Elinchrom users only- whatcha got?

TMR Design wrote in post #7724651
Thanks Jeff,

I didn't even think about laying 2 transceivers in the Skyport case as you did in one slot. Good idea. I couldn't imagine how you were doing that.

What does the color coding on the handles of your RX's signify?

Doesn't signify a whole lot....just allows me to keep things together both in their pelican box, and in my head. Given I struggle with being an organized person, sometimes I have to go over the top to achieve organization.

Each of my lights are either red, yellow, green, or blue. Each of the skyport rx receivers also has red, yellow, green, or blue colored tape. Lastly, and certainly ridiculous....I found those lovely velcro cable wraps (allow you to keep order of your cables) at joann fabrics in rainbow colors while their with my wife a few weeks ago...so I use those for power cords.

That way I never have to wonder if I have enough skyports or power cords, since they always have one matching set of each color. It also allows me to keep each skyport on a different group, and always on the same group from day to day, that it helps me avoid that part of the setup, as well as keeping each channel corresponding to the same light everytime (red is 1, yellow is 2, and so on) so that when I need to make a change I could just look at the color of light and easily change the power. That said, I actually use the same color lights in the same position from shoot to shoot (red being main light, yellow being fill light, etc) which allows me to keep similar settings on the lights, and also be able to label the lights in my skyport rx USB software as colors/position, and those won't change because the same lights will be used with the same skyport and in the same group....every time.

I'm sure it's incredibly anal, but the consistency seems to simplify setup/wireless adjustment as well as allow me to make sure I don't lose anything. Again, in most of my life I am FAR from this organized, but sometimes I just need to go to that extreme to help me make sense of it all.

edit: I should plan that I add on cycling through which light should have which role in my kit. I'm sure that using one light as my main light all the time would tax that light (both bulb and internals) more than the others....so I'll be sure to rotate through each lights' role to avoid degrading one light more than the rest.

<sigh> my insanity is downright embarassing!

My RXs are all colour-coded as well, mainly so I know which is which when looking at the software screen. Why do you put the transceivers in the case though? mine just stay plugged into the lights.

Hermes wrote in post #7724815
My RXs are all colour-coded as well, mainly so I know which is which when looking at the software screen. Why do you put the transceivers in the case though? mine just stay plugged into the lights.

If I left my lights setup all the time, I'd certainly do this....but I think storing them attached to the lights while in the case and transporting them with the skyport plugged in might somehow either damage the skyports or their connection ports.

Cathpah wrote in post #7724743
Doesn't signify a whole lot....just allows me to keep things together both in their pelican box, and in my head. Given I struggle with being an organized person, sometimes I have to go over the top to achieve organization.

Each of my lights are either red, yellow, green, or blue. Each of the skyport rx receivers also has red, yellow, green, or blue colored tape. Lastly, and certainly ridiculous....I found those lovely velcro cable wraps (allow you to keep order of your cables) at joann fabrics in rainbow colors while their with my wife a few weeks ago...so I use those for power cords.

That way I never have to wonder if I have enough skyports or power cords, since they always have one matching set of each color. It also allows me to keep each skyport on a different group, and always on the same group from day to day, that it helps me avoid that part of the setup, as well as keeping each channel corresponding to the same light everytime (red is 1, yellow is 2, and so on) so that when I need to make a change I could just look at the color of light and easily change the power. That said, I actually use the same color lights in the same position from shoot to shoot (red being main light, yellow being key light, etc) which allows me to keep similar settings on the lights, and also be able to label the lights in my skyport rx USB software as colors/position, and those won't change because the same lights will be used with the same skyport and in the same group....every time.

I'm sure it's incredibly anal, but the consistency seems to simplify setup/wireless adjustment as well as allow me to make sure I don't lose anything. Again, in most of my life I am FAR from this organized, but sometimes I just need to go to that extreme to help me make sense of it all.

edit: I should plan that I add on cycling through which light should have which role in my kit. I'm sure that using one light as my main light all the time would tax that light (both bulb and internals) more than the others....so I'll be sure to rotate through each lights' role to avoid degrading one light more than the rest.

<sigh> my insanity is downright embarassing!

Incredibly anal? Say no more... lolol. I can relate to that.
Being organized (even over-organized) works for me too. I'd rather be organized than disorganized.

I'm sure this is a typo but you said "...red being main light, yellow being key light, etc...". Please tell me that is a typo and you know that main and key are one and the same..LOLOL

TMR Design wrote in post #7724873
Incredibly anal? Say no more... lolol. I can relate to that.
Being organized (even over-organized) works for me too. I'd rather be organized than disorganized.

I'm sure this is a typo but you said "...red being main light, yellow being key light, etc...". Please tell me that is a typo and you know that main and key are one and the same..LOLOL

hahaha....true enough. FILL light would be what yellow is for. Apparently I need to go to bed, as my brain does not seem to be workin.

Ranger 72 octo and adding more.

The new 69" Octa is calling my name

TMR Design wrote in post #7725155
The new 69" Octa is calling my name

NEW octa? 69'"? why haven't I heard of this.


do tell....

