he is shipped the newer ones.

for the record, my D4 kit is NOT fan-cooled.

Hey Hawk,

By pair of D-Lite 4's are not fan cooled either. No problems whatsoever. The D-Lite 2's are fan cooled and to the touch there is a slight temperature difference of the bodies.

oh- I'm not saying I've had a problem. I've had softboxes only on the lights, no snoots/grids, etc and never had one shut down on me yet. Shooterman has had his shut down, but just briefly.

Back to the softbox suggestion, I'd recommend these from AB:
Large folding Octa (it could be bigger, but it's pretty good as is)
Large folding softbox
Beauty dish (not on your list, but almost a must have IMO)

I've seen the AB strip box and it's pretty darn small. If you need a larger strip box on a budget, I'd go with the Photoflex half dome (15" x 55" vs. 10" x 36").

Just my $.02

Ok, I want to thank everyone who has given advice on the strobes so far, but I would like to get back to my original dilema. I feel I have enough information, to make an informed decision on the brand of lights, but that still leaves me wondering which modifiers to get for them.

So far, I am pretty sure that I will be getting a large octabox. Something in the 53"-60" range. That still leaves me needing at least one more modifier, two more if I get three lights. I have heard a couple of suggestions so far, but I would like to hear more from you.

I have two shoot through umbrellas, tow bounce umbrellas, and two 3' octaboxes, so I am looking for either strip boxes, rectangle softboxes, or whatever would be the most versatile.

Thanks,
Chris

My vote is for the medium softbox, the large softbox, and the stripbox!

Wilt wrote in post #5911016
My vote is for the medium softbox, the large softbox, and the stripbox!

Thanks Wilt,

So your saying, that you would eliminate the octabox altogether?
Why do you like the rectangle boxes better than the octa?

Chris71 wrote in post #5911061
Thanks Wilt,

So your saying, that you would eliminate the octabox altogether?
Why do you like the rectangle boxes better than the octa?

I hate any shape which does not normally occur in the course of every day life! Rectangular boxes can appear to be windows in the catchlights of the eyes...what has an octagonal shape besides an umbrella?! And what umbrella emits light, apart from the one a photographer sets up

Good point Wilt. Thanks for the input.

Chris

I would suggest Photoflex softboxes over AB softboxes, too.

I assume, that is because of build quality?

Not that AB is 'not good'...I simply have no familiarity with them! And I know that Photoflex fits speedrings for many other brands of flashes, so there is no possibility of a dead-end expense.