rob_h5

May 28, 2018

Just about to purchase this, how high a shutter can this sync to. only 1/320? or 1/500 as the BH guy told me :) any practical experience with this is awesome thank guys

The max sync speed with studio strobes will depend mainly on your camera. Depending on which camera model you have and if is focal plane shutter (FPS) usually about 1/125s or medium format central leaf shutter (CS) up to 1/1000s or if you are lucky and have the Leica S camera (switchable with both FPS / CS). On FPS cameras you could *tweak* with Pocketwizard Hypersync feature but the most you could squeeze out is somewhere 1/250~1/500 again this depends mainly on your camera and a very slow studio strobe flash duration. The new Generation X Bowens XMS monolights will sync at 1/8000s with HSS/TTL but only with the new Canon, Nikon and Sony camera shoe mount Bowens XMTR triggers. That said, unfortunately the max power you will ever get as of today with the new Bowens XMS monolights is 1000 w/s. If you want more power you have to go with pack & head studio lights. Bowens Explorer at 1500 w/s, Bowens Creo at 2400 w/s or the older Bowens Quad / Duo at 4800 w/s. The vintage Bowens pack and heads lights are excellent and will last a lifetime so it depends if you need more flash duration or power. If you want both power and flash duration/ high sync HSS then your best bet is something like a pack and head Profoto Pro-10 studio strobe. For me anything more than 1/5000 flash duration is more than plenty! :D

As of 2018 Bowens has liquidated / downsized and now is no longer making pack and head studio strobes so you have to find old stock or used studio lights, all the new monolights are distributed through Manfrotto now, Bowens is mostly online mail order today and their lights can be found at BH Photo and a very few other scarce brick and mortar stores.

January 1, 2017

And to quote Ansel Adams, "There's nothing worse than a sharp photo of a fuzzy concept."

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Happy New Years 2017 everyone.

I am with Beth, there are a million more things more essential to photography than "sharpness", like composition, color, subject...ect. I think it is an age old debate. Also to counter the question especially with portraits most people do NOT want sharpness, but soft portrait lenses/filters. In fact vintage soft lenses are used to take the edge off "harsh digital". That said if you stop down almost any lens to the "sweet spot" and that can be different for every lens you will be good!

My favorite is the Leica R 90mm f2.

December 24, 2016

Here is my Leica R6 and 90/2.<div>

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December 24, 2016

Anyone have any Leica Bokeh to share? It can be any Leica or Leica mount lens so R mount, M mount, S mount...ect. 3rd party lenses with a Leica mount are OK too like Angenieux R or M.<div>

00eHyi-567026684.jpg.125174ef18744679c7483bb20d259142.jpg

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July 3, 2016

After going to the Leica store again and with the help of two Leica reps we finally figured out what this adapter does. It is indeed a E55-55mm / Series 7 retaining ring, a very rare if not unique adapter that can hold two filters...a E55mm AND a Series 7 filter. It has BOTH a female and male 55mm thread with a Series 7 retaining ring! No Leica rep at the store has EVER seen this Leica adapter #14225 before as it is extremely RARE! After it was confirmed it was fitted *PERFECTLY* on the Leica Telephoto 90mm f/2.0 APO Summicron M Aspherical Manual Focus Lens, a $4K lens, we then placed a E55 Leica filter ON TOP OF THE ADAPTER which worked also perfectly. On top of that it was also confirmed that it could also hold ONE Series 7 filter. Neither of the Leica reps have ever heard of a Series 7 filter (even though Leica still makes them for $200) which highlights my point of this thread of just how unpopular Series 7 filters are...even Leica's flagship store HAS NOT EVEN HEARD OF Series 7 filters and does not stock any of their own Leica Series 7 filters!

June 29, 2016

More Mystery solved with the Leica Series 7 filter Retaining Ring #14225. As I mentioned this Leica made Series VII ring will NOT WORK on Leica lenses with Series VII / 7 Leica lenses. That said I went to the Leica store today and we tried this #14225 adapter on a Leica 24mm f/1.4 Summilux-M Aspherical Manual Focus Lens that has Series VII threads. The adapter did NOT WORK on the Series 7 threads of the Leica 24/1.4 ultrawide lens, a $7K lens and one of the best for the Leica M Rangefinder cameras. The Leica dealer had no idea what this adapter this lens was for.

