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03/10/2011 07:50:09 PM · #1 |
I now have a 3 light setup (2x300w + 1x600w Wallimex Pro).
The softboxes that I have are a 90cm octabox, a rectangular 120x80cm and a striplight 25x150cm, all with grids.
My next step is going to be adding another light modifier and I was thinking in a Beauty Dish.
My question is: do you use yours a lot? do you use it besides glamour/portraiture? And do yoiu sse many difference in the type of beauty dish? Wallimex has a big one, 70cm and I was thinking in buying it with a grid, but this week I saw the Mola beauty dishes thal look awsome, but with a big price tag (3 to 5 times the Wallimex). are they 5 times better? Can you really see the difference?
In alternative I could get a big octabox (150cm) with grids, for even less money than the BD+grid. I'm leaning thowards the beauty dish because of portability (for on location or outdoor) and a bit different, more contrasty lightning.
Could you also give me your opinion regarding usability and quality of light please?
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03/10/2011 09:04:03 PM · #2 |
I have a 22 inch (~56 cm) white beauty dish from Paul Buff with the diffusion cover (turns it into a small circular softbox) and the 15 and 30 degree grid inserts.
My early experience with a beauty dish in a workshop was not positive: The light seemed harsh, put a hot spot on the model's forehead, etc. So I kinda dismissed the beauty dish for a while.
Later on, I assisted on a shoot with a photographer who actually knew how to use a beauty dish, and then I bought my own. If you do location work, it is very tolerant of difficult conditions, and is easier to to work with in breezy conditions than an umbrella or softbox.
I find that I use it most often with the grids: I can put it on a boom arm, position it up and throw a very nice, narrow, dramatic light. It is useful for portraits, fashion, etc.
I use it routinely now, and my medium sized softbox is mostly unused. Beauty dish and two strip boxes are kind of my standard starting point now. |
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03/14/2011 10:28:08 AM · #3 |
Thank's for your imput. Much apreciated.
Let's see if anyone as more to say.
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03/14/2011 01:53:33 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Nuno:
Let's see if anyone as more to say. |
I had my portrait done last week... the photog put away the beauty dish, and brought out the ugly bowl!
ETA: OK, prolly not the kind of info you were hoping for ;-)
Message edited by author 2011-03-14 13:53:54. |
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03/14/2011 02:02:31 PM · #5 |
My experience with BD vs. SB is that BD wins hands down. SO much easier to use that the SB!!! Easily modifiable, can be diffused with a sock which goes on in 3 seconds, etc. I would never consider a SB again. However...
If you are shooting very large areas, octoboxes would be an advantage. |
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03/14/2011 05:02:29 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by tanguera:
My experience with BD vs. SB is that BD wins hands down. SO much easier to use that the SB!!! Easily modifiable, can be diffused with a sock which goes on in 3 seconds, etc. I would never consider a SB again. However...
If you are shooting very large areas, octoboxes would be an advantage. |
But are you talking in portraiture?
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03/14/2011 05:18:52 PM · #7 |
| This may sound odd, but I've been playing with a small parabolic reflector, from AlienBees, along with a 580EX through a stofen diffuser. This is in place of my 22" beauty dish with a 40 degree grid over an AB400 studio strobe. So far I have really liked the results despite the fact that is seems like a step backwards. Just thought I would add to the confusion... |
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03/14/2011 05:28:30 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Nusbaum:
This may sound odd, but I've been playing with a small parabolic reflector, from AlienBees, along with a 580EX through a stofen diffuser. This is in place of my 22" beauty dish with a 40 degree grid over an AB400 studio strobe. So far I have really liked the results despite the fact that is seems like a step backwards. Just thought I would add to the confusion... |
Are you referring to the retro reflector, or the PLM umbrellas? The PLMs provide a beautiful light, and I prefer them to softboxes by far. |
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03/14/2011 06:20:18 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Nuno:
Originally posted by tanguera:
My experience with BD vs. SB is that BD wins hands down. SO much easier to use that the SB!!! Easily modifiable, can be diffused with a sock which goes on in 3 seconds, etc. I would never consider a SB again. However...
If you are shooting very large areas, octoboxes would be an advantage. |
But are you talking in portraiture? |
Yup, portraits. |
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