Beauty dishes.

SealBeard

SealBeard

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Pretty simple question, and I think I probably already know the answer, but I'll double check :p

As far as beauty dishes go - bigger dish = better right? (and more ££ obviously :razz:)

I'll only be using one with a 580exmkII, I have an adapter that allows me to use Bowens "S" fitting accessories, but whats the smallest size that's effective and worth getting?

thanks - Rob.
 
40cm might be OK - mine is a 70cm - depends what you're shooting.
 
Yea I thought around 70cm would be about right... I know they are not made for speedlights due to benefiting from studio flash bulbs protruding somewhat and allowing light both forwards and to the sides... but I'm assuming the effect wont be massively different?

depends what you're shooting.
Click to expand...

missed that bit sorry - mainly head/shoulder portrait stuff
 
A beauty dish (or any other open reflector) needs a deflector dome immediately in front of the flash head to spread the light around the dish, or it will have no effect at all with a speedlite. Does your adapter have this?

Edit: you can replicate the effect of a beauty dish quite well with a silver brolly, if you don't need to place it too close. Since brollies are usually bigger, you can get away with it being a little further away. Not ideal, but just a suggestion :)
 
Don't beauty dishes have a reflector built into them already to reflect light out to the sides? or am I just imagining that (I don't claim to know much about them so I could be completely wrong). maybe some kind of modding with a convex mirror could work...:thinking:
 
Rob_Ashton said:
Don't beauty dishes have a reflector built into them already to reflect light out to the sides? or am I just imagining that (I don't claim to know much about them so I could be completely wrong). maybe some kind of modding with a convex mirror could work...:thinking:
Click to expand...

Some do, or they are a separate attachment fitted on to a studio head (eg Elinchrom). I've just found this Lencarta jobbie - looks like it's built in. It has to cover the whole of the flash though, there must be no direct light spill going forward. http://www.lencarta.com/light-shaping-tools/mod018-70cm-beauty-dish/index.php

blinkerz said:
put a stoffen difuser on the front first, that should spread the light around enough to replicate the effect of the dome, but of course you will have less power as a result...
Click to expand...

Stofen should work, but you'd have to line the front with tin foil to stop any light going directly forward, forcing it around the dish. Might be a good solution though :thumbs:
 
HoppyUK said:
Some do, or they are a separate attachment fitted on to a studio head (eg Elinchrom). I've just found this Lencarta jobbie - looks like it's built in. It has to cover the whole of the flash though, there must be no direct light spill going forward. http://www.lencarta.com/light-shaping-tools/mod018-70cm-beauty-dish/index.php



Stofen should work, but you'd have to line the front with tin foil to stop any light going directly forward, forcing it around the dish. Might be a good solution though :thumbs:
Click to expand...
The Lencarta one is attached by vibration-absorbing self-centering think wire whatdoyoucallits, most beauty dish have a similar arrangement, it works.
Rob Ashton is right, a beauty dish needs a deflector, and my guess is that Hoppy is also right in saying that a piece of reflective foil on a stofen diffuser might be essential.

My concern is that there won't be enough power from a hotshoe flash, but I've never had to try it so I don't know. I did some tests for Lencarta that showed that the power loss changing from a standard reflector to a 70cm beauty dish is 2 stops, just slightly less with the 40cm beauty dish, so power could be a problem with a hotshoe flash.

Getting back to the original question, I have both 40 & 70cm and prefer the 70cm for most subjects because I can get any effects with the 70 that I can get with the 40, and also have more working space - but moving the 70 further away when necessary does bring the power question into sharp focus...
 
HoppyUK said:
Some do, or they are a separate attachment fitted on to a studio head (eg Elinchrom). I've just found this Lencarta jobbie - looks like it's built in. It has to cover the whole of the flash though, there must be no direct light spill going forward. http://www.lencarta.com/light-shaping-tools/mod018-70cm-beauty-dish/index.php



Stofen should work, but you'd have to line the front with tin foil to stop any light going directly forward, forcing it around the dish. Might be a good solution though :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good solution and one that would work pretty well

As Garry says:

My concern is that there won't be enough power from a hotshoe flash, but I've never had to try it so I don't know. I did some tests for Lencarta that showed that the power loss changing from a standard reflector to a 70cm beauty dish is 2 stops, just slightly less with the 40cm beauty dish, so power could be a problem with a hotshoe flash.
Click to expand...

If I did opt for a 70cm dish, power could be a problem... its a shame I would have to shell out £140 to test it lol... hmm how tempting though!
 
Rob_Ashton said:
If I did opt for a 70cm dish, power could be a problem... its a shame I would have to shell out £140 to test it lol... hmm how tempting though!
Click to expand...
£50 (40cm) or £110 (70cm) from Lencarta. If you ever get up my way you call call into my studio with your flashgun and try it out, by arrangement
 
Thats a very kind offer Garry, If I happen to be heading your way for some reason I will drop you a PM in advance :)
 
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