I found something better and cheaper than HONL

[JohnBiggs]

Originally Posted by rpcrowe

Unless you absolutely need the relatively small size and battery operation of the hotshoe flashes; why not equip yourself with "real" studio strobes instead of the make-do Strobist jury rigs.

A set of decent studio strobes will actually be less expensive than setting up with several Canon or Nikon hotshoe strobes (al-la Strobist doctrine) and will certainly me better all-around lights.

The real studio strobes can be easily and, usually fairly inexpensively, equipped with light modifiers.

Using a softbox to soften light that has been concentrated by a hotshoe flash reflector is like freezing water before you boil it for tea. Most studio flashes have reflectors which can be removed when working with a softbox. The only hoshoe flash that has this capability is the great, but discontinues, Sunpak 120J.

STUDIO STROBES WILL ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN MODELING LIGHTS!

At a rock bottom price, a set of inexpensive studio type strobes will out-perform the Vivitar or Sunpak hot shoe flashes jury rigged into pseudo studio lights.

Good thought, I already have them, thanks. As in my SIG I have two AB400 monolights, 1 AB800, 1 giant softbox, etc, etc.

However when I use these, they tend to take up way too much space. And they have to be plugged in. They are also heavy and not what I consider portable.

Lastly, I actually recommend $100 speedlights for the kind or work I'm doing. And the modifiers are typically $15-30. A softbox is easily $150+

[nickolai]

Originally Posted by JohnBiggs

I have another idea for the snoot to also make it a little better than honl. If you cover more of the snoot with velcro on the output end the user could make the opening even smaller like a cone.

I'd also like to see decent Gobos like honl, but cheaper. One side is bounce the other is black. Perhaps your snoot can do it all? The Honl sure can't.

Lastly, you could create a reflector on a hinge so you can control the bounce with the speed strap system. Its basically a plastic card, hinge, and piece of velcro.

@JohnBiggs
Yeah, that makes sense to add more Velcro for mo' better control of the snoot. If you're up for it I'd love to see a sketch/pic of where you recommend the Velcro to be sewn. I'd be happy to send you a snoot with your Velcro recommendations once they’re produced.

I haven't seen the gobo yet. Is it pretty rigid?

Do you have a pic or sketch of the "hinge reflector"?

@Manfr3d

FYI- I'm working on a RSS feed. Also, "isc-photo" on eBay is me.

[JohnBiggs]

Originally Posted by nickolai

@JohnBiggs
Yeah, that makes sense to add more Velcro for mo' better control of the snoot. If you're up for it I'd love to see a sketch/pic of where you recommend the Velcro to be sewn. I'd be happy to send you a snoot with your Velcro recommendations once they’re produced.

I haven't seen the gobo yet. Is it pretty rigid?

Do you have a pic or sketch of the "hinge reflector"?

Nickolai,

PM me your email address and I'll send over some pics/sketches.