Rangefinder Magazine
September 2004

Light Ideas (New Products)

Chimera Octaplus Banks
Chimera Lighting, the premier designer and manufacturer of quality lighting products for film, video and still photography, has announced a new line of Lightbanks: the Chimera Octaplus Banks. The Octaplus Bank is two banks in one. The 7-foot Octaplus can swiftly be broken down to a 5-foot, 8-sided bank. The 6-foot Octaplus converts into a 4-foot, 8-sided bank. To convert the larger banks to the smaller size requires very little time and effort. Just disconnect the top pole section and un-Velcro™ the extension skirt. The 3-foot Octaplus is a standalone, 8-sided bank. The Chimera Octaplus Banks are compatible with strobes and continuous light sources.

New ExpoDisc Digital White Balance Filter
ExpoDisc Inc., the pioneer in diffusion filters that allow photographers to fine-tune color balance and get accurate exposures without meters, gray cards or white cards, has announced the ExpoDisc Digital White Balance Filter. The ExpoDisc Digital WB Filter is, in effect, a gray card in a lens cap, without all the hassles and inconsistencies of a gray card. It lets you read and set white balance before shooting, eliminating the need for post-capture color adjustments. The ExpoDisc filter works with film, digital cameras and digital video, and is available in six standard sizes from 58mm to 82mm. Prices range from $79.95 to $159.95.

Tony Corbell “Power of Light” Softbox Systems
Photo Control Corporation, manufacturer of professional photographic equipment, has announced the new “Power of Light” series of light shaping softboxes by Norman. Developed by famed photographer Tony Corbell, the “Power of Light” system combines the Norman line of softboxes with a variety of light shaping masks. These easily installed masks allow the photographer to change and control the shape of the light source. Among the four models is a mask that converts the 10x36-inch softbox to a 5-inch strip that creates thin highlights to show the shape of the subject.

Quantum AC Power for Qpaq-X
Quantum Instruments has introduced the PR4 AC module, AC power for Quantum Qflash X-series flashes connected to a Qpaq-X power pack.

Substitute a PR4 AC module for either a PB1 or PB2 battery, connect the PR4 module to an AC main outlet, and have uninterrupted power for all-day studio shooting. You now have a studio quality flash system that is fully dedicated to your digital or film camera. For location use, just remove the PR4 module and attach either a PB1 or PB2 and you’re ready to shoot outdoors.

Kaiser Studio Out of the Box
Kaiser Fototechnik has introduced the Kaiser Studio Out of the Box: a complete sweep table, with variable position camera support, variable angle background holder, plus a double-sided background.

To use the Studio Out of the Box, first pull out the metal, neutral gray table and extend the sliding drawer to the desired length. Lift up the jointed, metal background support, set the angle for the desired sweep and drape the background material over it. The background sweep folds and is hinged, so it adjusts for height and angle. Lift the metal camera mount arms to the desired angle and mount a camera up to 1 lb. The camera arm is adjustable for height and angle and the camera mount adjusts for position left to right as well.
When finished, everything folds and fits back into the convenient 24x19x4-inch carrying/storage case.

New Westcott Digital Calibration Target
The Digital Calibration Target, created by photographer Ed Pierce, is now available through The F.J. Westcott Company. Westcott is offering the 24-inch Target in a collapsible form, perfect for the imagemaker “on the go” or in the studio.

Using the Target will reduce or eliminate the risk in highlight or shadow detail loss. The Target has black, white and 18 percent gray panels that give feedback through the camera’s histogram to provide precise exposure and predictable results. The Target lets you customize the exposure based on the histogram spikes that record the highlight and shadows rather than using a single middle tonal value.

Photoflex OctoDome nxt™ Softbox
Photoflex Inc. has introduced OctoDome nxt™ as the next generation of its popular OctoDome softbox, created for photographers and videographers who want the advantages of a continuous light source with a soft, wraparound light. Available as a standalone softbox and as a kit, the OctoDome nxt is 3 feet (91cm) in diameter, and its eight-paneled, silver interior and narrow profile make possible a wide range of lighting effects.

Photoflex’s Starlite 3200™ provides 3200°K of even, brilliant, continuous tungsten lighting, with an innovative cooling design ideal for heat-sensitive subjects that would be impacted negatively by traditional hot lights. Retail price for the OctoDome nxt softbox is $274.95.

Westcott Master’s Brush Wide
Westcott expands on the already popular Master’s Brush™ Soft Box by introducing an umbrella version, Master’s Brush™ Wide. The Master’s Brush™ allows more defined shadowing, which enhances depth and adds contour. The Master’s Brush™ Wide is 45 inches in diameter and fits directly into the umbrella mount of the light. There are three layers—hot silver, white and black—to produce spectral highlights. The Master’s Brush™ Wide is lightweight, portable and easy to use.

Chimera Octaplus Banks
Chimera Lighting
Ph: (303) 444-8000, Fax: (303) 444-8303
www.chimeralighting.com

ExpoDisc Digital WB Filter
ExpoDisc, Inc.
Ph: (408) 778-2040, Fax: (408) 778-9542
www.expodisc.com

“Power of Light” Softboxes
Photo Control Corporation
Ph: (763) 537-3601, Fax. (763) 537-2852
www.photo-control.com

Quantum AC Power for Qpaq-X
Quantum Instruments
Ph:(516) 222-6000, Fax: (516) 222-0569
www.qtm.com

Kaiser Studio Out of the Box
HP Marketing Corp.
Ph: (800) 735-4373, Fax: (973) 808-9004
www.hpmarketingcorp.com

Westcott Digital Calibration Target
The F.J. Westcott Co.
Ph: (419) 243-7311, Fax: (419) 243-8401
www.fjwestcott.com

Photoflex OctoDome nxt™ Softbox
Photoflex Inc.
Ph: (800) 486-2674, Fax: 831-786-1371
www.photoflex.com

Westcott Master’s Brush Wide
The F.J. Westcott Co.
Ph: (419) 243-7311, Fax: (419) 243-8401
www.fjwestcott.com