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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Pro strobist add ons
Erik Markov, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | | Posted: 8:08 PM on 04.14.09 |
->> Saw in the April Rangefinder issue Interfit is coming out with a variety of small strobe light modifiers similar to things that Strobist followers are DIY'ing.
Barn doors, softboxes, snoots.
For those that aren't into the DIY thing, this might be the thing.
http://www.interfitphotographic.com/Strobies/Strobies%20index.html |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 8:25 PM on 04.14.09 |
| ->> Competition is good for consumers. Thanks for sharing Erik. |
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Erik Markov, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | | Posted: 8:55 PM on 04.14.09 |
->> Honl's stuff is good I'll give you that. BUT... he doesn't have a beauty dish, barn doors that are articulated, snoots, 20 and 30 degree grids, flex mount softboxes.
I've got Honl's velcro strap and short snoot, good stuff. Not saying this new stuff is better, just different.
Hobby has directions on Strobist for making a beauty dish setup, but I've not made one because I just don't have the time to play around making all this stuff fit together. Depending on the price of these new Interfit items, I'd consider some of this stuff, particularly the snoots. I've never had much success getting a perfectly round snoot that fits well on my square flash head.
It's all about knowing what you need. I've got pocket wizard remotes, but I've also got Alien Bee Cybersyncs. Different remotes, different uses. Same with light modifiers. |
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Thomas Quinn, Photographer
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Valparaiso | IN | USA | Posted: 8:51 AM on 04.15.09 |
->> I must say that this is a little concerning to me. With all the talk about people ripping off their photo's and getting cease and desist orders etc. We are now talking about a set of flash modifiers that are complete rip-offs of Honl's modifiers. Yes there are barn doors and a beauty light but the Grids with the velcro on the sides are a complete steal of both of Honl's grids.
Also the snoots are a similar steal of both the 5 and 8 inch snoots. Most of these items attach with a clear rip off of the speed strap etc.
Yes the products look cheaper, but they still look the same. What if I took your photo off your prize winning photo off your site and contacted look-a-likes who look almost 99 percent the same, set them in the exact situation you set up and snapped the photo? So in essence, I took your prize winning portfolio photo and used look-a-likes and now I submit my photos to other contests and people "buy it" and win?
I use Honl's items and find they are VERY well made! These new items are complete rip off's of honl's. Yes I know except for the Barn Doors and Beauty Dish.
These opinions are just that, my opinions. Your mileage may vary
Tom Quinn |
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Erik Markov, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | | Posted: 9:31 AM on 04.15.09 |
->> So your way of thinking Thomas, David Hobby should get a portion of Honl's profits. I'm sure Hobby will be ok with that. I don't ever remember seeing anyone using black straws as a light modifier before Hobby suggested it, and yet that is pretty much what Honl uses for his grids. Hobby's not up in arms about. And some of the ideas on Interfit are ideas that have been suggested on Strobist before, difference is people were making the stuff, like the flexmount or strobies bracket, out of whatever they found at the hardware store. Should Interfit apologize to those people too?
I'm not suggesting Honl was stealing from Hobby, he took an existing idea and modified it some to make it better. Are some of the items on Interfits site similar to what Honl has? Yes, they are. And if that's where Interfit had stopped, I'd agree that all they did was steal from him.
But Interfit also has round snoots that are made of hard plastic that attach to a flexible adapter, something Honl doesn't have. They stole that idea from all the studio strobe manufacturers who have made that stuff for 20 years or more. 20 degree grids which are different than Honl's plastic grids. Someone else is also making a speedstrap rip off of Honl's design that I saw. Probably has cheaper velcro or rubber backing to it, Mila-Grid GL. And it's on Adorama's website, should we boycott a SS sponsor b/c of that?
Look, I really didn't post this to start an argument. I posted it because they had some unique items that I thought some people might find of use in scaling down their lighting equipment from studio to on the go designs. If you want to call for a FTC investigation because of it, go for it. |
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Jonathan Castner, Photographer, Assistant
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Longmont | CO | USA | Posted: 9:43 AM on 04.15.09 |
| ->> There are a lot of guys who have been using speedlights and are now making products for them. For instance I've been using the http://www.zootsnoot.com for the last year or so and really like it. |
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Thomas Quinn, Photographer
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Valparaiso | IN | USA | Posted: 11:01 AM on 04.15.09 |
->> Wow Erik,
Like I said these were my opinions only! I did not mention boycott at all. I just looked on the back of my 1/8 Honl Speed grid and the box states that it is a patent pending design. Then I looked at the strobies and think that it looks exactly like Honl's design.
Honl's ideas may have come from Hobby; This I do not have the knowledge of. Speculation by me only is Hobby showed how to DIY with straws, and Honl made a product and marketed this, so people would not have to DIY. He also filed for patent on this.
I like the idea of the 20 degree grids as well as the Beauty Dish and Barn Doors. Heck I might even buy one of them. My comments were directed at the copies of the speed strap and velcro "straw" grids only.
We as photographers file for copyrights on our photos so as they may not be copied. Designers files for patents on their products again to detract from copying. My comments were about the straps and grids with the straps only. I am sorry to ruffle the feathers. |
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Ronal Taniwaki, Photographer
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Denver | CO | | Posted: 2:09 PM on 04.15.09 |
| ->> hummmm... that looks like a lot of weight hanging off the front of the speedlight, with that softbox or dish. I think you are going to spending a lot of money on repairs. |
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Marvin Gentry, Photographer
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Birmingham | AL | USA | Posted: 2:41 PM on 04.15.09 |
| ->> Hey guys I like the idea of these products. Can you please post some examples of photos you have done using these products |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 5:20 PM on 04.15.09 |
| ->> I should add that I have some of Honl's products as well and they are great. If there is some patent infringement, I hope it gets work out in a just and fair way. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 6:57 PM on 04.15.09 |
->> Sod DIY. I want the beauty dish and the softbox and the barn doors and the grid...
In fact I want two or three of each.
Damn. More money... |
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