With over 35 years of experience behind the camera, I’ve relied on flash systems both in the studio and on location — and throughout my entire career, Elinchrom has always been my trusted choice.
I believe in the product to give me reliability and ease of use, but first and foremost, I need consistency in terms of exposure and colour accuracy. I also need a selection of modifiers and shapers to allow me to create the look I am going for.
The Elinchrom Rotalux range of soft boxes are a perfect partner for any flash unit due to the ease of use and the high quality materials used to make them. Let me explain further…….
Orginal text: Having been a photographer for over 35 years I have used flash systems for studio and locations the entire time and have always been an Elinchrom user.
I love controlling light. I always say in my lighting workshops that anyone can light an image even with very little experience. The art though, is the ability to light a subject within the image. When paired with an Elinchrom head it allows me very fine control of the light due to one very important factor, the internal reflector built in to the unit.
This small detail is, to me, the real secret. Whatever modifier you attach to the front of your light becomes a seamless extension of the internal reflector, creating beautifully even illumination from edge to edge — no matter the size or shape of your modifier.
Orginal text: This little detail, to me, is the key. You can clearly see from the above image, that whatever you choose to put onto the front of your light, becomes an extension of that internal reflector, producing a perfectly even light (edge to edge) across your modifier, regardless of its size.
When I’m using a 135 cm Octa — one of my favourite light shapers — I can take full advantage of the entire front diffuser, or just the edge of it when I want to feather the light across my subject. The perfectly even, edge-to-edge illumination gives me far more creative flexibility with a single modifier. By simply changing the light angle — from 45° to 90° to “wash” the light across my subject, or pushing it further to 120° — I can completely transform the look and mood of the image. It’s the evenness of the light source that makes all this possible.
Orginal text:
If I am using a 135cm Octa, which is one of my favourite shapers, it allows to me to use the entire surface area of the front diffuser or the edge of it if I choose to “feather” the light across my subject. The even, edge to edge light, allows me more creativity with one modifier. If I change the angle of my light from 45 degrees to 90 degrees and “wash” the light across my subject, it gives me a different look and feel. Going from 90 degrees to 120 degrees, changes everything again. The evenness of the light source allows me to do this.
45 Degrees 90 Degrees
Just imagine what you are missing if the flash unit you are using has a recessed flash tube? It is virtually impossible to shape the light correctly and make use of a large modifier. Don’t believe me? Try putting a torch inside a toilet roll and shining it against a wall. Move the torch back and forth and see what happens to the pattern on the wall! You are welcome!
The materials used in the Rotalux system are fundamental to creating beautifully lit portraits. From the high-performance reflective interior to the silky-smooth diffusion fabric, every element is designed to deliver the softest, most flattering light possible. And yes — there’s a reason for the price difference compared to cheaper alternatives.
Lower-cost softboxes often use stiffer, “crinkly” fabrics that feel rough and brittle. While a budget 100 cm softbox and a 100 cm Rotalux may produce similarly soft light when used at the same distance, the difference lies in the quality of that light. The cheaper option tends to increase contrast, deepen shadows, and heighten highlights — resulting in a harder, less flattering look.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing if that’s the style you want, but with a Rotalux, you have the flexibility to achieve the same result simply by removing the inner or outer diffuser to add specularity. Try shooting with only the inner diffuser and leaving off the outer one — it produces a gorgeous light and a beautifully unique catchlight in the eyes.
The materials used to create the Rotalux system are also the key to a beautifully lit portrait. From its high performance reflective surface to its silky soft, skin smoothing, diffusion material makes a serious difference to some of the cheaper alternatives on the market. There is a price difference for a reason.
Cheaper soft boxes use cheaper materials. If you feel the front diffuser of a cheap box it is quite crispy and crunchy rather than being silky. A cheap 100cm soft box and a 100cm Rotalux used a meter away from the subject will be as soft as each other. The difference is that the cheaper soft box will be adding contrast which deepens shadows and increases highlights which in turn makes the light look harder and not quite as flattering. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s the look you are going for. I can achieve the same result with a Rotalux by removing the inner or outer diffuser, and adding some specularity. Have you ever tried shooting with the outer cover removed and leaving the internal one in? It gives a lovely effect and a very interesting catch light in the eye!
The Elinchrom Deflector Set, designed around the brand’s ingenious central umbrella tube, takes your lighting control to an entirely new level. With a simple adjustment, it transforms any Rotalux softbox into a beautifully balanced beauty dish — giving you even more creative flexibility from a single modifier.
The deflector sets, using Elinchroms very clever central brolly tube, will also add a completely new level to your lighting, changing any Rotalux soft box into a beauty dish!
While not the cheapest, Rotalux offers professional-level performance at a reasonable mid-range price point — better than entry-level gear, without the cost of ultra-premium brands