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Archive 2017 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600

  
 
FrancisK7
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


Their speedbox line has the S85 which is 85cm or 33.5 inches.
.
They also have an Alpha Speedbox line according to their website with 80cm (32"), 90cm (36"), 100cm (40") and 110cm (44") models

http://www.smdv-usa.com/alpha-speedbox.html



Jul 07, 2017 at 02:09 PM
BSPhotog
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


dhp_sf wrote:
That's pretty sweet... I might have to pick one up. They make anything bigger than a 28"?


http://www.legiophoto.com/collections/smdv-lighting-equipment

85cm is the biggest in the S- line (~34")

110cm is the biggest in the Alpha series (~43").
Alpha series have metal mount and can be used with hot lights/modeling lamps.



Jul 07, 2017 at 02:22 PM
FrancisK7
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


Gentlemen, this thing is a keeper. I'm getting their rectangular strip box.

Thanks for the introduction Ben, it's a great product and rightly priced.

Here are some sample from tonight's session.

http://fk7photo.com/fm/AD600/0011-_FK90373.jpg

http://fk7photo.com/fm/AD600/0027-_FK90450.jpg

http://fk7photo.com/fm/AD600/0037-FKJ_1535.jpg



Jul 07, 2017 at 09:58 PM
elkhornsun
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


I much prefer using the Quantum flash equipment with their Qflash that has options for 4 different reflectors, bare bulb only, or the Quantum softboxes, octagonal and a strip box and both with grids of differing degrees.

With Quantum I have gear that is designed to be portable and hold up to abuse for location and event shooting. I can power two Qflash off a single battery pack and I can adjust the capacity of the battery pack. Their RF remote system enables TTL at distance of up to 100 yards and I can use it with nearly any camera which protects my investment if I change systems.

My location equipment with the two flash, RF transmitters, cables, battery pack, softbox, monopod, and spare bulb, all fit in a Pelican 1620 case.



Jul 08, 2017 at 01:22 PM
level1photog
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


FrancisK7 wrote:
I have a couple PCB octas for my studio Ensteins. Good quality and affordable. They dont setup quickly though.

The nice thing about the S70 is that everything stays velcro'ed to it so closing and opening is a matter of seconds.

Pretty compact setup to travel with.

http://fk7photo.com/fm/AD600/0001-FK7_4799.jpg

http://fk7photo.com/fm/AD600/0002-FK7_4801.jpg

http://fk7photo.com/fm/AD600/0003-FK7_4803.jpg

http://fk7photo.com/fm/AD600/0004-FK7_4805.jpg

Got a session tonight so will post photos later.


---------------------------------------------

dhp_sf wrote:
That's pretty sweet... I might have to pick one up. They make anything bigger than a 28"?


dhp_sf wrote:
That's pretty sweet... I might have to pick one up. They make anything bigger than a 28"?


They make S80, S90, S100, S110 Alpha. Anything bigger than 70 is more of their higher quality one. I used to own SMDV 90 Alpha then upgraded to SMDV 110 Alpha. The material are much better quality: "Aluminum speedring and steel rods. Heat resistant to modeling lamp up to 300 watts."


That's the same setup I have FrancisK7. Love it! I've been using it with Godox AD200 lately so it's even more portable when I don't need the extra power. I'm still figuring out how to hide their logo and replace it with my own company logo. Gaffer tape doesn't work.




Jul 09, 2017 at 10:09 AM
MRomine
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


level1photog wrote:
Gaffer tape doesn't work.



That's impossible, must be user error.



Jul 09, 2017 at 02:30 PM
Mark_L
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


22" white BD (kasey so plastic and doesn't dent). B2 600r pack is enough to stop it tipping in any wind and soft light is boring especially outside.

FrancisK7 wrote:
Their speedbox line has the S85 which is 85cm or 33.5 inches.
.
They also have an Alpha Speedbox line according to their website with 80cm (32"), 90cm (36"), 100cm (40") and 110cm (44") models

http://www.smdv-usa.com/alpha-speedbox.html


Looks like a slightly improved version of the elinchrom rotalux line



Jul 09, 2017 at 02:56 PM
g-money
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


Have been using the 22" Kacey BD with a sock for B&G images. However just purchased the new 34" quick setup soupbowl from Cheetahstand. A bit lighter and more compact Just tried it out for the first time on a small wedding this past Saturday. Haven't had a chance to evaluate the photos but it paired with a CL200 it is nice lightweight, compact setup that has enough power for most any job.


