Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi there:

I still am using my old WL10,000 lights.

I am thinking about getting the WLPA speedring, but I don't know if there are any modern softboxes from third parties that will fit that speedring. The insert holes for the WLPA are separated by 90 degrees, but it looks like MOST softboxes (third party or not) have the retaining rods set at angles OTHER than 90 degress.

So will most softboxes out there fit the WLPA speedring???

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Off topic, but related:

My old Photoflex LiteDome softbox will work with the WLPA, but the interior of the softbox seems to have yellowed (it was made in 1996). There is a definite color difference between a bare WL10,000 (which seems to be slightly red) and the yellowy light given from the softbox.

So if I use this softbox (which WILL work with the WLPA), I will have to set a custom white balance AND use ONLY the softbox as a lightsource. Otherwise, the yellow tinted light from the softbox won't match with the daylight color of any other strobes.

Is there any way to repaint the interior of the softbox to a more neutral white color???

I have asked photoflex about this softbox, but since it is a legacy product, they don't really support it, and I am not sure how competent they are at making suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Most softboxes from reputable brands will fit the WLPA. This is not to say a soft box that does not fit is from a disreputable brand, or that disreputable brand boxes will not fit. Larson is one particular company that uses a proprietary mounting system. Reputable company, but will not fit the WLPA.

I think most 4 sided softboxes that use a semi-standard 7" speedring will work. Octoboxes will not work with the WLPA because there are not enough holes for each of the rods. Specialty boxes may not fit, like strip boxes. The other rod angles are for octaboxes and strip boxes. Photoflex, Chimera, Westcott 4-rod speedrings are all 90 degrees unless specifically for a specialty box.

As for the color, anything you put around a flash tube will alter the color to some degree or another. Metal reflectors and silver surfaces tend to shift a little blue. White fabrics tend to shift toward the yellow, unless the fabrics is treated with optical brighteners and the tube is not UV coated. This can cause a very sharp blue cast.

If you have light bouncing off white fabric, then passing through two more layers of white fabric, it is not surprising that you get a yellow cast. You will probably get a yellow cast from a brand new softbox. The question is more about how much more yellow is your soft box vs. a new softbox.

Thanks so much for the quick response :D

Just to clarify what types of softboxes I am talking about, here is a link to a lower cost softbox that I might purchase:

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Softbox- ... ds=softbox

I see that it comes with a speedring that is supposed to be compatible with Alien Bees. But the angle that the rods insert to that speedring looks much different than the 90-degree angle the WLPA seems optimal for.

I understand that you will have no familiarity the particular softbox I linked to. however, in your best "guestimate" do you think it would work with the WLPA speedring?

Thanks again in advance.