Softbox size?

maybe the dlite2 kit is something i should consider than.

do i need anything special to attach that octa to a d-lite?

Pucky wrote in post #6171282
maybe the dlite2 kit is something i should consider than.

do i need anything special to attach that octa to a d-lite?

If you buy the Elinchrom octa it comes with the speedring included.

If you buy it from Chimera or Photoflex you will have to buy the speedring.

Pucky wrote in post #6159721
I finally have my own studio space and I'm about to order lights for shooting fashion models. I'm building an online store to sell my friend's clothing line and i'm doing the photography myself.

I'm deciding between the Elinchrom D-lite 4 kit and the Calumet Genesis 400 kit. The Elinchroms come with 2 softboxes (21" high and 25" high) but are they big enough to cover my needs (full body shots down to waist-to-neck shots)?

if its better to have larger softboxes... should i just go with the calumets and order the softboxes separately? it seems like the price would be similar to the Elinchrom kit.

For full body shots the softbox has to as big as the body - as a minimum.

Anything less and the light is not soft enough.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #6171416
For full body shots the softbox has to as big as the body - as a minimum.

Anything less and the light is not soft enough.

Depends what you're going for. Generally, the larger the better, but as is the case with everything in photography (and life), there are always exceptions to the rule. It is possible to do full body shots with a softbox smaller than full body length - a shallow Octabox will spread the light more than a conventional softbox. I know plenty of people (myself included) who shoot full length portraits with softboxes smaller than full body length, and with good results.

Generalizations like yours don't help anyone.

TMR Design wrote in post #6170274
Hi Rudi,

Any chance you can do a quick test to see what the light loss is in the 53" Octa with both diffusers in place?

Just for you, Robert. Octa Midi with front diffuser placed as close as possible to 6 feet away, D-Lite4 monobloc (25Ws-400Ws), Sekonic L-358 flash meter (for those who would otherwise ask ), here we go:

* both diffusers in place - min power f/4.0, max power f/14
* inner diffuser only - min power f/5.0, max power f/18
* no diffusers at all - min power f/5.6, max power f/20

and just for fun

* front diffuser only - min power f/4.5, max power f/16

Hope this helps!

Pucky wrote in post #6171282
maybe the dlite2 kit is something i should consider than.

do i need anything special to attach that octa to a d-lite?

Have a look at my post just above this reply, make up your own mind if you can live with half the power. If you can, you get faster recycling and save a few bucks.

Thanks Rudi. Recycling time isn't something I had took into consideration. That makes the 200s a little more desirable.

They both recycle fast enough. If you're gonna need to shoot at small apertures (for enough DOF), just make sure you have enough power to do it. If the D-Lite2's are enough for what you need, great. If you ever see yourself using them with accessories that will eat up more power, or in a larger space, then you might consider the 4's. Either way, you can't go wrong. They're a great piece of kit!

Rudi wrote in post #6173075
Just for you, Robert. Octa Midi with front diffuser placed as close as possible to 6 feet away, D-Lite4 monobloc (24Ws-400Ws), Sekonic L-358 flash meter (for those who would otherwise ask ), here we go:

* both diffusers in place - min power f/4.0, max power f/14
* inner diffuser only - min power f/5.0, max power f/18
* no diffusers at all - min power f/5.6, max power f/20

and just for fun

* front diffuser only - min power f/4.5, max power f/16

Hope this helps!

Thank you Rudi. I thought it was going to be more dramatic than that. One stop loss is common and that's cool.

Yup, those softboxes are pretty efficient. But you can see how shooting at f/5.6 is not a problem, right? Even with 400Ws strobes... Hey, what am I saying? You now HAVE 400Ws strobes!

Rudi wrote in post #6174130
Hey, what am I saying? You now HAVE 400Ws strobes!

Yeah, Robert no longer talks to us 200WS people

Dave F.

tetrode wrote in post #6174489
Yeah, Robert no longer talks to us 200WS people

Dave F.

Just wait until I get my RX600, Dave! Your calls will go unanswered... (Pretty much like now ).

I would think a 6 or 8' V-Bank would be suitable, and perhaps cheaper to set up than buying a 6' softbox...but then I use AB heads, and hanging a box that large requires modifications that I don't want to deal with...so I'm biased. For that matter, you could shoot through a 42X72'' diffusion panel that'll cost $99 in a kit from Calumet...or buy three and build a bank...or buy your own fabric and PVC and build your own for even less. Just my $.02.

Rudi wrote in post #6171831
Generalizations like yours don't help anyone.

Get an ego check, my friend. You don't have the authority to speak for everybody.

I'll chime in here.

I do full body shots all the time and do not use a softbox of modifier nearly as large as the subjects I'm shooting. It's never presented a problem and I'm able to get very even lighting with only the slightest measurable falloff at the lower calves or feet, which isn't even notiecable.

If I want perfectly even light I'll use a 7' diffusion panel but I don't care for that if I'm looking for great catch lights, as the size of the panel becomes a huge said in the eye.