Are beauty dishes really all that?

11 years 1 month ago #280944 by Zeberk
I was just reading a photographers blog about portraits and this guy really was excited about his new beauty dish and the look it created with his portraits. I'd like to hear from others and if you find having a beauty dish to be just as exciting. The turn off to me is the size, beauty dishes are so big and awkward! Unless does someone make a portable more compact version of one?


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11 years 1 month ago #280950 by KCook
My beauty dish is 16" diameter, decidedly smaller (and less bulky) than most softboxes. But all that metal does add up to a heavy modifier.

Most beauty dishes come with a diffuser that can cover the entire diameter. If this diffuser is used, then the "dish" part is not of any real benefit. You could achieve the exact same effect by simply masking the face of a softbox down to the same size. In my view the beauty dish with diffuser case is pretty moot.

Without the diffuser, a silver beauty dish is a light projector. Fundamentally the same as a basic reflector, only the light distribution will be different. And it's rare to find a basic reflector as big as a beauty dish. You could achieve a rough simulation of a beauty dish effect by masking down a reflecting umbrella. Where you need concentrated light, a beauty dish does have stronger cutoff than an umbrella, but still covers a wider area than a snoot.

Kelly Cook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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11 years 1 month ago #280961 by Zeberk
So helpful, any chance do you have before and after photos taken with and with out your dish? :thx: :thx:


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11 years 1 month ago #280969 by KCook
Not much at this point (been too busy playing with a new camera). I do include this beauty dish in my writeup on home studio lighting. Scroll down to the bottom half of the article to find a couple of shots -

photographyintro.com/wp/home-studio-lighting-choices/

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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11 years 1 month ago #281097 by Cathy Kadolph
Don't have, but want. Does that count? :silly:

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up." Pablo Picasso
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11 years 1 month ago #281171 by KCook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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11 years 1 month ago #281199 by MYoung
I've asked hubby for a beauty dish for my birthday :woohoo:


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11 years 1 month ago #281366 by Patty Ganahl
I'm surprised someone doesn't make a portable version


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11 years 1 month ago #281372 by KCook
There are small beauty dishes just for speedlights, but they suffer from a "donut" light pattern. Maybe try a handheld umbrella?

www.amazon.com/Lastolite-LL-LU2126-Trans...brella/dp/B004TB0NUI

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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