Todd, I'm pretty sure "focusing" will happen by adjusting the distance between reflector and inside surface, as well as switching the reflector. Not as groovy as a Para, but for $100 who cares?
Scott Clark wrote:
If it is a true parabolic reflector, you could substitute a microphone for the strobe and listen to those sideline conversations like those guys from ESPN .
I might seriously have to look at these for location use....very curious to see the results they produce.
You probably could, thought fabric isn't a great acoustic reflector.
bacilonur wrote:
64 with all the fabrics will probably come to ~$100. I believe white is a little less reflective, so you may want to get two frames if you want better efficiency outdoors.
White does not focus at all, so beamwitdth is way wide and output is way lower. Totally different principles and uses.
You could probably use an umbrella mount adapter or throw your Elinchrom head on a grip extension arm, then position it within the modifier.
That might actually work. The Quadra heads are low enough in profile that it might just sit right in the middle of the PLM with aswivel mount.
Looking at the photo of the PLM from the website, it seems that it attaches to the ABmax head from underneath, so unless that pole is a bit off-centered, the strobe light is not really hitting that thing at dead center.
I think what's probably more important than it being perfectly centered is that the light hits the fabric at the angle Paul designed it for. If it's 6-10 inches too high or low, the output might drop .1-.2 but I doubt it'll be too detrimental.
What could work fairly well is if you could put the shaft inside a grip head and then use a superclamp to attach the Quadra head right on or beneath the grip head. I'd rather that over an extension arm, and it'd probably get you closer to dead center than using an umbrella adapter.
bacilonur wrote:
I think what's probably more important than it being perfectly centered is that the light hits the fabric at the angle Paul designed it for. If it's 6-10 inches too high or low, the output might drop .1-.2 but I doubt it'll be too detrimental.
What could work fairly well is if you could put the shaft inside a grip head and then use a superclamp to attach the Quadra head right on or beneath the grip head. I'd rather that over an extension arm, and it'd probably get you closer to dead center than using an umbrella adapter.
.....can you please elaborate? I don't think I've seen a shaft, grip head and a superclamp..........
The standard D200 knuckle has a few small grooves running perpendicular to the main grip arm slots, which should fit an umbrella perfectly. So the D200 goes on top of the stand, the umbrella shaft goes inside the knuckle, and the superclamp attaches to the flat section of the grip head. That should solve the shaft size and centering problems. I just took a quick look at my heads and it looks like Profotos are about 2'' off center and WL/ABs are 2.5''-ish.
lol. Shaft.
If you guys who have one of those giant parabolic umbrellas get the PLM, please test on a live person to see if it has the same lighting effect.
I held off on my PLM shipment because I thought she said the silver reflectors were delayed a few weeks but the fabric covers were here already. I'll test against a medium softlighter when I get them.
PeterBerressem wrote:
Larson's (formerly Reflectasol) clamp attaches any umbrella shaft to stands:
www.larson-ent.com/detail248_UNIVERSAL_CLAMP.htm
That thing's waaay overpriced, but you'd probably be able to attach it just below the end stud, so the Quadra head would attach normally without needing a superclamp.
Profoto's slot is plenty big enough and is closer to the center than AB's own design, so there's no reason it shouldn't. Plus the mount will let you adjust the effect more easily without having to swap out the reflectors.
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I don't think I've seen a shaft, grip head and a superclamp..........
