Today I wanna talk about something I messed with a while back – the 42 Octa. I remember it was a sunny afternoon when the delivery guy dropped off this big box at my doorstep. I’d been itching to try out this softbox, heard good things, you know?
So, I ripped open the box like a kid on Christmas morning. Inside, there’s this octagonal-shaped thing, looked pretty neat with its silver insides. The goal was to get softer, more flattering light for my photos, whether I was shooting in my makeshift studio in the living room or out and about.
- First thing I noticed? It wasn’t huge. I mean, it’s called 42 Octa, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Just right for moving around.
- Setting it up was a breeze, honestly. No complicated instructions or a million parts to assemble. A few clicks here and there, and bam, it was ready.
First Impressions
I hooked it up to my speedlight – yeah, it works with both speedlights and strobes, pretty versatile. Then came the fun part, experimenting. I started with some indoor shots. Moved some furniture, set up a backdrop, the whole nine yards. The light? Oh boy, it was beautiful. Soft, even, no harsh shadows. My subjects, which were basically my cat and some fruit, looked amazing, if I do say so myself.
- Ventured outside later. The real test, I thought. Portability was a big factor for me.
- Dragged it to the park, got some weird looks, but hey, gotta do what you gotta do for the shot.
- Found that even in broad daylight, the 42 Octa held its own. Filled in those shadows, made the light just right.
Taking It Outside
Now, I also got this grid thingy for the Octa. It’s supposed to give more control over the light, reduce spill. Tried it out, and yep, it worked. The light was more focused, more directed. Like, if you’re into that precision stuff, this is it.
- It’s all about that reflective interior, I guess. Makes the light bounce around and get all soft and even.
- No dye involved, so the images come out sharper. Not that I’m a pro at this, but I could see the difference.
- Learned later that it’s better than some other techniques because it’s not invasive. Whatever that means, but it sounds good, right?
Technical Stuff (Not Really)
I kept playing around with it, indoors, outdoors, different times of the day. The more I used it, the more I liked it. It became a staple in my photo adventures. The 42 Octa, it’s a solid choice if you want to step up your lighting game without going too crazy with the gear.
So, yeah, that’s my story with the 42 Octa. No regrets, would recommend. It’s all about that soft, even light, you know? And it’s not a pain to lug around, which is a huge plus in my book.