June 26, 2016

EDIT: Leica does makes a commercially available Series VII to E72 / E82 metric size adapter for the Leica 24mm f1.4

Summilux M rangefinder lens for about $100 USD ( more expensive than the Duclos adapter) however there are several

problems with the design of this adapter which is why the Duclos Series VII -77mm adapter is recommended. First if you

are using if for the 24/1.4 Summilux you will lose your dedicated wide angle Leica lens hood! Second if the sun is behind

you the hollowed out part of the adapter will create lens flare. Third a 77mm filter thread is a nice size in between 72mm and 82mm metric filter sizes and a *PERFECT FIT* for the professional Angenieux 77mm metal Len hood which works best on tele Leica lenses.

June 20, 2016

Duclos Series VII 54.346 pitch thread adapter with the rare Angenieux 77mm UV filter.<div>

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June 20, 2016

Back in the 70's Spiratone made Series VII to 52mm & 55mm adapter rings

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Hey Anthony, first thank you on your previous post on Series VII adapter rings. You understand perfectly just how rare these 70's vintage ones adapters are. As I already posted, there was also a 70's Tiffen -Made for Leica 54mm (Series VII) -55mm adapter. Ironically, the Leica made Series VII / 54-55mm #14225 does not meet this pitch thread specification. It will not work on all Series VII Leica threads! I have this Leica adapter and I have already posted a pic of this adapter that is not functional.

As I already posted, both the Sonia and Duclos adapters are a perfect Series VII 54.346 mm, 36 tpi thread pitch size and are the ONLY known adapters commercially available.

So at least for Series VII adapters the problem has been finally solved with these two adapters. I do not know of any adapters (yet) for Series VI or VIII threads.

Here is the commercially available Duclos Series VII 54.346 pitch thread to 77mm adapter with the rare Angenieux 77mm UV filters. This also has has a 80mm O.D. to accept cinema matte boxes.

June 19, 2016

Hey Joe, finally after many years and even decades of Leica photographers searching for a commercially available cheap adapter for a Series 7 to metric adapter I have finally solved the puzzle. Please refer to my thread I just posted. Basically I have found two easily available commercially made Series 7 / VII to metric adapters with one only costing $5. ! No need to hunt around anymore for a needle-in-the-haystack ultra rare Series VII to metric adapters (Tiffen/Spiratone/Leica) made in the 1970's or go to a photography specialist to custom machine a special Series 7 adapter.

I do not have a commercial available adapter solution yet for Series 6 / VI or Series 8 / VIII to metric adapters.

Leica solution finally found for Leica lenses with Series 7 threads. http://www.photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00e0Lo<div></div>

June 17, 2016

...the R 90 Summicron is magic at f2.

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Hey Steve thanks for chiming in. I will totally agree with you on my Leica 90/2 Summicron , it is indeed one of the best portrait lenses ever made. The reason Series 7 filters are very easy to find is because they are OBSOLETE and no one wants them! As I already wrote , I had a full box of them once, every Series 7 / VII filter imaginable... and I could not get rid of those Series 7 filters fast enough. As I wrote before as well this whole thread is for Leica photographers who do not like to use Series 7 filters. No professional cinematographer these days uses Series 7 filters, it is all Series 9, 77mm threads at the bare bones minimum. Same applies really for most professional photographers, larger filter sizes than Series VII the size are used.

And Series 7 to any metric size adapters are extremely rare. The reverse however, is easy to find ... going from say 55mm to Series 7 so you can place a drop in Series VII filter on your 55mm threaded lens. But we are talking about a reverse adapter, very rare. Here is what one poster said:

Good luck finding one! They are RARE. Very rare. I have a Series 7 MALE to 52mm Female that I bought from Spiratone back in the 70's. They are long gone. You *MIGHT* find one on ebay. Otherwise, you will have to have them custom made. S.K. Grimes can do it but be prepared to spend $75 or more for EACH ring.

