elinchrom use/light modifiers?

[acephoto]

my dad gave me some elinchrom studio lights, a bunch of 250w and 500ws... don't want to shell out the money required to get legit elinchrom light modifiers and was wondering how one determined whether or not a given softbox (and speedring size) is compatible with one's lights. Additionally, I shoot in a small room, and these lights, whether 250w or 500w they only stop down to 1/4 power, will that be too bright when the lights are only a few feet from my subject?

Thanks for the help!

Andrew

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by acephoto

my dad gave me some elinchrom studio lights, a bunch of 250w and 500ws... don't want to shell out the money required to get legit elinchrom light modifiers and was wondering how one determined whether or not a given softbox (and speedring size) is compatible with one's lights. Additionally, I shoot in a small room, and these lights, whether 250w or 500w they only stop down to 1/4 power, will that be too bright when the lights are only a few feet from my subject?

Thanks for the help!

Andrew

Lots of ebay stores sell modifiers that will fit. I used David at Studio69 for lots of stuff and he has elinchrom speedrings that will work with any softbox that takes rods.

eBay My World - studio-98

As for them being too bright, probably. You will need to shoot in f11-16 based on my experience, or use an ND filter on the strobe (preferable) or the lens.

You can also move the lights back until you get your desired fstop, but most lenses are still ok for sharpness at f11 or so

[scootermcq]

As an example:

67" 1.7M OCTAGON SOFTBOX With ELINCHROM SPEEDRING D-Lite Style Rx 600 BXRi 500 | eBay

[zona5101]

the softboxes of all manufacturers will all work...its the speed ring that makes it work with your lights.

Now some softboxes are dedicated to a particular brand and you'll ususlly know this because thay will state it in the description or there won't be any requirement to buy a ring. Some kits may come with a ring and that's fine as long as it fits your lights and it will say it fits elinchrom.

for cheap softboxes look up studio 98 on ebay
otherwise check out Calumet Photo - their Calumet brand is excellent and affordable
Photoflex also makes great stuff and less expensive than Chimera, Plume...etc

[acephoto]

I was so swept up by the possibilities after the info you guys gave me that I forgot to thank you! Really prompt and useful information, can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

Andrew