How to put together an Elinchrom Rotalux Octabox

[@KrulKrulSprietSpriet]

Thank you so much! I just bought my rotalux deep octabox and was so affraid of ruining it. After watching your video I got it up in 5 minutes! 😊

[@felixkunze]

Glad I could help!

[@jaymathews356]

I have the same modifier. It's not as easy as one would think when opening & closing it. However; watching your demo, it makes more sense to me now. Thanks!

[@bj0ernaa]

Countless times, I´ve looked like a doofus on location, when diving head first into the deep octa to get the levers to snap into place. :)

[@jaymathews356]

​@@bj0ernaa There should be a game show where the challenge would be opening & closing the modifier under 3 minutes!

[@javierbernalrevert3822]

Many thanks for your videos! You take the time to explain things clearly, it's a pleasure to watch them. I just got a ELB-500 and a Rotalux Octabox, so this is exactly what I needed to see. If I understood properly, I'll need the speedring and also the adaptor, right?

[@felixkunze]

Yes exactly!

[@jaijacobphoto316]

Love the design of those softboxes

[@bobby350z]

Qiestion - So the indirect mount for the 59" octa works on the 39" octa? Just want to clarify before I order one. Thanks.

[@felixkunze]

It technically does, but it often results in there not being enough space inside. I use the elb 500 and it’s tiny heads, so there’s always space but if you use any larger lights you’re going to run into issues

[@deltadave44]

where does the power cord exit the softbox?

[@felixkunze]

Depends on the modifier :)

[@deltadave44]

@@felixkunze the one in the video....39" Rotolux, I believe...

[@felixkunze]

@@deltadave44 In this one I thread it through the back, because I do my own modification to reverse mount it, but some newer versions also have the zip opening, I think.

[@Zetaphotography]

@@felixkunze where can you show this? I thought the same thing when looking at this video

[@guydesgroseilliers34]

I have a dlite rx 4 is it too heavy for the reverse mount. Im waiting for my elb 500 . While im waiting thoght id use my rx4

[@kevincull1091]

Great video Felix as always! , you need to show how you route the mains cable though when indirect? 🤝👍🇬🇧👌🙏👊🏻

[@felixkunze]

It depends on the model. If you’re doing your own indirect modification sometimes you’ll just have to route it through the front :)

[@scottrichardson9106]

Also I meant to mention the light heads we have D-Lite RX 4 ( 2 of) www.elinchrom.com/compacts/d-lite.html

[@scottrichardson9106]

@ Felix Kunze

[@markusschwab3079]

@@felixkunze Thank you for these videos! Would the cable routing be the same for Quadras or can they route through an opening in the back, granted it may be a tight squeeze? I'm about to purchase the deep octa with indirect mount and would like to maintain a clean setup.

[@felixkunze]

@@markusschwab3079 yep it’s a squeeze but you can make it work.

[@henrikbengtsson3566]

Hi Felix - would a regular old-school monolight (like BRX) do well in the reverse mount fitted on a deep octa 100cm or do you need smaller heads for proper spread (and not touching the inner diffuser?). Also, is there a video available where you compare these two speedrings (direct vs indrect?) Cheers!

[@felixkunze]

truth be told, the differences are small. You've correctly identified the only issue I've also found with bigger units like the BRX, they contact the inner diffuser, which can cause a fire risk. Taking out the diffuser is one option, but then you lose a layer of diffusion. Having said all this, in my experience the 'small differences' are actually big. Without reverse mounting, or using a 'diffusion plate', you don't get the full effect of the modifier. You essentially end up with a hard light in the middle that also has some bounce from the sides.

[@henrikbengtsson3566]

@@felixkunze Thanks Felix! I really appreciate it. I guess I have another reason to look closer at the ELB system. I am on the fence anyway :-) I have some small RX Ones that I can try first. Not enough power but should be able to give me an idea.

[@felixkunze]

@@henrikbengtsson3566 if you can, go with the deflector plates from Elinchrom. They work really well.

[@henrikbengtsson3566]

@@felixkunze Yep, I'll try that. I have a bunch of those actually (the white ones that come with the strobes) but I haven't tried the deflector kit (with silver for example). That might give the light a bit more contrast since the deflector (at least on my octa 135) makes the light quite boring/flat no matter where I put the modifier. But on something more focused like the Deep 100, then it could get more interesting I guess :-)

[@felixkunze]

@@henrikbengtsson3566 definitely worth a try!

