For example, does the Midi Octa have a larger "sweet spot" with the translucent guy fitted?
When used in an octa (or square box), do the metal deflectors make the light harder or softer?
Also, I'm thinking of buying a set of translucent deflectors and gluing a different oversized cut of gel into each one- to create easy-to-install color temp variation options. Does anyone forsee problems with this idea? Would I potentially be messing the sweet spot that would have been created without these?
Very uncanny....I was thinking exactly the same the other day.
I have a deflector set on order, once I have it I'll give an update on my findings.
I do believe that with a deflector - any kind - the light will be softer because it blocks the bare flash tube and so all you get is reflected light.
I got the set specifically for the deep octa i.e. the larger one.
Kenneth_R has a good point about the gels melting - heat builds up fast - watch out.
I've never tried the translucent because I think they charge way too much. Obviously it's easy to warm it up using the gold deflector. But the metal ones do get very hot so I would think twice about using a regular gel on it. Roscoe makes gels for hot lights though and I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem.
I use the deflectors in my softboxes for two different reasons. I adapted a white lightning grid to fit on my box but it isn't large enough to cover the whole thing. Since it only covers the first diffuser I put the deflector in to help soften it before it hits the grid. I also use it in the deep throat with the front removed to help keep from getting a hot spot.
One thing you may want to consider is how easy it is to make your own deflector. I'm fairly handy so I bought a piece of 7mm rod through a wholesale supplier. Cut it to about 10 inches and and use a die to thread a 5/16" nut on the end. Then you can put anything you want on your elinchrom lights. I made a smaller disc to use with the elinchrom square reflector and I'm going to make my own translucent one soon.
The whole idea of DIY gels/modifers excits me. I don't actually own a ranger yet, but one of the reasons I plan to buy Elinchrom this Christmas (rather than Einstein, Profoto, etc.) is the opportunity to use intermal gels. (The other reason is the big octa.)
Profoto offers warming/cooling glass domes (ie -300k, -600k, +300k) which is very nice, but Profoto don't offer remote power variation, and all told they are just so expensive.
I do a far bit of in-home location portrait work (ie kids/lifestyle/etc) so making the light more yellow or blue is a big deal to me. (Being able to match or deliberately contrast the existing color temp is critical IMHO, out in the wild of urban housing.) There are other uses too- flash a bride & groom with a full CTB at sunset, and once you correct their skin, the sky has a lot more fire.
Eric, your suggestion has me thinking of the range of small rippled glass sheets I've seen at a local glass/window business. They could be cut to any sized circle, and have a Roscoe cine gel glued to the flat side...
