Calumet 7" reflector grid fit the alien bees reflectors?

I haven't been able to find any info on success of this w/ various search tools, so it looks like I have to ask

Anyone try the Calumet 7" reflector grids on AB reflectors? Just wondering if they fit and how well they're built compared to other reflectors...cost is roughly the same, but picking it up is easier than ordering them from AB...

I don't know the answer to this but i'm curious as well. if Calumet is local to you (as they are to me) I would bring the AB reflector there and see. I plan on doing this buy haven't had the time to go.

Typically, 7" grids will fit any 7" reflector, give or take the exact fit.

I do know that PCB and Speedotron grids are interchangeable and that both will work in an Elinchrom 7" grid reflector.

The build quality is good on the Calumet grids...I picked one up a couple of weeks ago and it's very nice...I plan to get the whole set soon.

FYI, the answer is yes. They don't seem to be consistent in size though. The 20 degree is tighter than the 40 when put on the AB reflector.
Also, the 40 leaves a gap in a speedo reflector that light might get through.

I like the quality quite a bit. The grid material is thicker than the speedo ultrathin aluminum that seems to bend if you breathe on it Only negative is it might block more light than the speedo grids. I also dropped it on a tile floor (the 20 slipped as I yanked it out because it was so tight) and it didn't dent.

Anyone know if the 30 is useful? I can see using the 40 (to limit spill) and 20 (to do a narrow spotlight effect), but the 30 doesn't seem that useful to me so I haven't bought it yet...

kenyee wrote in post #8973646
FYI, the answer is yes. They don't seem to be consistent in size though. The 20 degree is tighter than the 40 when put on the AB reflector.
Also, the 40 leaves a gap in a speedo reflector that light might get through.

I like the quality quite a bit. The grid material is thicker than the speedo ultrathin aluminum that seems to bend if you breathe on it Only negative is it might block more light than the speedo grids. I also dropped it on a tile floor (the 20 slipped as I yanked it out because it was so tight) and it didn't dent.

Anyone know if the 30 is useful? I can see using the 40 (to limit spill) and 20 (to do a narrow spotlight effect), but the 30 doesn't seem that useful to me so I haven't bought it yet...

It depends on the purpose and distance from the subject. I find the 30 degree quite useful when I'm doing hair lights but that's in my studio and may have nothing to do with how you work in yours.

TMR Design wrote in post #8973838
It depends on the purpose and distance from the subject. I find the 30 degree quite useful when I'm doing hair lights but that's in my studio and may have nothing to do with how you work in yours.

I use my 30 the same way as Rob.

hmm..what do you guys use the 20/40 for? The 20 seems more useful for a hairlight but the 40 seems more useful for a rim (spraying over shoulder/arms)

kenyee wrote in post #8974567
hmm..what do you guys use the 20/40 for? The 20 seems more useful for a hairlight but the 40 seems more useful for a rim (spraying over shoulder/arms)

One thing I've been doing for a while now, and I'm not sure others do it, is to use a grid that's slightly wider than what I ultimately want and use it in combination with barn doors. I get the coverage and control I want. If I use the 20 degree grid I don't get the coverage. Even the 40 degree grid works well with the barn doors.

Like anything you do with barn doors, you have to work with them to find those 'sweet spots' where you're getting what you want in terms of control but when you lock on to it, it's a beautiful thing.

I use the 10 and 20 degree grids more when I'm lighting a product or if I'm doing a product shot and want to highlight the logo or brand name. The 10 is great for that but sometimes it's a little too tight.

I've used the 20 degree grid as a main light when I want a really high contrast shot on a model with really good skin and I'm working on a dark or black background where subject to background isolation makes the shot work.

Finally remembered to upload this photo of it.
Sorry for the tiny size but the forum only lets you upload a 150KB image (???)-:

As you can see, the grid is fairly loose on the speedo reflector on the left but first nice and snug on the AB reflector.

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