Here’s a quickie little video we shot of our portrait shoot at the studio one morning. It was my first try with the new Photoflex Octodome and as usual we had alot of fun. Please do ask any technical questions through comments and I’ll share them with all. Enjoy!
Gear used in this shoot:
Nikon D700
Nikkor 70-200 2.8
Lexar 600x 16gb CF card
PocketWizard Plus II
Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Head on a Giottos Tripod
Nikon SB-900 Speedlight
Photoflex XS Octodome NXT
Honl Photo 1/4 CTO gel (from Honl Photo Color Corrections Kit)
Matthews C-Stand with a Matthews Mini Boom
Savage seamless background paper (grey) on a Bogen Autopole System
My final edits are on my Picture Archive
Hey, cool video. I just got some studio equipment for free and this has inspired me to break it out and give it a go…
Thanks!
David — I just saw this and I’m intrigued — is this option for mobile use or will you use it in studio. I see that it’s in studio but wondering if the performance is up to speed for such after this test.
What’s your satisfaction rating from 1-10 after this shoot.
JSturr
This is great that you are willing to share this information with the general public. and I am very grateful! Can’t wait to see more of your videos. I have a question about the pocket wizards… in order to sync the camera with a light I would have to purchase two pocket wizards correct?
John- it is absolutely useful for travel and location work- in fact that’s the main reason I love it. I also like the versatility of being able to remove the interior baffle, as well as the diffusion face, so at this point I’d give it a 10. Sheenica- Yes, you need one PocketWizard for each the camera and the flash. I always use this setup, and many times if I add other Nikon Speedlights to it, I set them on “remote” so the built in slave triggers the additional flashes.
David,
Thanks for the video. I’m a newspaper photographer so I’m interested in how quickly the octodome sets up. Also I’m curious about the spread of light compared to an umbrella or softbox.
Also, can you suggest a portable boom for on-location newspaper work.
I see in the video you are using a fairly compact one.
Thanks,
Rex
David,
Why the Pocket Wizards instead of the built-in Nikon flash firing?
Thanks for the lesson,
Steven
After I wrote my comment and question I spotted your list of gear used including the Matthews mini boom arm. Will that attach to the stud on a bogen stand. Though popular, C stands are too big and bulky for my use.
Rex
I like the video! You make it all look so easy!
Thanks,
Jim
Hi David,
Claudia is such a great model! She is so beautiful… On the octagon set up about how much does the soft box weigh? Do you need to buy the hard ware like the metal ring to go along with it or does that come included?
Thank you for sharing your time with us and teaching us some fun tips!
Blessings,
Elena Hernandez
Rex- I probably wouldn’t use it for a large group shot, in part because I use a speedlight as opposed to a higher powered Profoto, but it gives plenty of spread for my own personal work, which is usually just a single subject. The Matthews boom I use is great for the studio or around town, but it’s far too heavy for any extensive travel. I know that Photoflex also has a new reflector holder that also doubles as a boom arm and it would be significantly lighter that the Matthews- I haven;t used it, but here’s the link:
http://www.photoflex.com/Photoflex_Products/LiteDisc_Holder__compact/index.html
In any case, I use a boom whenever I can so I can get the lightstand itself out of the frame and free me up a bit.
Elena,
Yes, Claudia is the best model I could ask for and I’m so grateful to have a lifelong partner like her- we both have alot of fun, which is really the most important part!
The Octodome comes with the aluminum ring that you see in the assembly part, as well as the cold shoe connector so all you need is a lightstand:
http://www.photoflex.com/Photoflex_Products/XS_OctoDome__nxt_Kit/index.html
Hi Steven,
Mostly to do with my “manual brain”, but I just find the mainlight firing with a PocketWizard really dependable. Of course, one could use the popup flash on the D700 as a master, or use another Nikon Speedlight on the camera to trigger the mainlight, but I’ve never wanted to be distracted by the 2nd flash. It is very much worth considering for someone that only has one speedlight and doesn’t want the expense of the PocketWizard setup. And of course there are also other lower cost wirelss triggering options as well, but I have no tried them. Check out http://strobist.com – I know David Hobby is really up on the PocketWizard options. Hope this helps!
Hi David!
thanks so much for sharing your setup and gear.
I was about to purchase a Westcott Apollo 28″ softbox for Speedlights to use with my SB900. Now, thanks to your video, I’m stumped and can’t decide whether to go for the Photoflex Octodome nxt instead.
This would be my first softbox. I shoot mostly portraits, and I mostly shoot on location. Both the Westcott and the Photoflex fold up and seem to be easy to put together, so portability is not an issue.
The difference in price is just a few bucks, so that’s not an issue either…though at this time, I want to buy just one or the other. It seems the biggest difference is shape (octagonal vs square, and size 19″ vs. 28″)
For a FIRST softbox for a new pro photog who uses mostly Speedlights, which one would you recommend I purchase for maximum versatility- the Photoflex Octodome nxt XS or the Westcott Apollo 28″?
Your opinion based on your experience would be so greatly appreciated, thank you so much for your time!
hi david
quick query – what’s the advantage of using an octodome compared to a simple white shoot through umbrella?
cheers
j
I’ve been a lifetime user of photoflex… love their products. I guess I missed the release of this one. Running to the store now to buy one! (online that is).
Thank you for the video David.
David,
Thanks for posting this, your video reminded me of how much I like the build and assembly of the photoflex softboxes. This looks like a nice add on to my ultra portable lighting kit to control the spread of light.
An amusing anecdote, while watching this video my coworker thought I was watching porn because of your background music. Well in a way I guess it is a kind of porn!
-Don
Don- yes the music is very sexy, as it was intended to be.
Beautifully written, performed and recorded by our dear friend Bill Mumy- please do give him his props: billmumy.com