MazeRunner
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Upload & Sell: On
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ChiShutter wrote:
Really interesting thread. A couple of questions come to mind:
1) any thoughts/experience with using a parabolix 40 or 45 with a “lower powered” strobe? Does it need a lot of pop to be used effectively? I’d love to throw my Profoto B2 in there because it’s so small and light, but could use a monolight (D1) with more power instead.
On the same note, any experiences here using any of the flat front/recessed tube strobes from profoto? I feel like the whole “bare bulb is better” thing is overblown but welcome real world impressions...
^In response to your recessed bulb question. I have 3 B10s and I've tried to see if I could remove the front frosted glass + the fixed round metal cover next to it. Won't do much as the flash tube is actually half-recessed in an aluminum or metal opening. The B10 works fine in my 133 but I get a bit less light than a bare bulb flash reflected. In short, I'd have to fire it at a higher power to match a bare bulb if using defocused. If focused, no difference. Am using Godox AD600 Pro with the extension heads in color-stable mode currently with the 133 for less weight on the head.
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I was debating about getting the Parabolix but I figured I might as well get the highly regarded Broncolor Para 133 since it'll save me the hassle of assembling rods (don't mind but it's so much easier to train your assistant to assemble a para), hold its value if I decide to resell it, and is probably better made with the titanium alloy rods.
No regrets so far besides realizing I might want to sink a few hundred for the grid + soft diffuser for the para (which I find ridiculous). But the light quality from the 133 is so good that I'm not even going to bother.
I also own:
- Elinchrom 39"/100cm Deep Octa
- Elinchrom 27"/70cm Octa
- Profoto RFi 3'/90cm Octa.
- Several large white, silver 86"/218cm Paul C. Buff umbrellas
From what I've seen, the Para 133 gives me a light that's soft yet directional and specular. It seems to combine the diffused + inner baffle softness with the sort of harder light from the inner texture of my 39"/100cm DO non-diffused. You also get that directional lighting that you wouldn't with fake parabolics at a close distance to the subject.
Right now, it's my do-it-all-headshot modifier. The only other modifier I'm thinking about adding to my list is the 120cm Litemotiv Indirect for softer lighting. Maybe a 190cm Indirect Octa, but I can mimic that well enough with the 218cm umbrellas, so probably not.
Here are two photos I've taken, one with the 39" DO single diffused + feathered, the other with the 133 defocused:
The 133 falloff is just more gorgeous even at a similar angle + distance due it being directional (because it's a true parabolic).
D850, 105/1.4E @ f/5.6, 1/160s, 64 ISO
Para 133 defocused
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