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Check out this thread: http://www.photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00dVMP So as far as the lens hood mention this is very important, until now you were stuck with a mediocre Heliopan 54/Series VII -58mm adapter and the problem with that one is it disables your built in lens hood on the Leica 90/2 Summicron. This five dollar adapter from India works beautifully and it is cheap (non-expensive) ... but not cheaply made! Here is an example of just how flush the Sonia Series VII-58mm adapter is with an Angenieux UV Ultra Thin 3mm 58mm filter. The French filter, the India adapter were just made for the Leica 90/2 Summicron!

June 17, 2016

Good luck finding one! They are RARE. Very rare. I have a Series 7 MALE to 52mm Female that I bought from Spiratone back in the 70's. They are long gone. You *MIGHT* find one on ebay. Otherwise, you will have to have them custom made. S.K. Grimes can do it but be prepared to spend $75 or more for EACH ring.

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Hey Agustin, just like Anthony said these adapters (going from Series thread to Metric threads) are EXTREMELY RARE. Anthony is not kidding. These adapters have been like looking for a needle in a haystack as very few were manufactured.

Fortunately for Leica photographers I have just solved that problem (at least for Leica lenses with Series 7 threads!). Please see my thread that I just posted. I found 2 perfect adapters for lenses with a Series VII / 7 thread. Now you can use ANY normal size metric filters on your Leica Series VII lenses! http://www.photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00e0Lo<div></div>

June 17, 2016

The rejected Series VII filter adapters : Leica Series VII-55mm , Heliopan 54-58mm (edit above not a B+W adapter) and the scarce too impossible to find Tiffen Series VII-55mm Made For Leica adapter.<div>

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June 17, 2016

Close up of Leica R and Angenieux UV 58mm Ultra Thin (3mm) with Sonia Series VII-58mm adapter.<div>

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June 17, 2016

Leica R 90/2 with lens hood retracted. Angenieux UV 58mm Ultra Thin filter (3mm size) on front with Sonia Series VII-58mm adapter.<div>

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June 17, 2016

Anyone need a good Leica adapter for their Series 7 VII thread lens to a normal metric size filter ? If so read on!

This Leica R thread is for those that DO NOT want to ever use Series VII / 7 filters. If you have Series 7 filters and are having fun please totally ignore this thread.

After past endless past Leica R forums on the search of the perfect adapter for the Series VII adapter I finally found two Series VII that work perfectly. And one only costs $5 !

Basically the issue is (most) professional photographers and cinematographers no longer use Series VII filters. Series VII filters are practically obsolete today. The smallest Series filter used professionally today is Series 9 but mostly Series 10 (4 1/2 round) and up! As a professional photographer /cinematographer I can't stand Series VII filters. They are just too small for todays high end photography and cinematography lenses requiring much larger filters . I had a whole box of Series VII filters once and I got rid of them because they were so obsolete.

And with lenses like the Leica 90mm f2 Summicron (Series VII thread version) the past issue was once an adapter was put on you could NOT use the built in lens hood! Of course if you are lucky to own the 55mm version then you don't even need an adapter. For the rest of us with Leica R lenses with Series VII threads we need a good adapter to get to the larger and more COMMON size metric filters ...58MM, 67MM, 72MM, 77MM, 82MM..ect.

Ok so what are the adapters you ask. Here they are recommended adapters with reviews:

For Photographers

1) Sonia Series VII-58mm adapter

Cost: ultra cheap, a whole $5 ... the price of cup of coffee and you are all set.

Country made: India

Easy to mount/use: Yes , the threads are well made and thread deep into the Series VII threads, you barely even notice its on your lens. On a Leica R 90/2 your built in lens hood is fully functional!

For Cinematographers (Digital)

2) Duclos Lenses Series VII - 77mm with 80mm Outer Diameter (O.D.) ring adapter

Cost: expensive at $75 but worth every penny.

