Enormous light source options (Elinchrome)

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vaizki

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I just had a bit of a shopping accident and nabbed 2 x 1500Ws old Elinca compacts to join my D-Lites. This got me thinking about getting a light modifier to create an enormous light source with one of them. The idea would be to evenly light full-body shots of people and small groups with a good amount of light wrap.

Currently I have 100cm umbrellas (white reflective and shoot through) and the basic & tiny Elinca D-Lite kit softboxes. So just a bare essentials kit.

I can't shell out for a 180cm octabank, that's for sure.. but what's my next best option that has a hobbyist-friendly price tag? A big "umbrellabox" or just a 200+ cm white umbrella?

I know such a modifier is likely to need a sturdy stand and is very unwieldy but hey why not :) Effieciency is not much of a concern with 1500Ws available.. But since these monsters are not remote controlled, I don't want something that will enclose the flash head so I can't reach it to adjust.

Something like the Westcott 4634 7ft White/Black Parabolic Umbrella (2.2m) perhaps?
 
vaizki said:
I just had a bit of a shopping accident and nabbed 2 x 1500Ws old Elinca compacts to join my D-Lites. This got me thinking about getting a light modifier to create an enormous light source with one of them. The idea would be to evenly light full-body shots of people and small groups with a good amount of light wrap.

Currently I have 100cm umbrellas (white reflective and shoot through) and the basic & tiny Elinca D-Lite kit softboxes. So just a bare essentials kit.

I can't shell out for a 180cm octabank, that's for sure.. but what's my next best option that has a hobbyist-friendly price tag? A big "umbrellabox" or just a 200+ cm white umbrella?

I know such a modifier is likely to need a sturdy stand and is very unwieldy but hey why not :) Effieciency is not much of a concern with 1500Ws available.. But since these monsters are not remote controlled, I don't want something that will enclose the flash head so I can't reach it to adjust.

Something like the Westcott 4634 7ft White/Black Parabolic Umbrella (2.2m) perhaps?
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Don't know if these 2m brolly's would be an option? I think this is an especially good deal as there is both a boom clamp and sandbag included. 1500ws is a lot of power, how low can they go - I only use (very efficient) 200ws heads and am quite thankful that they are adjustable over 7 stops!

Paul
 
I think I'd prefer at least white over silver for a more even spread, but maybe something with a diffuser - I have the power to spare :) Maybe I should just put a bedsheet up and fire through that..

They go down to 1/16th which is still a lot of power (nearly 100Ws) but I have some 200Ws D-lite2's for the low power stuff. This is AZIZ - LIGHT! territory :D I'm seriously considering taking night time photos of my house, lighting the entire yard with these babies.

I test fired them today a bit carelessly and they ARE bright.
 
What exactly did you buy them for? Or was it because they where cheap?

I would think lights like that are suited to large Octabanks for car shots rather then portrait work especially when your on a budget, budget rarely dictates choice.
 
kiteninja said:
What exactly did you buy them for? Or was it because they where cheap?
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I wanted a) more power than 200 Ws as I've several times maxed the D-Lites out, b) at least one more good light to light backgrounds, preferably 2 and c) they were very very cheap, about the same price for the pair of them as a single D-Lite 400Ws would cost here. I hope they don't break soon as a pair of new flash tubes for them costs way more than I paid for them..

And I got a bunch of reflectors and a Rotalux softbox to go with them + a hard case that will fit 3 lights. Mostly it was just a strong case of WANT as always though. And they ARE bright :nuts:

kiteninja said:
I would think lights like that are suited to large Octabanks for car shots rather then portrait work especially when your on a budget, budget rarely dictates choice.
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Yes, an octabank would be ideal. Or because the power is there, a less efficient but equally diffuse light source (diy works for me) is interesting as well.
 
v flat, bash the two lights into it. Huge light source. Gaff tape greaseproof paper across the front if you want to diffuse it a bit.
 
I had to google "v flats" - thanks!

As to 2x4s.. I'm thinking more lightweight.

Current idea - I'll pop into a local discount store that sells all kind of crappy camping gear and see if I can source a 2 x 2 meter dome tent for a tenner, then cut the bottom out of it and replace it with a diffuser.. and then get an elinca mounted on it somehow :bonk:
 
Success! I spent a bit more than a tenner, almost £20 in fact but got a domed SILVER tent which has inner + outer tents, zips at the sides for easy access and a black bottom. 240x210cm and 130cm tall (or deep in my case!) so seems big enough :D

I'll post DIY pics and results as I get on. I'm aiming at 1/3 stop consistency head to toe from a 1m distance for a full body portrait. So 2 layers of diffusion or bounce + diffuse if I go poor mans octa. I still need to find the diffuser cloth though...
 
vaizki said:
Success! I spent a bit more than a tenner, almost £20 in fact but got a domed SILVER tent which has inner + outer tents, zips at the sides for easy access and a black bottom. 240x210cm and 130cm tall (or deep in my case!) so seems big enough :D

I'll post DIY pics and results as I get on. I'm aiming at 1/3 stop consistency head to toe from a 1m distance for a full body portrait. So 2 layers of diffusion or bounce + diffuse if I go poor mans octa. I still need to find the diffuser cloth though...
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Plain white shower curtain does the job well.
1/3rd stop consistency may be a bit optimistic though...
 
Good plan with the tent I would watch heat output, I'm sure the tent is fireproof to an extent but it will most likely melt pretty quickly if your kicking out 1500w of heat.
 
Garry, I wouldn't consider half a stop a failure either but a full stop yes :) I'll check out the shower curtains.

Morgan, 1500Ws = 1500J of energy which is released in 1/2000th of a second (my guess of flash duration), so it's equal to a momentary output of 3 million watts (not really but it's a convenient simplification). It makes the air smell burned and when it goes off there's a loud POFF sound. It also makes me a bit apprehensive to handle it when plugged in...
 
vaizki said:
Garry, I wouldn't consider half a stop a failure either but a full stop yes :) I'll check out the shower curtains.

Morgan, 1500Ws = 1500J of energy which is released in 1/2000th of a second (my guess of flash duration), so it's equal to a momentary output of 3 million watts (not really but it's a convenient simplification). It makes the air smell burned and when it goes off there's a loud POFF sound. It also makes me a bit apprehensive to handle it when plugged in...
Click to expand...

lol my 5/600s go pop that must go BANG !!! :)
 
kiteninja said:
lol my 5/600s go pop that must go BANG !!! :)
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No, just a gentle pop.

I still have some Elinchrom Chic 2 packs, 2,400j each. They have fairly loud pop but not as loud as the 6000j packs I used to have:)
 
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