Accessories for studio lights

[cowasaki]

Are all accessory mounts different? I am asking this because I have a number of accessories which fit my lights (barn doors, 2 60x40 softboxes and snoot) but if I add more lights will they fit those too and would other accessories fit my current lights?

I am mainly thinking of a 500w light with a large softbox (140x80 or similar for full body shots) and wanted to know if all the bits will be interchangeable.

The kit I have is a Stable Imaging kit of 3 x 180w lights. The round part of the light where the accessories fit is 9.5cm across.

Any ideas? I am just interested as I am thinking of buying this light in the new year.

 

[AliB]

The most popular mount is the Bowens S type. Bowens, Lencarta and Interfit all use that one. Then there are Elinchrom and Bron oh and Profoto which are all unique but you can use adaptors on some so you can use Bowens on Elinchrom etc.

Suggest having a good look at your literature for your lights to see if they have the S type.
HTH

 

[cowasaki]

What is a bowens S fitting like ???

Could it be possible to build an adapter?

 

[Lencarta]

The Bowens S fit has a diameter of 100mm with 3 protruding and equidistant lugs, which lock into the flash head. This is as close as you can get to a standard in the UK.
Some sellers have some flash heads that take this fitting, some that take another fitting and others that take nothing at all, so it isn't a good idea to make assumptions about the fittings that lights take.

The lights that take the 'universal' fitting are only able to accept a very limited range of accessories, and can't take heavy ones such as large softboxes, beauty dishes etc.

 

[cowasaki]

The Bowens S fit has a diameter of 100mm with 3 protruding and equidistant lugs, which lock into the flash head. This is as close as you can get to a standard in the UK.
Some sellers have some flash heads that take this fitting, some that take another fitting and others that take nothing at all, so it isn't a good idea to make assumptions about the fittings that lights take.

The lights that take the 'universal' fitting are only able to accept a very limited range of accessories, and can't take heavy ones such as large softboxes, beauty dishes etc.

If I want a large softbox for doing full body shots to use with my current 3 heads am I best buying a single 500w light specifically for it? Also how do different brands play together?

 

[Lencarta]

If I want a large softbox for doing full body shots to use with my current 3 heads am I best buying a single 500w light specifically for it? Also how do different brands play together?

I'm guessing that you mean 500Ws (joules) because watts isn't relevant to flash.
500 Ws is probably overkill for most people/situations, but would be usable.

All modern studio flash heads have slave sensors that 'see' the light from another flash and then fire in synch, so will work with any make of light

 

[cowasaki]

I'm guessing that you mean 500Ws (joules) because watts isn't relevant to flash.
500 Ws is probably overkill for most people/situations, but would be usable.

All modern studio flash heads have slave sensors that 'see' the light from another flash and then fire in synch, so will work with any make of light

Well yes but virtually every light you see advertised is quoted as W when it should be Ws. I know they will all fire together but what about colour temp? How accurate are most companies quoted figures? Does it matter too much if they are a little out between each other?

 

[Garry Edwards]

Well yes but virtually every light you see advertised is quoted as W when it should be Ws. I know they will all fire together but what about colour temp? How accurate are most companies quoted figures? Does it matter too much if they are a little out between each other?

Yes, I'm being pedantic but at the same it it's always possible that a poster does know the difference betweeen watts and watt seconds (even if some sellers don't) and is actually asking whether a 500 watt light will do the job.

Call it a one man attempt to educate the public not to be mislead by people selling studio lighting

You make a good point about colour temperature and quoted figures. If the buying public understood the importantance of colour and output consistency I think that some sellers would go out of business, but the fact of the matter is that most people don't even know the problem exists, let alone understand its importance. Many years ago we had Courtenay which produced a very cold colour, but most studio flash heads on the market today have a theoretical colour temperature of around 5500K so in theory at least they should all be similar. The real problem today is colour inconsistencies caused by cheap manufacture/parts, and these problems occur with the same flash heads, varying from one pop to the next, and don't necessarily get worse when people mix different makes together.

 

[Garry Edwards]

edited

 

[cowasaki]

Anks, will look for a second hand 300/500Ws flash straight after Christmas that either comes with a softbox capable of full adult standing or one that has a Bowens S fitting (studio imaging do a range for that fitting I have now found) plus a beauty dish. The four lights should be plenty so only need that one.

What is an ideal size softbox for my needs in a small studio ( I have two small 60x40 ones).