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Softbox from Helix
Dec 31, 2017 17:53:58   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
Not sure where the best place is to post this, but I found a softbox that appears to be a copy of the Calumet Illumas I have in the studio at the university where I work.
Calumet pulled up stakes in the US just after I got their version.
Resembles a Plume Wafer in function and build quality for a lot less.
(I personally have a 25 year-old Wafer I need to replace)
According to the Helix employee I’ve exchanged emails with who worked for Calumet, the Asis Illuma looks to be the same quality.
They have 2 sizes: 22x33 and a 30x40.

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Jan 1, 2018 17:32:48   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
Interesting. I also learned something. I did not know what a Plue Wafer was. So thank you for posting that.

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Jan 1, 2018 20:00:51   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
JD750 wrote:
Interesting. I also learned something. I did not know what a Plue Wafer was. So thank you for posting that.

The Plume Wafers I used are low profile softboxes....they aren't as deep as almost every other brand, so they work great in tight spaces. One commercial photographer I worked for used them all the time. Great product and priced like they knew it. The 30 x 40 goes for $432. The ASIS version of the same size at Helix is $179.

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Jan 1, 2018 21:28:52   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
GoofyNewfie wrote:
The Plume Wafers I used are low profile softboxes....they aren't as deep as almost every other brand, so they work great in tight spaces. One commercial photographer I worked for used them all the time. Great product and priced like they knew it. The 30 x 40 goes for $432. The ASIS version of the same size at Helix is $179.
The Plume Wafers I used are low profile softboxes.... (show quote)


"It requires a speed ring for assembly, which is sold separately". Their web site is a bit slow and clunky. I searched for "speed ring" and eventually I got 10 pages! I searched "for speed ring for Asis" only the two soft boxes show up. And now the server is not even responding. So the cost of that is unknown. But even if it's $150 it seems like a good deal if they are good quality.

The web site said there are two graduated inner baffles. Do you use them both at once or one at a time in conjunction with the front diffuser? I wonder if they have grids available? That web site is so slow I don't want to wait to find out. LOL.

Maybe searching Amazon will provide better results? Yep Amazon has them for $169.95
http://www.amazon.com/Asis-AS3076-Illuma-Soft-Black/dp/B01C5RJPRO

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Jan 5, 2018 12:27:57   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
JD750 wrote:
"It requires a speed ring for assembly, which is sold separately". Their web site is a bit slow and clunky. I searched for "speed ring" and eventually I got 10 pages! I searched "for speed ring for Asis" only the two soft boxes show up. And now the server is not even responding. So the cost of that is unknown. But even if it's $150 it seems like a good deal if they are good quality.

The web site said there are two graduated inner baffles. Do you use them both at once or one at a time in conjunction with the front diffuser? I wonder if they have grids available? That web site is so slow I don't want to wait to find out. LOL.

Maybe searching Amazon will provide better results? Yep Amazon has them for $169.95
http://www.amazon.com/Asis-AS3076-Illuma-Soft-Black/dp/B01C5RJPRO
"It requires a speed ring for assembly, which... (show quote)



I may be wrong, but in my experience, most softboxes can use the same speedring, just have to make sure they fit Bowens, Speedotron, Comet...mounts
I just use one of the inner baffles.
I bought a grid for the smaller one from Calumet.
Not seeing them anymore.

Yes, I agree on the clunky website.
May be better to order from them through Amazon.
Thanks for finding the link there.
I emailed the person at Helix about the grid.

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Jan 5, 2018 13:27:47   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
GoofyNewfie wrote:
I may be wrong, but in my experience, most softboxes can use the same speedring, just have to make sure they fit Bowens, Speedotron, Comet...mounts
I just use one of the inner baffles.
I bought a grid for the smaller one from Calumet.
Not seeing them anymore.

Yes, I agree on the clunky website.
May be better to order from them through Amazon.
Thanks for finding the link there.
I emailed the person at Helix about the grid.


Thanks! It was confusing about the speedings as there were many of them and none of them seemed to indicate they were for that model.

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