Country made: USA

Easy to mount/use: Yes! The good folks at Duclos are awesome. Here is an adapter that you could use for an endless amount of filter sizes, included Series 9, 10 and up! You start with a 77mm size and a 80mm O.D. to use in any professional cinematography matte box...ARRI, Chroszeil...ect. Mounted on a DSLR camera with 4K HD (Canon EOS ) capability and a Leica R cine mod with a Leica-Canon EOS adapter you are ready to go.

Here are the Series VII adapters to avoid:

1) Leica Series VII- 55mm adapter

Cost: Expensive and hard to find as it no longer made $25-75

Country made: Germany

Easy to mount / use: HORRIBLE! Although the 58mm thread works perfectly the Series VII threads do NOT work on some Leica R lenses like the Leica 90mm f2 lens.

2) B+W 54-58mm

Cost: Medium about $30

Country made: Germany

Easy to mount / use: Medium. This will work for your Series VII thread lens but with this is reported to disable your built in lens hood on the Leica 90mm f2 lens as the O.D is to big and blocks the built in lens hood.

There is also a Tiffen - Made for Leica Series VII- 55mm adapter. Very hard to find and scarce. Unknown if it even works.

Well that's it folks on this topic. I have link bellows of the vendors plus background history on Series size filters. If you have any questions I will definitely answer as best as I can. Have photography fun with Leica everyone !

http://www.camera-filters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=431&products_id=7299

https://www.ducloslenses.com/

http://throughavintagelens.com/2013/09/vintage-filter-systems/<div></div>

July 5, 2014

Great studio lighting carry case recommendations Ellis! The Lightware cases look perfect....like their name they are lightweight... here is one that can hold 4 studio lights. Much lighter than A&J metal ATA flight cases! Lightware T4444 Four Strobe Head Lighting Case - Black

....specifically designed to hold and protect 4 strobe heads but can also accommodate other items. It will hold four Speedotron 102 heads, a variety of the Calumet Travelite systems or 4-5 White Lightnings, two Dyna-Lite M2000x packs and 4 heads plus accessories, 4 Elinchrom T heads or even a Hasselblad projector and accessories.

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http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/121440-REG/Lightware_T4444_T4444_Four_Strobe_Head.html

July 4, 2014

A four studio lights case that is something like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441386-REG/Tenba_634_137_AT_4LX_Air_Case.html

July 4, 2014

I have four studio strobe lights that need a good professional studio strobe light soft case. Any Professional Studio light case recommendations for four pack and head lights? Bowens does NOT currently make a good soft case for 4 studio strobe lights. Prefer to carry by hand so the case needs a good handle. Prefer no dolly/roller wheels (adds to weight) but will consider with wheels. Has to be as LIGHTWEIGHT (nylon or similar light material) and interior foam padding with four compartments for each light. I would like to leave the reflector and barn doors on the lights for quick set-up.

Must be as LIGHTWEIGHT as possible so heavy hard cases / road cases / flight cases like ARRI, ATA, Anvil or Pelican would be out of the question.

Thanks in advance for everyone's responses.

Brands I am looking at: Tenba Tamrac Gator (soft cases only)

Dimensions of studio strobe with reflector and case 14.5" x 7.5" X 7.5" Bowens Quad Studio strobe with 7" reflector and collapsed barn door Dimensions Studio Light Case apx. (LxWxH) Case can be close to these dimensions. 30-35" X 7.5" X 14.5" apx. for four lights for Soft case

April 25, 2014

...lighter-weight Nylon softboxes when on location instead.

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Thanks Ralph and Michael for lots of info on Elinchrom/Photoflex/Profoto RFI light modifiers. I use mainly Photoflex both the 5' and 7' Octos as I have done a lot of a location shoots and the Photoflex is light and easy to set up. Photoflex works well for studio use but it is especially nice on location because its so light. So out of the three Profoto RFI, Chimera or Elinchrom which one will I go with? They are all great! but I have been leaning toward Chimera. At this point its just personal preference so I just have to see which is the best one for the job.

One question, the Photoflex Octo I use has both gold/silver interiors. Do the other Octas have gold or soft gold interiors? I only see silver/white on the other Octas.

April 23, 2014

Note that the Photoflex 5' octa softgrid fits the 5' Profoto RFi octa perfectly.

