[Leica] lighting critique request

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

On 9/16/05 7:35 PM, "Eric" <ericm@pobox.com> typed:

> Mark:
> 
> The umbrella came with a black cover just for that reason so I'll try
> bouncing off the umbrella tomorrow and also bouncing off a wall with 
> nothing
> but the regular reflector.  I'm afraid to try too many different techniques
> in between developing and examining the film so I don't confuse myself.  :)
> 
> Are you familiar with this?
> 
> http://www.alienbees.com/22r.html
> 
> I'm trying to figure out what's so great about it, especially for $120.  
> How
> the quality of light would be different from an umbrella.
> 
> 
> --
> Eric
> http://canid.com/
> 
> 
 A Balcar Opalite 2 or 3 cost several hundred bucks and would fit your white
lighting stuff as they have a very similar interface. Probably But it would
say Made in France or Switzerland on it.. A hundred bucks in studio strobe
language usually buys you a little adaptor clamp thing. These white
lightning people give you more bang for your buck than any of the others by
far. More watt seconds per buck. Although they have a way of disguising it
the other guys give you in light output in watt seconds" They'll call a unit
a 1200 unit and you'd think it was 1200 watt seconds only when you read the
fine fine print at the very bottom of the back of the instruction book do
you find out that its not 1200 watt seconds. But half that. But is supposed
to deliver what the other typical 1200 watt second packs and lights or
monolight deliver. Which turns out to be about half true or split the
difference.

 A two foot light such as this is a different ballgame from a jumbo 5ft
umbrella. You've got to aim a thing like this you DO get a shadow. I might
get this thing myself it would fit my Balcars I think. Check out the Balcar
version of it which I know will fit and lights up and says kiss me baby with
a French accent.


Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon
http://rabinergroup.com/