I'm looking for feed back on different lighting modifiers. I want the giant soft look of an octa bank but I don't want to pay for one. Right now I'm looking at a large translucent light panel setup or the photek 60" softlighter. Right now I've got umbrella and medium soft boxes but nothing truly huge like that. Any one use either of the above? What do ya think and do you have any images made with

-- Winston Endall (winstonchaos@hotmail.com), May 01, 2000

Answers

I have two of the softligters. I think they are terrific, considering the price. I just bought some gold lame to add to the insides to warm them up. (I have to use my Photogenic 1250s without a reflector with them, so there's no way to add gels.) A light panel will not diffuse the light as evenly and will be much less efficient.

However, if you want a big softbox with gold and silver inserts, B&H was selling last year's model of the Photoflex X-Large (72x50) for $199 through eBay. The auction is over, but you might still be able to get one at that price. (They didn't sell out.) E-mail Marty Weinberger at martyw@bhphotovideo.com or call him at 800-947-9970 x2732.

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), May 02, 2000.

I have about $2's worth (5 yards?) of white polyester fabric and a ceiling that is compatible with a staple gun =)

-- Steve Leroux (steve@bigadventures.com), May 02, 2000.

I use the Softlighters for location photography. They do a real good job of approximating the light from a large window.

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), May 02, 2000.

I'm with Steve. $30 and an hour's work can give you a 6x6 or 6x8 diffusion panel. Some PVC pipe and corners, some glue, and you've got a frame (under $10); 3 yards of cheap wide *white* muslin, and you're ready to go. (Much more durable is nylon ripstop, but it's a little more expensive. Or if you don't sew, make the frame the same size as a commercial frame and buy the fabric; it's usually not that expensive.)

Then blow another $20 on a few rolls of film and see if it'll give you what you want.

-- Kevin Connery (connery@keradwc.com), May 07, 2000.