Photoflex Octodome Anyone?

Looking for endorsements or caveats from folks having first-hand experience with the 5' Photoflex Octodome. I was able to find only a few mentions when I searched this forum. Thoughts regarding build quality, light quality, ease of assembly/disassembly, utility, etc. would be much appreciated. It sits at a relatively attractive price point (though substantially above that of the questionable eBay offerings) and seems to garner generally positive reviews. I'm wondering how the 5' Octodome compares to the 52" Photek Illuminata or 53" Elinchrom Midi Octa and whether it might not prove to be the most useful of the bunch.

All comments appreciated.

Dave F.

Dave- I have the 5' Photoflex Octodome and can share the following. Like all Photoflex softboxes the build quality is excellent. Assembly and breakdown are easy but I can't compare it to others. One of the things that I like about this modifier is that the cost of the fabric grids was 'reasonable' in comparison to other products. I would not hesitate recommending this product.

RichNY wrote in post #6242202
Dave- I have the 5' Photoflex Octodome and can share the following. Like all Photoflex softboxes the build quality is excellent. Assembly and breakdown are easy but I can't compare it to others. One of the things that I like about this modifier is that the cost of the fabric grids was 'reasonable' in comparison to other products. I would not hesitate recommending this product.

Thanks so much for the comment, RichNY. Have you noticed any pronounced central hotspotting with the Photoflex? I've read that eveness of illumination across the face of the Octodome is very good.

Dave F.

I've had a 5' dome for about 3 years now & love it. It's my favorite modifier, I just love the quality of the light I get out of it. The build quality is excellent. I pack it to shoots all the time & it's holding up wonderfully. The portrait below was done with the 5' Octo-dome & a reflector. The links are to a fellow photog's flickr site showing the exact setup I used for a flickr group meetup this year. The first link is him shooting over my shoulder.

http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157603702672449/
http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157603702672449/

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Dave,

Like the Photoflex box you already own, you'll find similar construction and a well made product. I shoot with a local photographer that owns and uses the 3 ft. and the 5 ft. Octadome and they are very nice. I've taken measurements from center to edge and edge to edge and found these Octa's to be within 2/10 of a stop from any point to any other point with the front diffusion panel mounted. Without the panel you'll find a bit more variation but still quite good.

The 5 foot Octa is very nice for medium to large set shoots and works very well for a 2 or 3 person group as well as a full length shot as long as the person is not more than about 6 feet tall. If taller you have to be a little more creative due to the rapid falloff at the lower leg and feet. I've supplemented it with a smaller box mounted under the Octa, coming from the same angle to keep shadows and directionality the same. Of course you do have to clone out the secondary (bottom ) catch light but it works really well.

All in all I haven't found a Photoflex modifier I didn't like. I think you'll like the quality of light just as much as the smaller softbox you own.

270weatherby wrote in post #6242330
I've had a 5' dome for about 3 years now & love it. It's my favorite modifier, I just love the quality of the light I get out of it. The build quality is excellent. I pack it to shoots all the time & it's holding up wonderfully. The portrait below was done with the 5' Octo-dome & a reflector. The links are to a fellow photog's flickr site showing the exact setup I used for a flickr group meetup this year. The first link is him shooting over my shoulder.

http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157603702672449/
http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157603702672449/

150gr bullet at over 3000 ft/s. You've picked a mighty powerful nom de guerre for POTN.

Now, back to photography: Thank you for the feedback. That's a lovely result from a super-simple setup (I looked at the flickr pages). The catchlights are nice and can probably stand as they are without any PP (assuming you having already worked on them). Light is soft and flattering and the Photoflex seems to be large enought to do a creditable job as both a main and hairlight if properly positioned. Do you happen to remember how many Watt-Seconds you were pumping into the Octodome?

My wallet's starting to throb again.

Dave F.

TMR Design wrote in post #6242398
Dave,

Like the Photoflex box you already own, you'll find similar construction and a well made product. I shoot with a local photographer that owns and uses the 3 ft. and the 5 ft. Octadome and they are very nice. I've taken measurements from center to edge and edge to edge and found these Octa's to be within 2/10 of a stop from any point to any other point with the front diffusion panel mounted. Without the panel you'll find a bit more variation but still quite good.

The 5 foot Octa is very nice for medium to large set shoots and works very well for a 2 or 3 person group as well as a full length shot as long as the person is not more than about 6 feet tall. If taller you have to be a little more creative due to the rapid falloff at the lower leg and feet. I've supplemented it with a smaller box mounted under the Octa, coming from the same angle to keep shadows and directionality the same. Of course you do have to clone out the secondary (bottom ) catch light but it works really well.

All in all I haven't found a Photoflex modifier I didn't like. I think you'll like the quality of light just as much as the smaller softbox you own.

Thanks, Robert. Sounds like the Photoflex can go toe-to-toe with the high priced alternatives. The eveness of illumination is pretty amazing.

Dave F.

I use a 3' Octodome on pretty much all my shoots.

Heres my recent shoot with just a 3' Octodome w/ a 40 Degree and a 580 with a softbox as a 2nd light.

French Model @ Laguna

M Powered wrote in post #6242688
I use a 3' Octodome on pretty much all my shoots.

Heres my recent shoot with just a 3' Octodome w/ a 40 Degree and a 580 with a softbox as a 2nd light.

French Model @ Laguna

Beautiful images. Very nice lighting!!!

TMR Design wrote in post #6242700
Beautiful images. Very nice lighting!!!

Thank you

M Powered I looked at those beautiful images over and over and I swear I cannot tell that she is French! Great job!

Jannie wrote in post #6242772
M Powered I looked at those beautiful images over and over and I swear I cannot tell that she is French! Great job!

Thanks.

Perhaps you need to see the "Behind the Scenes"VIDEO

M Powered wrote in post #6242688
I use a 3' Octodome on pretty much all my shoots.

Heres my recent shoot with just a 3' Octodome w/ a 40 Degree and a 580 with a softbox as a 2nd light.

French Model @ Laguna

Truth to tell, I've been following the drool-fest over on your French Model thread and it was your mention of the Octodome that got my wheels turning.

Let me be the last to tell you: Gorgeous images.

Dave F.

tetrode wrote in post #6242845
Truth to tell, I've been following the drool-fest over on your French Model thread and it was your mention of the Octodome that got my wheels turning.

Let me be the last to tell you: Gorgeous images.

Dave F.

Thanks

Well, let the wheel turn, because theres no turning back once you use the Octa's Slap on a Grid and take the front baffle off and the results are spectacular.

M Powered wrote in post #6242866
Thanks

Well, let the wheel turn, because theres no turning back once you use the Octa's Slap on a Grid and take the front baffle off and the results are spectacular.

Between your photos and the video, you've probably just sold another 100 Octodomes. Photoflex should put you on retainer.

Dave F.