Jul 10, 2017 at 02:04 PM
MRomine
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


g-money wrote:
Have been using the 22" Kacey BD with a sock for B&G images. However just purchased the new 34" quick setup soupbowl from Cheetahstand. A bit lighter and more compact Just tried it out for the first time on a small wedding this past Saturday. Haven't had a chance to evaluate the photos but it paired with a CL200 it is nice lightweight, compact setup that has enough power for most any job.


The Cheetahstand 34" Soupbowl is $90 less than the 34" SMDV 34". Anyone ever seen both in person? Is the SMDV built any better than the Cheetahstand? They both look really fast for set-up.



Jul 10, 2017 at 02:49 PM
g-money
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


MRomine wrote:
The Cheetahstand 34" Soupbowl is $90 less than the 34" SMDV 34". Anyone ever seen both in person? Is the SMDV built any better than the Cheetahstand? They both look really fast for set-up.


Being a brand new product I can't speak for the durability or longevity of the soupbowl, but what I really like about the Cheetah products is it is pretty much a hassle free experience if something does go wrong. Edward does stand behind items with the Cheetah logo on them.

This is the 5th modifier I have from them and I have had absolutely no issues with any of them so far. I did play with with one of the SMDV's at a trade show last year and it looks really well made as well. In fact I really wanted one but kept putting it off due to the price.




Jul 11, 2017 at 09:20 AM
MRomine
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


g-money wrote:
Being a brand new product I can't speak for the durability or longevity of the soupbowl, but what I ...


From the photos it looks like the Soupbowl is a one button closure and opens pretty much like an umbrella?

g-money wrote:
This is the 5th modifier I have from them and I have had absolutely no issues with any of them so far. I did play with with one of the SMDV's at a trade show last year and it looks really well made as well. In fact I really wanted one but kept putting it off due to the price.


Were there features that you liked about the SMDV products that made you want it over the Cheetahstand products?



Jul 11, 2017 at 11:43 AM
g-money
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


MRomine wrote:
From the photos it looks like the Soupbowl is a one button closure and opens pretty much like an umbrella?

Were there features that you liked about the SMDV products that made you want it over the Cheetahstand products?


Yes the soupbowl just lay it on it's back grab the center piece and push it down onto the center rod and just like an umbrella Take a look at the 3 min mark to see an unboxing of the soupbowl Comes with inner diffuser/outer and a grid.



No nothing that I can remember other than it was a proven product and soupbowl was brand new or at the time just a rumor that a new quick set up line was coming. It was a local camera shop that had them on display and I thought maybe they had a sale going for the show but the SMDV's were still cheaper online than at the show. Like I said price was the only thing stopping me. So I thought I would wait till the soupbowl came out to see where it was priced. Oh..I think the smdv maybe a bit deeper softbox in design than the soupbowl almost something between the soupbowl and ricebowl in the cheetah line if I remember right.







Jul 11, 2017 at 02:10 PM
FrancisK7
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


Wanted to update my initial first impression... this thing still rocks.

After seeing Tony's Facebook live I ordered a Godox stripbox and while it's cheaper I like it a lot less than the SMDV design.

The AD600 is a wonderful strobe and paired with the SMDV octa it's an awesome tool. With the extension flashhead (https://www.adorama.com/fplfxp600.html) it transfers the weight off the boom arm which makes it a lot more comfortable for Jess or the assistant to hold.

Here's a test shot from today:

http://fk7photo.com/fm/_FK94129.jpg

So much power in such a portable form for less than $1000 for both the light and modifier marks a new age.



Jul 29, 2017 at 11:02 PM
joel022484
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


FrancisK7 wrote:
I have a couple PCB octas for my studio Ensteins. Good quality and affordable. They dont setup quickly though.

