Modifier attachments, and the Bowens S-Type.

Episode 6 of 1 minute 101's v2

Modifier attachments, and the Bowens S-Type. I've spoken so much about Bowens fit for modifiers already in some of these previous blogs accompanying the 101's, that it's almost like I hadn't intended on doing a blog with each 101, and that I haven't written a plan in advance, and nor am I just writing these on the fly.. Well, as mentioned in the video, the Bowens S-Fit, or S-Type if you prefer, are my favoured attachments and what power all our mods here at Splash Point Photo photography studio. Back when I was assisting a lot on hair awards and what not with Rafa, he used Elinchrom, and I never liked the attachments! I can't remember why to be honest, maybe at this point I was already so used to the Bowen S-fit that I just had no reason to care for something different that I wasn't used to.. or maybe it was just a faff? You tell me, have you used Elinchrom recently, and how did you get on with it?

So why only Bowens and Elinchrom fits? Well, they're the two that even most of the other strobe light manufactures want their lights to be compatible with. Then you have 3rd party companies who only specialise in modifiers, or are hoping to be the next Godox, and some of them are savvy enough to be creating converters for those that don't use those fits because there's sales to be had due to the demand of having many more different and budget friendly mod options available under the Bowens and Elinchrom fit umbrella. As seen in the video, you can get converters for cheap unbranded strobes, but equally the Broncolors. Broncolor consider themselves to be somewhat, I duno, the Armani of the photography world - they are a premium brand, and don't care whether you find them convenient, expansive or compatible. I guess kinda like Apple, you buy an insanely expensive piece of kit, and then have to buy an insanely expensive modifier to make the most of it! As mentioned in the video, I genuinely prefer the quality of light from the Bowens! #sorryphotographygods, but it’s true! If I have a plug socket nearby, I will reach for the Bowens over the Bronnies any day. Anyways, as a business, I guess it's something that works for them. They have a particular type of client, and unlike Bowens who struggled and then liquidated with cheaper Chinese based manufactures using their attachment, getting better in the photography game, and then creating more competition in the market, Broncolor I imagine have theirs trademarked, and have little competition from else where such is their market and price point. The Broncolor attachment is horrible by the way, and even if it isn't trademarked, it probably doesn't have too much of a budget following to make it worth the while of smaller companies converting to Broncolor - I mean, who is gonna own a Broncolor modifier that doesn't own a Broncolor?

L-R, T-B - An Einchrom Speedring. A Broncolor to Bowens converter (as seen in the video). A Bowens (or 3rd party Bowens fit) speedring. A universal to Bowens converter (as seen in the video). A profoto Bowens s-fit speedring. An Einchrom to Bowens converter.

Let's talk speedrings! Whereas metal dish type modifiers will have their attachment built in; the basis of every soft box (y'know, those big square and octagonal things that some non photographers assume are the lights themselves) are all based around speedrings. Those holes and protrudes around the side on the above speedring photos, they're where small flexible (but frustratingly never flexible enough and will have your eye out) poles attach, and then they shape and push out a big reflective bowl of sorts that is covered by a white light suppressor to spread the light evenly and, err, 'soft'ly, and hey presto, a soft box! It's like a tent that attaches to your light via the speedring.