p.2 #2 · New lightweight Profoto 4 ft Octa with integrated speedring works great
To the OP, are these as deep as the RFi soft boxes? I had a three foot Octa, and 4X6 and 1X6 strip boxes in the RFi line in the past when I used Buff Einsteins. I really didn't research them very well and was surprised that they were so large in depth. I reasoned afterward that this was because it was needed due to Profoto's recessed flash tubes and the extra depth was needed to fully light the modifier. They were of excellent quality and held up well, but I've since switched to broncolor which have exposed flash tubes and their soft boxes don't have to be nearly as deep.
p.2 #3 · New lightweight Profoto 4 ft Octa with integrated speedring works great
stuuke wrote:
Sung are you grabbing the new beauty dish?
I have the westcott beauty dish rapid and a Profoto beauty dish reflector (silver interior), so don't need another. I haven't tried the new one out, but have also found that when you want that very specific look of a beauty dish, it's hard to replicate with a collapsible one, especially if you prefer a silver interior one. The reflective fabric just doesn't have the same pop as a milled metal surface.
p.2 #4 · New lightweight Profoto 4 ft Octa with integrated speedring works great
Gozo1 wrote:
To the OP, are these as deep as the RFi soft boxes? I had a three foot Octa, and 4X6 and 1X6 strip boxes in the RFi line in the past when I used Buff Einsteins. I really didn't research them very well and was surprised that they were so large in depth. I reasoned afterward that this was because it was needed due to Profoto's recessed flash tubes and the extra depth was needed to fully light the modifier. They were of excellent quality and held up well, but I've since switched to broncolor which have exposed flash tubes and their soft boxes don't have to be nearly as deep....Show more →
I have the 4 ft collapsible octa, and just because of the size, it's not as deep as the 5 ft RFI. I'd recommend checking one out in person, and see if the collapsing mechanism is something you'd like. Definitely less heavy, and I believe they don't make a 5 ft with the new collapsing mechanism. It takes a little more muscle to squeeze the mechanism open on the Profoto 4 ft octa vs a rapid box or similar style octa, but definitely less effort than bending the last few rods into the RFI 5 ft.
Westcott makes a nice durable 4x6 shallow softbox that you might look into. Standard rod and speed ring assembly, and pretty quick to put together. I agree the Profoto 4x6 and 1x4 and larger strips are quite deep, to the point where they start to be a little off balance on a standard light stand.
p.2 #5 · New lightweight Profoto 4 ft Octa with integrated speedring works great
sungphoto wrote:
I have the westcott beauty dish rapid and a Profoto beauty dish reflector (silver interior), so don't need another. I haven't tried the new one out, but have also found that when you want that very specific look of a beauty dish, it's hard to replicate with a collapsible one, especially if you prefer a silver interior one. The reflective fabric just doesn't have the same pop as a milled metal surface.
I was surprised they didn't figure out a grid option. It seems like a mistake.
p.2 #6 · New lightweight Profoto 4 ft Octa with integrated speedring works great
stuuke wrote:
I was surprised they didn't figure out a grid option. It seems like a mistake.
And the pricing is just stupid for a 2 foot softbox. You can buy or make a circular mask for octas and the new folding mechanism is nifty, but not worth $450 for a 2 foot octa.
You can pick up a westcott beauty dish for about $200, and it will work with a cheap grid from amazon made for a comparable size softbox. I think I picked up a grid for mine for $20-25, and the quality of light from those things is surprisingly nice - has a punchiness that the other rapid boxes lack.
p.2 #8 · New lightweight Profoto 4 ft Octa with integrated speedring works great
stuuke wrote:
Their pricing, even for Profoto has been nuts lately. The new monolights are $4k.
Just checked out the new D30 500 ws AC strobe at my local camera store, and I have to say I kind of want one now . It is a fair bit smaller than my workhorse D2s and would help with space when I do travel gigs.
. It is a fair bit smaller than my workhorse D2s and would help with space when I do travel gigs.