Bowens/Calumet QuickRing vs. Chimera QR Speedring

<p>After breaking two rods and tearing up the inside of my softbox, I am on the hunt for one or more non destructive speed rings. I've looked at the Bowens/Calumet QuickRing and the Chimera QR speed ring but couldn't find much information pitting one against the other.</p>

<p>I see that with the QuickRing, one can swap adapters, and the Chimera QR speed ring does not allow swapping. However, since one normally uses several softboxes in a set up, the ability to swap isn't much of a concern, as I would dedicate the ring to the softbox/light.</p>

<p>Anyone use both and have some comments re actual use or anything else?</p>

<p>Cost is not a huge concern for me. Almost anything is worth not tearing up one's expensive softbox.</p>

<p>Nadine,</p>

<p>What soft box brand are you using that changing the speedrings tears it up?</p>

<p>I have a Calumet Illuma 30" x 40" softbox. I also have a small Photoflex box and a strip softbox. I made the bad decision to use a Photoflex speedring for Dynalite. It is made of plastic and once the rod ends (painted wood) go into the slots, they are next to impossible to wiggle out. I tried everything I could find re removal.</p>

<p>Finally, through trying, one of the rods broke. I carefully removed the stitching on one of the rod pockets to free one end, but still had to crunch the rod to get it out. That tore some holes in the softbox lining, not the box itself. I found another rod was broken as well. Luckily I know how to sew and can re sew the pocket and mend the tears.</p>

<p>However, I am never going to use a non QR ring again.</p>

<p>The rod pocket ends in Chimera soft boxes are reinforced with leather and the rods used in Chimera soft boxes are either aluminum or steel depending on the size of the soft boxes.</p>

 

<p>Yup--I know Chimera boxes are well made. However, when I bought the Illuma, it was for a specific reason, for which the smaller depth of the Illuma was a plus. So I have the boxes and won't be getting rid of them, so I need rings which work with them.</p>

<p>Nadine,</p>

<p>Here's a quick release Chimera speed ring for Bowens. Will this fit? <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/354766-REG/Chimera_2060QR_Quick_Release_Speed_Ring.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/354766-REG/Chimera_2060QR_Quick_Release_Speed_Ring.html</a></p><div></div>

<p>Well I would think I'd need a Chimera QR ring for Dynalite, if I decide to get one. That is available, and is the one I'm considering. I have both a Dynalite monolight and a corded kit.</p>

<p>The mention of 'Bowens' was in reference to the QuickRing product, which (I guess) was invented by Bowens. Calumet has a version of the QuickRing, which, with a Dyanlite adapter, will work for my use.</p>

<p>I'm just trying to figure out which is better.</p>

I'd go with Chimera this time.

<p>I am using Chimera QR with my Chimera boxes onto my dynalite heads. I use the "comet" adapter insert which bayonets onto my 400JR and 4080 bare tube heads. they do not work with the heads with the built in reflectors.<br>

I also have an Illuma, bought it due to the shallow depth to give me more lighting flexibility. I upgraded the rods to fiberglass with aluminum tips. It was a PITA to fold due to the shallow depth putting more stress on the rods. With the new Chimera QR adapter it was a much easier chore.<br>

HTH D</p>

<p>Sorry for a dumb question but what's a QR speed ring and what the benefit of using one?<br>

How do they compare to for instance profoto's speed rings?</p>

<p>The QuickRing is shown in the below link. I picked that one since it has a picture of how the top part flips (folding the ring in half, so to speak), so that one can attach the softbox rods. Then you flip the 'folded' part back in place, tightening everything up. Break down is the opposite. Much easier to set up and break down, without putting stress on the rods (or oneself).</p>

<p><a href="http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet_quickring_and_adapter_ring_for_comet/rm6450k">http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet_quickring_and_adapter_ring_for_comet/rm6450k</a></p>

<p>The Chimera QR ring applies and releases tension on each rod separately.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/354771-REG/Chimera_2160QR_Quick_Release_Speed_Ring.htm">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/354771-REG/Chimera_2160QR_Quick_Release_Speed_Ring.htm</a></p>

<p>Danny--thanks for the info. I also have the 400Jr and some standard Dynalite heads.</p>

<p>I used my Illuma box before, but with a speed ring which is metal, which I guess has more slippage in the rod holes. With the plastic ring, I could not even budge the rods to even rotate them, let alone wiggling them out at just the right tension.</p>

