They should change the name from Mola to Moola because it's Money. I have Elinchrom dishes that I love but the Mola light is truly special the way it wraps around your subject. I believe Mola markets their dishes way beyond just beauty and head shots. They really are much more versatile than that. Depending on the light you use I would also get the Opal glass diffuser if you get the Mola. If you use a strobe with a glass diffuser like Profoto you may not need it.
Can someone show me the "superiority" of Mola beauty dishes over Profoto with some portraits shots?
I have the PF beauty dish (with grid) on my B1's and couldn't be happier.
"Can someone show me the "superiority" of Mola beauty dishes over Profoto with some portraits shots?
I have the PF beauty dish (with grid) on my B1's and couldn't be happier."
Since issues like this are mostly subjective and you "couldn't be happier" with the PF dish, there really is no way to show you any superiority, if there is any. I definitely think you can demonstrate specific features like color, durability, multiple uses, output, hot spot control, etc., but as far as one looking "better" than another, it's still mostly subjective. Between these two dishes however, there are plenty of web image examples, You Tube's, and photographer reviews to make a fairly objective decision. Which is why I chose the Mola (I couldn't be happier), unless I could find a case for it that wasn't more expensive then the dish. The Mola Blog has some really goods stuff on it. And, even if you didn't like the Mola you can re-sell it for practically what you paid in a heartbeat.
I'll keep my profoto beauty dish and will look to add the mola 28" later on.
Btw does the frosted dome make much of a difference shooting through a beauty dish on a B1?
It does if you use a dish like a Mola using the PAD only. If you use a dish with a deflector like Elinchrom or any other dish that reflects the light back into the dish fist, then not so much. It makes a difference in the center hot spot the pattern of the light on the background around the edges. Without a diffuser or the Opal Glass in conjunction with the PAD you can can some concentric rings of light on your back ground. It doesn't mater if you're not putting any light on your background though.
Interesting about comments about using a frosted centre glass in a beauty dish...
I'm using Profoto D1's with the domes fitted - so the output from my BD is much smoother. I'm still getting a very slight set of concentric patterns.
I'm assuming a frosted glass centre rather than the metal fitting may help with that, but how would it effect the overall "look" of the light.
I'm tending at the moment to use it (21" white dish) at about 30-40" from subject.
(Interestingly I note that many photographers aim their BD's so its the bottom part of the light that hits the subject's face. Makes me wonder why no one makes a half dish as the top part seems often under utilised.)
Using any kind of additional diffusion with a beauty dish is just to "smooth" out the light or soften it as you say. The only time the concentric rings of light are an issue is when the light hits a background like on seamless for instance, and you can see them. If it doesn't then it's not an issue unless your dish is far away from your subject. But the point of a BD is to use it very close to your subject and let the light fall off properly. One of the reasons you see some using the bottom half of the dish is to avoid a hot spot on the models face. But also because if you're shooting butterfly lighting with the dish very close it has to be high enough to get your lens underneath it. But if you have a good dish like a Mola and properly positioned a hotspot becomes much less of an issue.
You say that if one has a good dish like Mola and has it positioned properly than hotspot is much less of an issue.
I just got my first BD. I sprung for a Mola right off instead of having to graduate from something cheaper. Can you explain a bit more about proper positioning so as so eliminate or minimize hotspots?
It depends on what type of lighting style or look you are going for. But let's assume you are going for a classic butterfly/clamshell style of result. For this you typically (no hard rule) want your dish centered right over your model's head, about 1 to 2 times the diameter of the dish from your subjects face. I usually place it at about 24 to 30" at 30 to 45 degrees to the face and high enough so you see about a a 1/4 moon catchlight at the top of the subjects eye. Just make sure your subject doesn't move or you have to re-position your light. This will put the butterfly shadow under the nose and just above the upper lip. You can use a white or silver reflector or another small softbox for fill underneath at the same angle. Where you meter and how well done your model's make-up is will be factor's in controlling hot spots also. You can find lot's of opinions on where to meter but typically it's near the chin. However, with regard to your central hot spot issue, I find this is where the Mola and Opal Glass diffuser really shine to help control that. I like my Elinchrom dish also but I really love the Mola. You made the right choice just getting it.
I have two white Mola Demis and would recommend them for sure. The mesh metal center diffuser, though... I cover the inside with silver foil tape and set the diffuser super close to the bulb. Love the soft yet punchy light.