[@seattledude6277]

HEy Felix- If your bouncing light into rotalux where does the wire connect to head come out of soft box? What is better bouncing in or mounting it from behind unit out? I bought unit and I just opened and there is no :white protruding adapters inside? Are they seprate and what are they called thank you!

[@felixkunze]

thanks. yes indeed, it's called a reverse mount. which lights do you own and which modifier?

[@seattledude6277]

@@felixkunze Thks Felix ! I have the rotalux deepdish 39 in ! I have the new Elinchrome ELB 500 battery packs and heads with the Quadra adapters and speed rings.. I have the 72 in and it has a slot to put wire through but my new rotalux doesn’t seem to have one ? Do they sell two , one that has slot and one not? Did you modify or cut your own? Is the reverse mount modified by you or bought that way? Oh and what significant difference from normal lighted mounted from back and light from inside ? Which one do you like best and why! Thanks so much Felix!

[@felixkunze]

@@seattledude6277 The 39 in isn't designed for the reverse mount, but the elb heads are small enough that it works fine. I just force the cable through the back. No need to cut. The reserve mount is a fairly standard item, you can buy and install it yourself. for more on reverse mounting, I advise you to check out www.thelightingseries.com I use all my lights reverse mounted.

[@lutylives1852]

Hi, is the speedring required for Rotalux softboxes? Or can I use the eight-point plastic ring which came with my Portalites? I assume the quick folding and unfolding functionality is lost without a speedring? Thanks in advance

[@felixkunze]

I don't have any experience with those parts, I'm afraid.

[@lutylives1852]

@@felixkunze Not a problem. I'm on the brink of getting a pair of octas and I may as well throw in the speedrings to be safe... As long as they aren't extortionately expensive. Lol

[@Pepingco]

The Portalite plastic rings will not work with the Rotalux softboxes. It is just too small, so the rods wont actually reach the plastic holes. Also, if the rods happen to reach, the portalite speed ring holes point up at an angle, where the Rotalux speedring are flat when engaged. This means the softbox won't be in the correct shape and the plastic will always be in tension - and the plastic will likely snap after some time.

[@Zetaphotography]

if you use the indirect mount, where does the cable go?

[@felixkunze]

@@Zetaphotography I’ve threaded it through the back (which can be tricky), if have it poking out the front, which looks bad but doesn’t materially affect the light. Some people have also sewn a Velcro opening into their modifiers.

[@mikestewart4733]

Felix, are there adapters that allow the use of the reverse mount bracket with non-Elinchrom lights? (Godox, Prophoto, Dynalite, etc.)

[@felixkunze]

Yep they are called speed rings

[@mikestewart4733]

@@felixkunze I understand the need for a speed ring. My question is if they make one that works to adapt for a light with the Bowens S mount

[@felixkunze]

@@mikestewart4733 speedrings to adapt lights between brands do exist. I don't know every possible combination, but they do exist. worth a google.

[@patrick.hudepohl]

Elinchrom lists them on their website, for instance Rotalux speedrings: www.elinchrom.com/light_shapers/rotalux.html#speedrings

[@mmarsbarr]

I've always been an elinchrom modifier user. I bought some cheaper modifiers and on day one, either they ripped or the design/materials were just inferior. It's the little details in how elinchrom makes their modifiers which i find people don't understand and elinchrom don't do a good job of marketing it's positives.

[@djecek]

Will these rods come off when softbox is collapsed or this stay in place for storage?

[@ZenoWatson]

They stay on when collapsed, for storage.

[@felixkunze]

Yep, they stay in place.

[@djecek]

How softgrids are fixed to these modifiers? I haven’t seen single video about this.

[@guydesgroseilliers34]

Hello ive seen that you are using the elinchrome speedring for rotalux deep octa 59 bur the oct look like 100 cm. Iv been told buy elinchrome that both dont fit together.

[@felixkunze]

they don't officially support it, it depends on the light you use. If you have an ELB 500, which is what I use, you won't run into issues, but anything bigger starts to be a problem.

[@Pepingco]

I am about 2 years late to the video - I would like to know what the part number is for the reverse Speed Ring.

[@felixkunze]

EL26329

[@Petramojomusic]

Can we use it with Nanolite Forza 300 ?

[@felixkunze]

Not sure tbh

[@Petramojomusic]

@@felixkunze do you know if it can be used with any continous light?

[@felixkunze]

I’ve never done it

[@guydesgroseilliers34]

really wellexplained video you have.

[@Epsilom]

Very simple ?! lol I doubt a bit

[@felixkunze]

Simple and easy are not the same