|
|||||||||
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
![]() |
#1 |
Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NE of London, England
Posts: 788
|
Best Softbox - Dedo Octodome, Rifa 88?
Hi all
I'm overhauling my lighting gear and looking at softboxes. I want something that packs small but opens BIG and soft. Was thinking about the Rofa 88 or Dedo Octodome. Did consider a divalight but they don't pack down very small. Any other ideas or views on the above? Thanks
__________________
www.mikemarriage.com |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada
Posts: 4,088
|
Well, since it's been a week, I'll chime in.
I've used RIFA 44 & 55 (I own a 55) softboxes and they are certainly convenient AND incredibly easy to set up in a hurry. I've used other softboxes of varying manufacturers and while I loved the quality of light, setup using speedrings (and I use the term "speed" loosely...) has always been frustrating for me. At the price point on the RIFA, it's really hard to go wrong for well thought out professional lighting. Just be SUPER careful with the Lowel branded light stands - the stage locks are made of aluminum and I have seen approximately a DOZEN of them crack due to "over" tightening. I use Manfrotto stands for packable collapsable and plan on buying Century stands once I complete my imminent move for heavier duty "studio" style light stands. Hope this helps.
__________________
Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/ |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Major Player
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Madison WI
Posts: 340
|
I dont personally own a Rifa yet, but as an assistant on shoots have been involved in setting them up, RIFA is my choice for quick setup. Will be adding them to my portable lighting setup
__________________
Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney.
Posts: 2,896
|
Much as I'd like to buy a brand name, because of the my success with the Chinese redheads and the support from the local agent I bought them from ... and the fact I don't use them every week, I'm looking at the same brand again for their soft box kits.
I've had the demo, seen their sample videos versus brand names and the only thing that rankles is .. I suspect it won't be long before LEDS are used rather than the $A33.00 globes they feature now. With 3 globes per box x 3 boxes it'll get to be expensive over time. But then I don't use them every week. Cheers.
__________________
Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,100
|
I have a Rifa 88 and take it on every shoot I do. Period. I bought the FLO-X3 lamphead for it too so that I can run CFL lamps in it. Nice to be able to put daylight, tungsten, or super-warm bulbs in it when I want. Highly recommended.
BUT.... buy a decent stand for it if you don't have one already. Forget whatever it comes with. MSE grip have plenty of good lightstands and c-stands to choose from. The Rifa 88 is very front heavy, and you'll need a solid stand for it. On one shoot, I ran out of C-Stands so I had to use the kit stand. I had 6 Daylight balanced CFLs in the Rifa. I was filming in a historic building in a sensitive room. 20 minutes before the talent was due to arrive the Rifa fell over. 4 of the 6 CFLs shattered into a million pieces. It was after hours. I had to find the cleaning crew, get those mercury laden CFLs cleaned up, and re-rig the entire shoot to tungsten. While the talent waited. Not a banner day. So take my advice or proceed at your own risk.
__________________
DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NE of London, England
Posts: 788
|
Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.
I already have a rifa 55 so I'm quite familiar with them. I had tried the CFL version at a trade show and thought the output was pretty weak, especially as I tend to use daylight lamps only when there is a natural source like a window which tend to be pretty bright. How have you found the CFL light output? Thanks!
__________________
www.mikemarriage.com |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 | |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,100
|
Quote:
__________________
DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada
Posts: 4,088
|
I agree with Perrone about the supplied Lowel stand on many levels. And I have no interest is disparaging the dead (nor do I know if this advice would have helped at all...) but IF you are forced to use an inadequate light stand, make sure that one leg points out in the direction of the heaviest load (ie. the front) and don't place the legs so the space between the legs faces the heaviest load. Perrone's a pro and I'm sure he didn't make this mistake but when you need to get every ounce of load carrying capacity out of a stand, it helps.
Plus, use sand bags on the legs.
__________________
Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/ |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 | |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,100
|
Quote:
I have another shoot this week, and you can bet the Rifa will be on a C-Stand and the lowel stands will be supporting the small lights only.
__________________
DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Major Player
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Posts: 640
|
I bought my Rifa 66 used. The guy who had it wanted to change over to Chimeras with speed rings. He thought they were easier to set up which I have a hard time understanding. I have been really happy with the Rifa. Mine is not set up for the flo lights but I can upgrade it if I want. Another guy I shoot with often also had a Rifa 66 but he switched over entirely to Ikan flo lights (2 - 4 tube, 1 - 2 tube). I think the Rifa's have a great light quality and the 66 has been large enough for my needs, so far.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Major Player
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Rainier, MD
Posts: 428
|
I still have a Rifa 55 and used to use it all the time. But now it's in the equipment closet replaced with a Caselight 4. I switched to Caselight for primarily two reasons. First, subjects in interviews over 10 minutes with the Rifa light would start sweating because its like sticking a heater next to them. Secondly, I'd say about 60% of the time I want daylight balance. You simply can't get it with a Rifa. Yeah I had blue gels, but it would be so dim and not look right anyways. Now I take the Caselight with 3 Daylight and 3 Tungsten bulbs so I can switch to any color temperature. The extra 2 bulbs are heavily padded and I regularly fly with it and haven't had a bulb break on me. Plus the stand fits right in the case too. It's a very clever design.
That being said. If you're doing mostly studio work and you don't think heat is an issue, the Rifa lights work great. I actually prefer the look of them to the fluorescents. They have a bit more punch to them. Fluorescents can look a little flat because the light is too even. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,100
|
Quote:
But it is wrong to say you can't do this with the Rifa. I do it all the time, and have posted pics here of that setup.
__________________
DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 | |
Regular Crew
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 63
|
Quote:
But the Dedo Octodome is very nice also. You might wanna consider an octodome, if you go extreme close up many times. The octodome shape has a better/rounder reflection in the eyes then the boxed Rifa. But the only time I really notice this, is when I am doing stills... |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 134
|
What about the Cool Lite CL-SFT1 Softbox? Any love for that unit? Lower cost for sure...
__________________
Greg Kiger St Louis Mo www.GreenBridgeFilms.com Sony EX1 / Canon 5Dm2 / Cool Lights / DP1x / Marshall / Oktava / Sanken / Kessler |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| ||||||
|
|