Also, the now-discontinued Calumet

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Ralph thanks for mentioning that. I currently own and have been shooting with for many years the Photoflex 5' Octa which is excellent and priced the same as the Profoto and Elinchrom octas. And now with the new speedring adapters available for Bowens (Chimera/Profoto RFI/ Elinchrom) I was thinking of trying out Profoto RFI light modifiers (stripboxes/octaboxes/softboxes).

Any experience with the Profoto RFI vs Chimera stripboxes? I am curious if there is much difference. Have you tried out the Chimera 5' OctaPlus light banks?

http://www.chimeralighting.com/Products/Film-Video-Lightbanks/OctaPlus-Lightbanks

Yep Calumet after 75 years in the photographic business as of last month in March 2014 is no more. Poof! They just closed shop one day and that was it. That was my favorite studio lighting rental place for hard to find light modifiers.

Any other recommendation in that price range would be appreciated it.

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Check out the Chimera Octa 57 (all though above the price ranges of the other three 5' Octa brands Profoto RFI/Photoflex/Elinchrom) in the link above its a 5' Octa and can be converted to a larger 7' option !

April 21, 2014

Here is a great example of what I am trying to do with my Bowens 15" Beauty Dish. The photographer uses this for Mola Demi 22" beauty dish. First frame is just with the standard nylon diffuser sock, no grid. 2nd frame is modified with the Black 25° FlxGrid. Last frame is modified with the White 25° FlxGrid

The Mola White FlxGrid is exactly what I need but in the size 15" to fit the beauty dish or 7" to fit in the middle of the Bowens Softlite grid-diffuser.

http://mola-light.com/blog/?p=255<div></div>

April 19, 2014

There is a Profoto Replacement Glass, its translucent/frosted glass disc which is something close to what I want even though it wont work with Bowens. The idea is to get rid of the "doughnut hole effect" in the catchlights. Its a long shot but it is 7" in diameter so it might fit where the grid normally goes in the Bowens 15" diffuser/grid.

Profoto Glass Kit, Semi-opaque for Profoto Beauty Dishes http://www.adorama.com/PP505543.html

Profoto 21" white grid by Honeygrids http://www.honeycombgrids.com/profoto-grids?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=127&category_id=38

April 19, 2014

...central black hole of a beauty dish like the Bowens

A sheet of opal plexiglass and a couple of adapted Terry clips plus a few screws are all that's needed.

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Great response Rodeo. I had a feeling this was going to turn into DIY project. The problem is that the Bowens beauty dish I own is 15" and "common" grid -diffuser sizes are 16", 17", 18" 21", 22" ect. And the 15" beauty dish and diffuser I own has that central black hole (typical with other beauty dishes) which I don't like in the catchlights. No one makes a solid 15" size diffuser-grid. Even Bowens just makes a 17" diffuser adapter kit.

Another idea was to place 7" white diffuser or plexiglass grid instead of a black one.

Bowens 15" diffuser with grid (central black hole)

http://www.bowensusa.com/index.php/grid-diffuser.html

April 19, 2014

I currently use a Bowens "Softlite" 15" / 38cm beauty dish and diffuser with grid combo and would like to use a (clip-on) plexi-glass inner baffle diffuser (not a sock) for the dish. Bowens only makes a diffuser for their 17" Sunlite Beauty Dish. The ides is to use a light source that is completely even and delivers perfectly round catch lights.

I checked the bottom two light modifier companies and didn't see anything for the 15" beauty dish I use but one of the products may actually work.

Anyone know any other photography light modifier companies that specialize in these diffusers?

Light modifier companies

http://www.honeycombgrids.com/ http://cpmdelta1.com/

Bowens Beauty Dish / Diffuser/grid combo I currently use:

http://www.bowensusa.com/index.php/softlite-reflector.html

http://www.bowensusa.com/index.php/grid-diffuser.html

Diffuser I would like to work to work with the 15" beauty dish (Bowens DOES NOT make a diffuser for the 15" /38cm)

http://www.bowensusa.com/index.php/supersoft-600-diffuser.html