Poor Man's Deep Octa?

Am I the only one who finds this interesting:

I wonder if the shape (very slight difference) can affect anything in real world shooting.

Because it opens like an umbrella, I'm guessing the rods have two segments and that a shorter rod inside is what pushes out the inner segment to get the whole thing to open? Hence, the shape? Correct me if I'm wrong, Dave.

Interesting Dave,
I have two 36" octaboxes; Pro Studio Solutions branded that look similar. They also open like an umbrella and have inner and outer diffusion. The inner diffuser does not go to the edge.

I got them to use with Genesis 300Bs. There is a picture here. The rods are a single segment with the brace for the opening mechanism attached about 1/4 of the way out from the attachment to the speedring.

As you mentioned there are adapters available for a long list of monolights.

Haven't use them much but the light looks nice in test shots.

Hi Dave,

Yes, of course it's interesting and to some, I'm sure it's very appealing. Without any side by side comparisons or real world shooting we can only speculate.

In all honesty, I've never doubted that there are alternatives to the Elinchrom modifiers that would produce a similar quality of light and prove to be wonderful modifiers.

Similar comparisons can be made between the Elinchrom 69" Octa and 74" indirect Octa. Yes, they're different but in a blind test could we really tell the difference? I'm not so sure of that.

If we compared the Interfit 7 foot Octa to the Photoflex or to the Chimera 7 foot Octa could we tell the difference? Again, I'm not so sure.

I think we've all seen instances where quality of light is not the issue and it boils down to build, materials, convenience and durability. Even durability isn't so crystal clear when making comparisons. Someone that uses gear on location subjects that gear to a different degree of use and abuse than someone that uses gear exclusively in the studio.

My guess is that if you put any modifier into the right hands they could make it sing.

dmward wrote in post #11328107
Interesting Dave,
I have two 36" octaboxes; Pro Studio Solutions branded that look similar. They also open like an umbrella and have inner and outer diffusion. The inner diffuser does not go to the edge.

I got them to use with Genesis 300Bs. There is a picture here. The rods are a single segment with the brace for the opening mechanism attached about 1/4 of the way out from the attachment to the speedring.

As you mentioned there are adapters available for a long list of monolights.

Haven't use them much but the light looks nice in test shots.

The skeleton of the SP octa, Dave, differs from and is stronger than other easy-opening designs that I've seen. The internal struts and ribs are paired.

Here you can see the double struts:

Flush to the sides..... something doesn't sound quite right about that Dave.. LOLOL

Bad joke, I know..

I can only guess that the inner baffle being flush with the sides is a good thing and I base that on the fact that it's how my Chimera (actually, all Chimera) boxes are designed. I noticed that right away when I first set up the large Chimera softbox.

TMR Design wrote in post #11328291
...In all honesty, I've never doubted that there are alternatives to the Elinchrom modifiers that would produce a similar quality of light and prove to be wonderful modifiers...

...I think we've all seen instances where quality of light is not the issue and it boils down to build, materials, convenience and durability...

All very true, Rob. However, the Rotolux deep octa was, I thought, unique and, therefore, unlike similarly sized octaboxes in that it offers an elongated aspect ratio. It's the shape that's the secret sauce with this particular modifier. The realization that the SPSOFT370 (model number) is such a close kissin' cousin to the Eli DO in shape and size is what prompted my initial post on the subject.

I've long believed that it would be essentially impossible to be able to discern differences in the light coming from similiarly sized and shaped modifiers. It would be interesting to see if the SP has any of the Elinchrom's magic in it.

Dave F.

TMR Design wrote in post #11328472
...I can only guess that the inner baffle being flush with the sides is a good thing and I base that on the fact that it's how my Chimera (actually, all Chimera) boxes are designed. ...

I didn't know that about the Chimeras, Rob. Thanks for pointing it out. Yes, I think it's a very good thing.

Dave F.

tetrode wrote in post #11328524
All very true, Rob. However, the Rotolux deep octa was, I thought, unique and, therefore, unlike similarly sized octaboxes in that it offers an elongated aspect ratio. It's the shape that's the secret sauce with this particular modifier. The realization that the SPSOFT370 (model number) is such a close kissin' cousin to the Eli DO in shape and size is what prompted my initial post on the subject.

I've long believed that it would be essentially impossible to be able to discern differences in the light coming from similiarly sized and shaped modifiers. It would be interesting to see if the SP has any of the Elinchrom's magic in it.

Dave F.

Despite the fact that I'm an Elinchrom shooter, biased towards Elinchrom and love the Elinchrom 'magic', I suspect that something like the SP comes very close and could very well fool those that are convinced the magic is unique to the DO.

I always go back to blind tests because all my life I've seen instances of experts that think they know but can't pick one over the other or are convinced they can tell the difference but are unable in the blind test. I've seen it in the world of audio and now in photography I see it in bodies, lenses, lights, modifiers, and the list goes on and on.

Now I'm not saying that the DO doesn't possess that magic, because it surely produces absolutely gorgeous light, but I'm not sure there is as huge a gap between it and other similar octa's as some might think.

Surely you don't need both, Dave! Since I'm a poor man, I'll take the SP off of your hands for you!

Mark

Mark Booth wrote in post #11328611
Surely you don't need both, Dave! Since I'm a poor man, I'll take the SP off of your hands for you!

Mark

Seems like a reasonable request.

Beware! It "may" have been found to shift the color as much as 1000ºK and fluoresce, resulting in inaccurate color. Elinchrom is the only manufacturer and seller of the true Deep Octa.

I jest, of course. Dave your points are very valid in providing non-Eli users the ability to use a 'deep' Octa and also the speed of set using the umbrella method vs the Eli-speedrig method. I do like the speedring method as it let's me create a stripbox out of the DO

Rob,
You are so right about blind tests.
For my own edification, and I'll share when I get a chance to build a web page with the results, I'm going to do a comparison of all the modifiers I have at hand. Wish I had an Eli light and DO to quiet those who will claim they are better. (We all, unfortunately, know there will be some.)

Maybe I should buy a 500BXri, along with an DO and then return them to the supplier when I'm done.

Dave,
That is nice construction. The one's I have are a single rod. The difference is that you SP has the double channel while mine are solid metal rods about an 1/8th inch in diameter. (Maybe tubes, I'll have to look tomorrow.)

dmward wrote in post #11329135
Rob,
You are so right about blind tests.
For my own edification, and I'll share when I get a chance to build a web page with the results, I'm going to do a comparison of all the modifiers I have at hand. Wish I had an Eli light and DO to quiet those who will claim they are better. (We all, unfortunately, know there will be some.)

Maybe I should buy a 500BXri, along with an DO and then return them to the supplier when I'm done.

I'm just up the road from you, and I'd love to see one or both in action. I have a session Saturday, if she doesn't flake or give birth before the shoot.