Beauty Dish

[ddt0725]

After trying out a friend's beauty dish for a few weeks (thanks Sean[]), I found I really like the effect I was able to get fromit. Now I am wondering, is there any real benefit of one beauty dish over another? I found this one on ebay that is $20 cheaper than the Lumodi.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360268812765&s sPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


I do worry the cardboard on the Lumodi wouldn't hold up after significant usage. But then again, I like how the Lumodi is made to fit my precise flash size. I am not sure of the difference in the materials used for the rest of the dish.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110526512792&s sPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I am hoping to order one or the other tonight or tomorrow so any input is appreciated.


Thanks Much!

Denise

[ddt0725]

After trying out a friend's beauty dish for a few weeks (thanks Sean[]), I found I really like the effect I was able to get fromit. Now I am wondering, is there any real benefit of one beauty dish over another? I found this one on ebay that is $20 cheaper than the Lumodi.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360268812765&s sPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


I do worry the cardboard on the Lumodi wouldn't hold up after significant usage. But then again, I like how the Lumodi is made to fit my precise flash size. I am not sure of the difference in the materials used for the rest of the dish.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110526512792&s sPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I am hoping to order one or the other tonight or tomorrow so any input is appreciated.


Thanks Much!

Denise

[Keith B]

CARDBOARD!?


The first one looks more like a traditional beauty dish.


The thing about a beauty dish is that it is designed to work with a bare bulb, with light emanating from all sides as well as the front. This allows for the light to fall off in an even more gradient fashion. The head on light is baffled and the sides of the bare bulb is the actual real light source. This is why traditional beauty dishes are more shallow than the Lamodi. The Lamodi is more like a big reflector where it act like a softened spot light.


Any "strobist" beauty dish is going to be inhibited by the unidirectional light of a flash. You could always attach a Stofen to you flash but it will greatly reduce the strength of the light.


Again the closest light I have found to a beauty dish for "strobist" is the 36" Photok Softlighter with the silver insert in place.

[Keith B]

Oh, but my point is if you liked the light from Sean's then you should probably go with the Lamodi. The light from the other will be different.

[ddt0725]

Oh, but my point is if you liked the light from Sean's then you should probably go with the Lamodi. The light from the other will be different.
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That's what I'm thinking ...I should probably stick with what I know I liked rather than just trying to save a few $. I didn't know if they would really give different lighting effects.


Thanks!
Denise

[Keith B]

Oh, but my point is if you liked the light from Sean's then you should probably go with the Lamodi. The light from the other will be different.
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That's what I'm thinking ...I should probably stick with what I know I liked rather than just trying to save a few $. I didn't know if they would really give different lighting effects.


Thanks!
Denise

I think the light will be a lot different. The Lamodi is much deeper. The other is designed like a dish designed for a bare bulb and is much shallower. You'd also need a lot more power to achieve the same f/stop and the light will fill the area a lot more.


What is on the backside of the baffle on the Lamodi? Is it a mirror or just painted white?

[ddt0725]

What is on the backside of the baffle on the Lamodi? Is it a mirror or just painted white?

Ummm...I never really looked at it. Just painted white, I believe I already mailed it back to Sean. Sean, where are you!?

Denise

[Sean Setters]

The backside of the baffle is painted with reflective paint (silver, titanium, or white [I believe, though I've never owned a white one], depending on the beauty dish purchased). And there is no cardboard in the Lumodi (that I know of). The back is made up of plastic that is cut and folded to a shape that accepts whatever flash it's designed to fit. On top of the plastic there is a sticker with the Lumodi logo on it. On the underside of the plastic is foam for cushioning.


As far as a comparison goes, check out the Lumodi creator's (Brandon Cruz's) photostream set comparing his Lumodi to an ebay competitor. It's interesting (and helpful) to see the difference.

[ddt0725]

Sorry, I used the word "cardboard" for lack of better term because it didn't seem to me like typical plastic either. All I saw online was the white one on ebay but this morning I saw on their website that's where they sell (for $10 more) the silver &amp; the titanium one is coming out soon. Thanks for the link, Sean. Now I see the difference between the Lumodi and the other one. The Lumodi is definitely 100% better, the other seems pretty useless! Now to decide which Lumodi to get ...decisions, decisions!

Have a great day guys!

Denise

[Keith B]

The Lumodi is definitely 100% better, the other seems pretty useless! Now to decide which Lumodi to get ...decisions, decisions!

Have a great day guys!

Denise

If the Lamodi guy actually used a flash like the 580EXII with a longer flash head, the results would have been a little different. I think he may have looked for the shortest flash he could find.


With a simple mod, to close up the back of the other dish, I think it would actually be a good modifier.


If you are DIY person, I can find the link the Lamodi ripped the idea for his from and for about $15-$20 trip to the Home Depot Garden Center and an hour or so of your time you could make your own.