Rostronics - newbie questions

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Peter_Gaudry

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Thanks to this board, I also scored the nifty discount on the Rostronics studio kit (600w x 2 with softboxes + stands).

Being a complete newcomer to lighting (yes, scold me for doing productions thus far without a kit), I was having an interesting time setting them up. This isn't rocket science, but my questions are more concerned with not damaging my new kit due to inexperience.

1. The softboxes - is it possible to get them really tight? Also I seem to have about 3 inches of space between where the black box ends and the white ring. There is a lot of spill coming out the back here. The photos on the rostronics site indicate there should be no space - what do you think?

2. Attaching the light to the stand: There seem to be three different holes in the base of the light that I could stick the stand into. Do I stick it onto the bottom hole, the two on the sides, or lastly, do I attempt to screw the stand into the screwthread opposite the wingnut?

Hope this all makes sense, and apologies for the bog-standard questions.
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

1- Nooooo! Don't have them tight or your softbox is gonna burn! Leave space for some airflow and avoid to the maximum touching your softbox directly on the light. Leaving a space is gonna cause some leak, but will be much safer. (I have already burned a 4K Photoflex on one of my intrepid quixotesque shots... Thank god the damage was light and the production was big enough so nobody ever found that out - Besides the DP, patient fella, I own that guy one...) ;D

2-Don't know. The Rostronics appear to have an exclusive clamping system, so wait for others to reply...
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

My Briteks have two holes that you could mount it on a stand with, a 5/8" and a smaller 3/8". Which you use depends on the stand you're mounting it to. 5/8" is the standard, but there are some small kit stands that use 3/8".
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

[quote author=Peter_Gaudry link=board=lighting;num=1094517415;start=0#0 date=09/06/04 at 17:36:55]There seem to be three different holes in the base of the light that I could stick the stand into. Do I stick it onto the bottom hole, the two on the sides, or lastly, do I attempt to screw the stand into the screwthread opposite the wingnut?[/quote]

Since you got the stands with the lights it's probably the bottom hole.

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Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

You see, now in that photo it looks like the softboxes are pretty darn close to the light itself. Am I wrong in my interpretation?

The other thing is how darn tight and square those boxes came out - I haven't had that kind of success in assembling them yet. Any tips? Tom from Rostronics said that the included instructions were wrong, but I didn't understand in what way exactly.
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

They can get close, but don't let them touch. You can see light would leak to the sides in the photo, that's how they should be.
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

now this isn't the same model,...
but maybe u can find your answer (as far as what the holes are for) from this pic:

cl1mBk2.jpg
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

I'm puzzled. My 650s and 1000s are extremely tight softboxes. Put together very similar to a chimera...

My 2 dayphotos are not very tight...but they use a different construction all together.
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

I'm also puzzled - have been trying to put together the softboxes on my 600s over the weekend, and they're tighter than a nun's nasty.

I look at the pic above and the rods in the boxes seem to be bent/curved. I cannot bend my rods without something surely breaking - I mean they're made from metal afterall.

Anyone got any tips on assembling these so they look like the photo above? Are the rods meant to bend?
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

Peter,

LOL, I had the exact problem!  I called Tom, saying things are cracking, man!

But you are really supposed to put the metal rods in the round "base".  Make sure the rods go into the "sleeves" on the softbox.  The first time you need two people (it helps) but then you literally push down on the rods, a bit closer to the base, and they bend like hell.  Push until the rods come down on the side of the metal base and you can slide them into the locking position.  So now, instead of pointing up, the base of the rods point sideways, and the rods themselves curve to the side and out to the softbox inserts.

I heard cracking the first time, but Tom assured me nothing would break.  I did this with 4 softboxes, and it worked like he said!

The next time you do it with the same softbox, it is much easier.

(Oh, and 3 in gap in the back is about right 2-3 in.)

Trust me  ;D

Good luck.  These instructions make no sense to someone who hasn't seen the assembly, but hopefully it does to you!

-Jerry
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

***I heard cracking the first time, but Tom assured me nothing would break. I did this with 4 softboxes, and it worked like he said!

The next time you do it with the same softbox, it is much easier.***

Yup, this worried the heck out of me too at first... but I've been using them daily for the last few weeks & they've held up as well as any other softbox I've ever used. To be honest with you... I LOVE these lights!

David.
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

So I tried your suggestions, and unfortunately I succeeded in bending one of the rods permanently!! It's only minor, but still permanent. Most of the others bent back into shape. Did all of yours bend back pretty straight?
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

I just noticed your response.

Yea, they bend a little permanently, but it creates a tight softbox anyway.

-Jerry
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

Much thanx....

I was wondering why my softboxes couldn't stay in place...lol
your info helped a lot.

now my kit looks beautiful.
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

anyway...
what's up with the inner velcro ring/square?
the one that's by the gap btwn the light and the softbox.

what is this used for?
what is it meant to attach to?
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

To Kill or control light that may spill from the rear of the box or light you might want to get some "Black Wrap" which is like a thic version of Aluminum foil and drape it over your lights in such a way to block the light spilling out of it. Depending on the wattage of the light, it shouldn't burn. I use it all the time on my 250 watt lights.
 
Re: Rostronics - newbie questions

[quote author=ozone1979 link=board=lighting;num=1094517415;start=0#14 date=10/16/04 at 07:04:11]anyway...
what's up with the inner velcro ring/square?
the one that's by the gap btwn the light and the softbox.

what is this used for?
what is it meant to attach to?
[/quote]

I've not seen this brand of lightbank in person, but I have two Chimera lightbanks that have internal diffusion baffles that fit inside via velcro fasteners at the corners.

The baffle helps to further soften the light by dispersing it before it hits the external front panel. It helps spread the beam more evenly across more surface area of the front panel which results in softer light. This will give you more wrapping in the modeling of light on your subject's face. Of course, this comes at the expense of footcandles. The internal baffle is removable depending on your desired results.

There are also accessories such as eggcrates (used to control spread of light) made of nylon that attach with velcro to the front of some lightbanks. It doesn't appear that the Britek lightbanks have a recessed front panel, which is necessary for those front-mounted accessories.

Good luck and happy diffusing!  :D
 
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