Elinchrom users: Elinchrom 85cm VARISTAR

All,

Looking for some input on the Elinchrom 85cm VARISTAR for my third light. I have three 300RX's, with the large octa on one (not the deep throat), the 100 x 100 square softbox on the other, but my third one is 'naked' or 'rogue'.

I would like something that is quick and easy to put together and take around if I'm flyin' solo or use in my new home studio (re:garage).

Thoughts on this?

Thanks!

PS: Or would this offer a something different?

http://www.vistek.ca …-goldsilver-umbrella.aspx

The Varistar is very nice but it is a direct light source. Depending on what you're looking for you might want to consider something like the Lastolite umbrella softbox or the Photek Softlighter because they are indirect light sources.

They all work well.

Is there a specific size in mm I need to look for? Was it 8mm for non-Elinchrom made gear?

Thunderbird33 wrote in post #9177205
Is there a specific size in mm I need to look for? Was it 8mm for non-Elinchrom made gear?

Yes but in the case of the Photek Softlighter we (several Elinchrom users in this forum) we've discovered that the standard umbrella shaft fits perfectly and the actual 7mm shaft is too loose and not a very good fit. I also mentioned Lastolite because they are one of the few companies that also manufactures with the 7mm shaft and those do fit the Elinchrom umbrella mount nicely.

You might consider a grid set for your 300, Then gells, then new and fun lighting options happen.
Chris

Good suggestion but I thought that the OP was looking for some form of diffusion and something that would increase the apparent size of the light source based on the subject and first post.