The nice thing about the S70 is that everything stays velcro'ed to it so closing and opening is a matter of seconds.


Glad you like your setup, it does look compact. I am able to keep everything velcro'ed on the PCB Octa and Softbox when closing, but it does look bulkier than your setup.

What boom arm are you using? I have a boom, but it's fairly heavy. I was looking at the godox boom as it looks lighter weight but sturdy enough.



Jul 31, 2017 at 07:27 AM
FrancisK7
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


It's made by Imapct (BH home brand) and they call it the QuickStik.

It has two models, regular and pro. The prop comes with an extra handle and a useless shoulder strap adapter to offer additional support. We never use it.

What I really like about the SDMV product is everything needed to assemble or fold it is accessible from the outside of the box.



Jul 31, 2017 at 08:11 AM
IrishDino
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


@FrancisK7 can you summarize that setup into a shopping list?

I'm trying to piece together everything but there are a lot of products being discussed here



Jul 31, 2017 at 09:47 AM
FrancisK7
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


Sure.

A. Boom arm:

Telescopic handle Impact QuickStik $44.95
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/888975-REG/impact_qb_qs_quickstik_telescopic_handle_for.html

Telescopic Handle Impact QuickStik+ $64.95
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/888976-REG/impact_qb_qsp_quickstik_plus_telescopic_handle.html

B. Light+transmitter ($595)

It's the Godox AD600, the Chinese equivalent of a Profoto B1:
http://www.godox.com/EN/Products_Camera_Flash_Witstro_AD600_Powerfou&Portable_Flash.html

Branded as the Flashpoint XPLOR 600 by Adorama:
https://www.adorama.com/fplfx600bn.html

Branded as the CL-600X by Cheetah:
http://www.cheetahstand.com/product-p/cl-600x-x1ntx.htm

Here is a Canadian vendor:
https://strobepro.com/collections/strobe/products/strobepro-x600ii-ttl-battery-powered-wireless-strobe-for-canon-nikon-sony-fujifilm-panasonic-olympus?variant=24228587713

There is a TTL and non-TTL version. I never use TTL outside so saved the money.

C. Extension head kit for the light ($79)

https://www.adorama.com/fplfxp600.html
It comes with the shoulder bag to carry the power pack and battery and the extension attached to the head.

D. SMDV s70 Ocatabox ($190)

Product page:
http://www.smdv-usa.com/speedbox-s70.html

Authorized US Dealer:
https://www.legiophoto.com/collections/smdv-lighting-equipment/products/smdv-speedbox-s70

Authorized Canadian dealer:
Email Ari at [email protected]

E. Grid for Octabox ($40)

I got this parapop 28" grid from Adorama
https://www.adorama.com/fpec28.html

The SMDV grid for the s70 costs something like $140. Clearly someone in South Korea choked on their noodles.

That's all of it. This will give you the whole kit seen in the photo above.

I've used the the battery on three e-sessions and two weddings and I still haven't recharged it. With the weight carried on the shoulders it makes holding the boom arm easier for the assistant. If using a tripod, the power pack can be used as a sandbag to weight it down.

All of it comes out at less than $1000USD. The Profoto equivalent, once you factor the remote and the modifiers, would be three times as much.

Color temp is not nearly as stable as a Profoto light so if you do color critical work or fashion it may not be for you. For my needs it's an easy fix in post and the compact, portable power it provides is just too good to pass up at that price range.

My five V860II are still going just as strong, and I paid $100 for each on Black Friday last year. That kind of price/performance ratio is simply game changing. Always sad to hear that old players like Bowen's are going bankrupt after 94 years but as a business decision I could not justify paying three times for a similar product that offers almost identical performance.

TL DR Buy with confidence.



Jul 31, 2017 at 11:13 AM
GumaRodak
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


SMDV speedbox Alpha 110 happy owner here..i can setup/pack the thing in 10 seconds


Jul 31, 2017 at 02:53 PM
yitzy
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Your favorite modifier for B+G portraits? Need octa for my AD600


This is my setup
Modified Buff omni

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64868040/1J1A0002.jpg



Aug 01, 2017 at 07:38 PM
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