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…….
All Elinchrom studio lights are designed to give maximum light output and an extremely even spread, thanks to their raised flash tube with a reflector behind it. This small detail is, to me, the key. 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.
When I’m using a 135 cm Octa — one of my favourite light shapers — I can take full advantage of the entire area of the 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.
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 to create the Rotalux system are the key 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 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.
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