Cinematographer
Aus DoP-Perspektive ist dieses Element essentiell für die visuelle Gestaltung. Es ermöglicht mir die gewünschte Farbstimmung und das ästhetische Bild konsistent umzusetzen.
Elinchrom softbox by Swiss flash manufacturer Elinchrom (Rotalux series) that diffuses strobe or continuous light heads through dual diffusion panels for soft, even illumination.
Overview
An "Elinchrom Softbox" is a light modifier manufactured by the Swiss company Elinchrom, founded in 1962 in Renens (headquarters since 2025 in Bussigny). Elinchrom produces strobes, battery-powered monolights, off-camera flashes, and continuous lights for professional photography, along with associated accessories. The term "Softbox" generally refers to the Rotalux series, the brand's central softbox standard.
A softbox is not a light source itself, but an attachment: it is placed in front of a light or flash head and converts its point-like, hard light into a larger, softer light source. The term therefore refers to grip/light shaping equipment, not a light source with its own ANSI lamp code or an electronic light control.
Construction and Technology
Characteristic of the Rotalux series is the spring-loaded rod-and-spring frame, which can be opened and folded like an umbrella. This makes the softbox portable and quick to set up and dismantle, making it suitable for mobile use.
- Double Diffusion: Rotalux softboxes use two diffusion cloths (inner and outer). By removing one or both layers, the softness and intensity of the light can be adjusted.
- Speedring Mount: The connection to the light head is made via the Rotalux Speedring, which is sold separately and available for most common flash brands – thus, the softbox is not limited to Elinchrom heads.
- Accessories: Optional deflectors (gold/silver/translucent) and honeycomb grids (Rotagrid) are available for light-shaping.
Shapes and Sizes
The Rotalux series covers several geometries; the choice influences the shape and character of the light and the catchlights:
| Shape | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| Octa / Deep Octa (octagonal) | Portrait, beauty; round, eye-friendly catchlight |
| Recta (rectangular) | Full body, fashion, general fill light |
| Square (square) | Product, versatile general illumination |
| Stripbox (narrow, elongated) | Edge and contour light, product highlights |
Note: Specific dimensions vary by model; they can only be reliably found in the current manufacturer's data sheet.
Set Usage
Elinchrom softboxes primarily originate from the photography/studio world and are commonly used there as soft key or fill lights for portrait, fashion, and product shots. In film/TV, they are mainly encountered in still photography, EPK, and interview setups, as well as smaller studio productions – often in combination with continuous light heads rather than strobes. For traditional motion picture sets, however, larger, modular softbox systems from other manufacturers usually dominate; the Elinchrom/Rotalux solution is more compact and quicker to set up.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Producer
Diese professionelle Lösung erhöht die Produktionseffizienz und reduziert Post-Production-Anforderungen. Sie ermöglicht flexible, schnelle Anpassungen während des Drehs.
Gaffer
Als Gaffer ist dies ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug meines täglichen Handwerkszeugs. Es ermöglicht mir professionelle Lichtkontrolle und schnelle Anpassungen auf Set, was Zeit spart und Qualität sichert.
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Elinchrom Softbox"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?