<p>Nadine, I shortened a rod on a 7 foot octa by about an inch snapping it where it entered the speed ring. just makes it easier to assemble. If you look towards Sacramento and see the air blue, that's me swearing assembling it. Have heard good things about the folding ring for softboxes, but I was told by Calument they are for 4 rod, rectangular boxes, not octas. Darn 7 footer is like wrestling and octapus with the potential of putting your eye out(Christmas Story). I just leave it up. Did find a speed ring with a 9th threaded hole so can place it directly on a c stand with umbrella holder with threaded stud and leave it assembled facing against a wall. Not a tight fit but close enough for storage. I think you use the AB parabolics, that's what I take in the field. I attach a photo of how the 7 footer is a real multitasker. It really is a sail. Aahr, matie.</p><div></div>

<p>Bob--maybe you saw the following thread about drilling the QuickRing out to handle Octas?</p>

<p><a href="http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=833988">http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=833988</a></p>

<p>Thanks for the links Nadine. It must be that some softboxes/rods and speedrings are much harder to assemble than others because I just insert the metal rods into the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/230927-REG/Profoto_100660_Speed_Ring_for_Softboxes.html">metal speedring</a> and never thought any of it.<br /> I do something like this guy:

<p> </p>

<p>Pete--yeah, it kinda depends on the box and the ring. The Illuma boxes have a shallower depth to them so they have less 'wiggle' to them and less room to pull out rods. Plus, the Photoflex plastic ring I used was a bad choice. I really couldn't budge anything when I was trying to pull the rods out to disassemble--not even rotate a rod in the hole.</p>

<p>I have a smaller Photoflex box that goes in and out of the Photoflex ring just fine--like the video. I have a Dyna-lite ring that is metal and has more stations for boxes like my strip box (non square). I am able to use it with the strip box and disassemble OK.</p>

<p>I was in a hurry and just grabbed the Photoflex ring. Bad choice. I learned my lesson. :^(</p>

<p>By the way, thank you Brooks and everyone else who offered information for me. At this point, I am leaning toward the Chimera ring since it offers individual control over the tension on each rod. Don't see me getting a large Octa anytime soon. Got PLMs for that shape.</p>

<p>Anyone else before I order it? They end up being about the same in price.</p>

<p>I can see this is a different item # from Calumet but it looks the same as product is concern and perhaps is worth looking at.<br>

http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet_quickring_speedring/rm6400<br>

Regards,</p>

 

<p>I found the difference. The one you ordered has the comet adapter I guess if that is the light you have and don't have the adapter you picked the right one.</p>

<p>Nadine: FWIW, I use the Quickring w/ a Plume Wafer (the Plume designer also designed the Illuma IIRC). It was either the QR or sell the wafer and get another PCB softbox because it was a lot of swearing for 20min ever time I put it together. With the QR, it's still not as a fast as a PCB softbox, but it's livable. The initial plug in of the first two diagonal rods is a bit of a pain, but not bad.<br>

Plume actually recommends the Bowens QR now. The Calumet is just a copy of it.<br>

Based on the design of the Chimera, it looks less painful...looks almost like Elinchrom's deep octa design..</p>

 

<p>Thanks, Ken. I guess I should just order the Chimera one. I sure don't want to go through tearing up my softbox again...</p>

<p>Alex--the Comet adapter will work on my Dyna-lite heads, as Danny reports. However, I think I'll get the regular Chimers for Dyna-lite QR ring, as those little swirl shaped metal parts on the Comet adapter (like the swirl shape metal parts on some Dyna-lite accessories) are pretty sharp, speaking of damaging oneself putting things together.</p>

<p>Ken, is that an octa you are using it on and how large is the octa. My 5 footer isnt to bad using a regular speedring, the 7, its a bear. Does the ring have enough holes for 8 shafts and is there a 9th hole, possibly threaded?</p>

<p>I've only used the Chimera-brand QR speedrings. I have one for a Dynalite Uni400Jr., and one for a Speedotron Force 10 that I use to mount a Photoflex 54" x 72" softbox. Excellent design, robustly manufactured, and they work great.</p>

<p>Bob: I used it w/ Plume's 30x40" softbox (same size as the one Nadine is using).<br>

The Bowens QR doesn't have a threaded spigot hole if you use an octa because you have to drill out the existing spigot hole to use the octa. I've suggested a bunch of changes (including allowing you to use a standard size speedring adapter instead of a smaller than usual one) for a QR V2 to Bowens and this was one suggestion. If you'd find it useful, definitely email them and let them know.<br>

Nadine: FWIW, I've never ripped up my Plume w/ the QR and I've done the breakdown exercise a bunch of times already....it's not a bad choice. The Chimera does look better but I noticed in reviews that its balcar mount is a non-standard inner diameter so it won't work w/ Einsteins :-P</p>

 

<p>Hey Ken--thanks for the info. Hopefully the Dyna-lite insert will be standard...</p>