Cathpah wrote in post #7725184
NEW octa? 69'"? why haven't I heard of this.


do tell....

Not available yet but accepting orders and it should be available with all the other new products due out in May.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ROTALUX_OCTA_SO​FTBOX.html

Cathpah wrote in post #7724743
Doesn't signify a whole lot....just allows me to keep things together both in their pelican box, and in my head. Given I struggle with being an organized person, sometimes I have to go over the top to achieve organization.

Each of my lights are either red, yellow, green, or blue. Each of the skyport rx receivers also has red, yellow, green, or blue colored tape. Lastly, and certainly ridiculous....I found those lovely velcro cable wraps (allow you to keep order of your cables) at joann fabrics in rainbow colors while their with my wife a few weeks ago...so I use those for power cords.

That way I never have to wonder if I have enough skyports or power cords, since they always have one matching set of each color. It also allows me to keep each skyport on a different group, and always on the same group from day to day, that it helps me avoid that part of the setup, as well as keeping each channel corresponding to the same light everytime (red is 1, yellow is 2, and so on) so that when I need to make a change I could just look at the color of light and easily change the power. That said, I actually use the same color lights in the same position from shoot to shoot (red being main light, yellow being fill light, etc) which allows me to keep similar settings on the lights, and also be able to label the lights in my skyport rx USB software as colors/position, and those won't change because the same lights will be used with the same skyport and in the same group....every time.

I'm sure it's incredibly anal, but the consistency seems to simplify setup/wireless adjustment as well as allow me to make sure I don't lose anything. Again, in most of my life I am FAR from this organized, but sometimes I just need to go to that extreme to help me make sense of it all.

edit: I should plan that I add on cycling through which light should have which role in my kit. I'm sure that using one light as my main light all the time would tax that light (both bulb and internals) more than the others....so I'll be sure to rotate through each lights' role to avoid degrading one light more than the rest.

<sigh> my insanity is downright embarassing!

Well i may be weird but that is a very cool idea/system of colour coding. As a very frequent traveller i sit there packing my bags wondering if i have enough/appropriate cables and usually end up carrying more than i need.
Don't patent it just yet, let me gear up first!!

TMR Design wrote in post #7725206
Not available yet but accepting orders and it should be available with all the other new products due out in May.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ROTALUX_OCTA_SO​FTBOX.html

wow, that's good lookin! If they come out with some decent grids at a reasonable price, I may just have to part with my photoflex 5' octa multidome!

thanks for pointing this out!

Cathpah wrote in post #7725254
wow, that's good lookin! If they come out with some decent grids at a reasonable price, I may just have to part with my photoflex 5' octa multidome!

thanks for pointing this out!

I think that in time Elinchrom will fully realize the importance and demand for grids and they'll do the right thing.

I like Photoflex products but that 5' Octa is a downright pain in the arse

The 69" Elinchrom Octa would be great on the main light but it would also make a wonderfully huge fill source.

TMR Design wrote in post #7725268
I think that in time Elinchrom will fully realize the importance and demand for grids and they'll do the right thing.

I like Photoflex products but that 5' Octa is a downright pain in the arse

The 69" Elinchrom Octa would be great on the main light but it would also make a wonderfully huge fill source.

agreed 100%. I had a location shoot a couple days ago in an iron workers workshop. Setting that thing up without breaking something or turning the white to soot color was quite the challenge.

I certainly hope you are right on Elinchrom realizing the need for grids. They are certainly at the forefront of the rest of the world of modifiers, so one would think they won't drop the ball on this.

TMR Design wrote in post #7725268
I think that in time Elinchrom will fully realize the importance and demand for grids and they'll do the right thing.

I like Photoflex products but that 5' Octa is a downright pain in the arse

The 69" Elinchrom Octa would be great on the main light but it would also make a wonderfully huge fill source.

I don't think I'd buy an octabox that big again. They're hard to work with (no matter how much studio space you have). Whereas you might put a 1m Octa a few inches from the subject for a headshot, a 2m octa in the same position can easily block your shot so you have to pull it back to keep the lighting pattern you want, which really defeats the purpose of having a modifier that big. You get the same problem using them as fill, their size ends up being an obstacle.

They only really make sense for full-length shots, and even then, a tall rectangular softbox will give you the same full-length coverage but without the width which means less spill onto the background and less chance of the box getting in the way of the shot.

Hermes wrote in post #7725289
I don't think I'd buy an octabox that big again. They're hard to work with (no matter how much studio space you have). Whereas you might put a 1m Octa a few inches from the subject for a headshot, a 2m octa in the same position can easily block your shot so you have to pull it back to keep the lighting pattern you want, which really defeats the purpose of having a modifier that big. You get the same problem using them as fill, their size ends up being an obstacle.

They only really make sense for full-length shots, and even then, a tall rectangular softbox will give you the same full-length coverage but without the width which means less spill onto the background and less chance of the box getting in the way of the shot.

Always the voice of reason Hermes