Yeah that's where I saw it, and people over on Model Mayhem are discussing it right now and I hope to clear it up for them.
Also Paul, I know that the design is yours, but I thought you mentioned something about having the old dish produced by the new vendor that produces the 22HOBD... my mistake!
22R 22-inch Matte Pan Reflector ("Beauty Dish")
Item discontinued. Limited availability. See also: our 22HOBD High Output Beauty Dish (below)
Oops - I guess I stuck my foot in my mouth. I was not aware of this post on our website. Overzealous webmaster. I will correct it Monday.
Yes, supplies of classic beauty dish are low and we have had conversations regarding the possibility of eventually discontinuing the classic BD because of the huge price disparity with the new 22HOBD. But we will continue to sell either the classic white dish or a white version of the new BD as long as there is a demand for it.
Because I work at home I sometimes miss things the company upper management does that I am not aware of.
Hey Paul, on POTN where it was stated that the original was being discontinued, the fellow said he called back and the Rep on the phone confirmed that it was being discontinued. So there is definitely a mix of information getting put out there. The person who said it was not trying to stir the pot, he is a customer and is just putting out information he received from one of your reps. Maybe you are just getting them from a new manufacturer?
This new dish is less expensive, but it is also of a very light construction.
I own both the older white pan and the HOBD.
When the dish arrived it was slightly flattened on one side due to shipping.
So I went about the task of straightening it out by hand and was able to do a pretty decent job of it. Lest you think me some sort of gorilla, I am 5'9" tall and weigh 170 lbs, so I am no bruiser.
As for the output, it is very efficient and contrasty. I bought it mostly for lighting models on the beach, but have not have the chance to use it for that purpose yet.
I received a similarly bent-in-shipping Elinchrom 16" reflector ($180). This happens when the pro magnum workers at UPS, Fedex and USPS play. (Oh my gosh, I offended someone!).
Most users I have spoken with like the weight of the new dish . . . the classic is twice as heavy and is harder to attach and places a greater strain on the lights. And the adjustable/removable direct-light blocker makes is more versatile
I loved driving my wife's plastic Corvette and my current Mini S and her little BMWZ4, and hated driving my short lived bulbous Infinity FX45.
BTW, I painted a HO BD white this afternoon and it looks great. In my opinion, works better than the original BD in light, catchlights and evenness - especially with the sock. Also, there is essentially no correlation of the price vs the weight - maybe $3 worth.
Personally, I would always us the Silver with the sock when I want lower output and nice round soft catchlights. Every test I have done tells me it provides superior light in this mode to the classic, with or without sock. Same lighting effect and more even across the face.
Traced down the source of the "discontinued" post today. Error in translation of communications by an upper management employee.
gpsphoto wrote:
It's aluminum. I'm guessing it arrived slightly 'out of round' when looking directly into it. At least that's the way I interpreted the post.
I rather like both types, but for different things.
I did try the sock on the HOBD.
I personally don't think it is equal to the old BD sans sock.
For one thing it changes the color temp, which the classic Bd sans sock does not do.
Also using the sock pretty much kills the slightly more contrasty look, which is main reason I use a BD on my beauty images.
Below was done with a PCB Classic BD.
I have tested every nylon diffuser material I could find, from manufacturers and from competitors products. Every nylon I have tested either has brighteners that cause UV fluorescence and raise color temp enormously, or don't have brighteners. The non fluorescing natural nylon pretty invariably lowers color temperature by about 200°K - in every softbox or umbrella I have tested. I have never seen a nylon that doesn't do this.
Most white paints also lower color temp. Our early 22BD classics lowered color temp quite a bit so we specified a different paint formula several years ago.
I must have the newer style classic BD then. I don't notice much of a color shift at all with it. In light of that I would much rather use a white painted HOBD (with your specific formula paint) than a sock which shifts my color balance.
As an aside, I do a lot of location shoots and have a need to carry my BD with me.
I dropped the classic once and bent it a bit, although it still functions properly.
I wound up buying a couple of carrying bags from B&H designed to fit a Hensel 22" dish. They fit perfectly, but I would much rather spend my money with PCB.
Do you have any plans to offer bags/cases for these?
I do understand you have a lot on your plate with the introduction of the PLMs (which I also bought), the Cyber Commander, and the new Einsteins (which I also plan to purchase), but those bags are invaluable.
nosaya wrote:
Below was done with a PCB Classic BD.
nosaya: if you get the chance w/ a willing guinea pig, could you do the same shot w/ old white BD, HOBD, and HOBD w/ sock+grid since you have all of the above? I would have guessed the sock would kill off some of the contrastiness as well, becoming more like a gridded round softbox...
My next scheduled model shoot is not until the end of the month.
In the meantime I am stuck doing a series of 'still life' type product shots for a client's web site.
I must have the newer style classic BD then. I don't notice much of a color shift at all with it. In light of that I would much rather use a white painted HOBD (with your specific formula paint) than a sock which shifts my color balance.
As an aside, I do a lot of location shoots and have a need to carry my BD with me.
I dropped the classic once and bent it a bit, although it still functions properly.
I wound up buying a couple of carrying bags from B&H designed to fit a Hensel 22" dish. They fit perfectly, but I would much rather spend my money with PCB.
Do you have any plans to offer bags/cases for these?
I do understand you have a lot on your plate with the introduction of the PLMs (which I also bought), the Cyber Commander, and the new Einsteins (which I also plan to purchase), but those bags are invaluable.
May work on a carry bag - just have so much on my plate. Have a couple of new staff members that might get this done for me. This stuff all takes time, and I don't have much of that.
nosaya wrote:
My next scheduled model shoot is not until the end of the month.
In the meantime I am stuck doing a series of 'still life' type product shots for a client's web site.
Hopefully these are quick questions regarding the new dish.
1. with the blocker removed can two dishes nest together for transport? Will they stick or bend the rim for the grid or the AB ring if one is placed inside the other?
2. does the blocker include any type of markers so that you know the correct length to replace it?
3. does the blocker "only" fit in the correct location or can it be spun out of wack? ie. will it move from the correct position to 10 or 20 degrees left or right and mess up the light output?
mrscott wrote:
Hopefully these are quick questions regarding the new dish.
1. with the blocker removed can two dishes nest together for transport? Will they stick or bend the rim for the grid or the AB ring if one is placed inside the other?
2. does the blocker include any type of markers so that you know the correct length to replace it?
3. does the blocker "only" fit in the correct location or can it be spun out of wack? ie. will it move from the correct position to 10 or 20 degrees left or right and mess up the light output?
1. I would put paper or fabric between them so they don't stick together or scratch each other - then you can nest them.
2. The blocker position isn't very sensitive. In close to the lamp will give less spill. Easy to position by eye. If it's not right on center it won't really affect the light pattern.
3. Gravity tends to keep it in the center. But the umbrella knob tightens into position. There may be times when you want it off center - like if you severely feather the dish so it's not pointed straight at the subject.
Just got the HOBD and am very pleased. However, I ran across one issue I hadn't thought of. I mounted the BD to an AB800 which is on an AB heavy duty stand. I wanted to put it a few feet above the model's face and point down for a butterfly effect.
Well, didn't think this one out, but no can do. The dish bumps into the stand after only a few degrees of downward tilt. So, now I'm thinking to do this would probably require a boom. Any other methods I haven't thought of yet?
