Profoto Softlight Reflectors - your experience?

C_Brec · Jun 27, 2008

hello everyone,

I usually don't need / don't work with softlight a lot. I use to rent softboxes whenever I need to. Since I started to like it a lot but a Softbox is not very good for outdoors use, I'm looking for the Softlight Reflector.

How's your experience with Softlight Reflector. How's the white compared to the silver one and do you use diffuser or grid?

Does anyone of you have "sample" shots somewhere online?

Thanks very much!

Garbz · Jun 27, 2008

I don't quite know what you're talking about. Are you talking about large round reflectors with silver / white / gold coatings on them which reflect light and are used to fill in shadows outdoors?

Or the actual product like Huge's Softlight Reflector which is a flash attachment much like a white bounce card to mount on the top of speedlights and flash guns to increase the area of the light source and provide a softer flash?

C_Brec · Jun 28, 2008

I'm talking about the products by Profoto called softlight reflectors

tirediron · Jun 28, 2008

Hmmm... never used one, but it looks worth investing in.

Bifurcator · Jun 28, 2008

I just made this thread. http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128691 It's kinda relevant.

Size and position matter allot. The bigger the surface the flatter (softer) the lighting - with proximity (for both source-to-screen and screen-to-subject) considered of course. I dunno how much color would matter or not for digital. I guess none at all unless they also have different translucent/reflective properties other than color. Also look up the DIY Ring Flash thread here.

Almost all pros (who I know) after being into it awhile tell me just to make my own reflectors and translucent refractor panels. For multi-colored lighting usually a gel is used on the spot - I didn't read much about colored materials and etc. Likewise I know nothing about the kinds of grids I saw on their site and never heard of them being used by anyone I know or follow. <shrug>

C_Brec · Jun 28, 2008

Thanks Bifurcator!
I'll check it out

Bifurcator · Jun 28, 2008

I take that back. After attending a BBQ and just now arriving back at home I do remember a CG artist friend of mine who liked and used grids and was trying to simulate them. That was 6 years ago tho

Here's the DIY Ring Flash I think is so cool: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127540

Garbz · Jun 28, 2008

Sorry I didn't see the Profoto in the thread title while reading the post.

I also haven't used a beauty dish, but I have been meaning to make one. If you want to try this out before you spend money on a proper one check out diyphotography.net it has a few designs for home made dishes which can be had for less than $10

http://www.diyphotography.net/studio-lighting-flash-mounted-homemade-diy-beauty-dish
http://www.diyphotography.net/its_raining_diy_beauty_dishes

C_Brec · Jun 29, 2008

thanks to all for your answers.

I'm new to this forum. What's it with all the DIY?

What about renting the stuff to try it out, rather then spending loads of time building it and shooting under unstable conditions?

Bifurcator · Jun 29, 2008

Sure! Why not? It's all good. Rent and try is a great way to get a handle on stuff. DIY is for people who want to do that - because of money or learning experience, product availability, sometimes DIY is higher quality, or just whatever.

With reflector and translucent panels in particular you're paying allot for zero gain. I understand buying frames and clamps to "look" more professional in a studio tho but other than that... Of course it boils down to how much your time is worth.