FOBA Baby FOBA

[FOBELIO]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is a FOBA Spring Clamp, I have about a dozen of these. It fits -perfectly- the Broncolor Projection Lens, for the Broncolor Fibrolite unit. Cut off the tabs top and bottom, it fits like it's made for it. Thinking of attaching it to some Gooseneck that will fit the FOBA Bases I have.

Oh! 😀👍😍🤩
That is a very good idea!
Need to keep in mind.
I have to check how many of COKLE (clamp with 3/8) I have in my FOBA repertoire.

 

[dxp]

...
I have to check how many of COKLE (clamp with 3/8) I have in my FOBA repertoire.

My goal in life is to one day reach the point where I've replaced all my COKLOs with COKLEs...that's when I will know that I have been been financially successful!

 

[Nokton48]

FOBA Bases for Precisely Aiming Fibrolite Lightpipe Prototype AOK by Nokton48, on Flickr

The Prototype passes works great on my FOBA DIMIL Glass Sweep Table. I'm building three more of these, for precisely aiming the Broncolor Fibrolite Light Pipes with Lenses. Ordering three more of the aluminum hockey pucks, have all the additional hardware.

 

[Nokton48]

I've been testing the new Fibrolite and it is working perfectly so far. I hooked it up to one of my Primo 2 packs I keep plugged in all the time. Tested all the channels, the light pipes are also working well. The modeling lights are easy to see through the pipes. All I need are some short stands for aiming, I'm working on some that should work OK. I confirmed that I have four 40 inch light pipes. They also list 60 and 80 inch pipes. The Articulated Arm looks interesting. They also made a iron table base, and a clamp to attach to a table.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Three Ocular Magnifiers that I own, Plaubel Peco Profia, and two Sinar Norma. My preferred way of viewing the glass, especially with the 75mm F8 barrel Norma SA and the 75mm F5.6 Norma barrel SA. The 75mm F8 is not bright to look through, I use fresnels on all my cameras. With the Monocular Oculars, you have to get used to moving your head around quite a bit, I have found that I can view the subject (especially the corners), in quadrants of bright viewing. It does take some getting used to, but it works for me and I'm getting sharp results. And I can see the screen properly, just not all at once. This idea can be incorporated into other types of view cameras.

 

[FOBELIO]

I've been testing the new Fibrolite and it is working perfectly so far. I hooked it up to one of my Primo 2 packs I keep plugged in all the time. Tested all the channels, the light pipes are also working well. The modeling lights are easy to see through the pipes. All I need are some short stands for aiming, I'm working on some that should work OK. I confirmed that I have four 40 inch light pipes. They also list 60 and 80 inch pipes. The Articulated Arm looks interesting. They also made a iron table base, and a clamp to attach to a table.

That is great that the light pipes are working well.
In my Broncolor Fibrolite case these Manfrotto arms and pipe holder were included:


Manfrotto 196AC



and Manfrotto 196AB



I saw in a Broncolor advert they used Manfrotto 196BASE as a base and a TEKUSA arm

Manfrotto 196base, unfortunately seems discontinued...


with TEKUSA arm

 

[FOBELIO]

Checking regularly this Swiss online photo news portal they posted that an old Swiss magazine from the 1979-1981 have been now fully scanned and is free available to read...

the Swiss online photo news portal

Zeitschrift «Schweizer Fotomarkt» (1979-1981) – jetzt digtalisiert - fotointern.ch – Tagesaktuelle Fotonews

Auf e-periodica.ch, wo verschiedenste Zeitschriften der ETH-Bibliothek kostenlos eingesehen werden können, ist seit kurzem auch der «Schweizer Fotomarkt» zu finden, ein Branchenblatt, das in den 1980er Jahren nur knapp zwei Jahre lang mit insgesamt 20 Ausgaben erschien. Hier die Hintergründe.

www.fotointern.ch

where to read the old magazines

Schweizer Fotomarkt : die Zeitung für Fotohandel, Fachfotografie und Industrie (1979-1981)

Schweizer Zeitschriften online - Ein Service der ETH-Bibliothek. Revues suisses en ligne - Un service de ETH Library. Swiss journals online - A service by ETH Library.

www.e-periodica.ch

I found some old FOBA adverts that I want to share with you. You can download single pages...

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks for your help Fobelio! 🙂

From B&H yesterday I purchased four of the 196AC Manfrotto Clamps. Also I ordered one 196AB-2 and one 196AB-3 Articulated Arm. So one with two sections, and one with three sections.

Happy Happy that all of this is still available from Manfrotto.

 

[FOBELIO]

It is probably one of the rarest of all open reflectors made by Broncolor... as I said I waited three years to find one... there was one in the UK some four years ago but I hesitated to buy it (was very dusty and probably not in a good shape as this one...), even here in Switzerland or Germany I never saw one offered...
This time hesitation was inexistent. 😆

Here all open reflectors made by Broncolor for the Pulso bayonett known to me:

• L40 standard reflector for Siros
• P45 narrow angle reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• P50 narrow angle reflector for Pulso Twin, Pulso 8 (?), longest by size
• P60-90 Zoom reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• P65 standard reflector for all Pulso
• P70 standard reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• R70 standard reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite, no edge present for attach grids or barn doors
• P120 wide angle reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• Background reflector
• PAR reflector
• Umbrella reflector for for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite (with slot for the umbrella shaft)
• Umbrella reflector d=120mm for LED F160
• Umbrella wide angle reflector d=120mm
• Umbrella reflector for Siros
• P-travel reflector
• beauty dish reflector
• softlight reflector
• Satellite reflector (smallest of all)
• Snoot, if we consider it "open" and not "special" as Broncolor designated it
• UL-to-Pulso adapter, if we use it as wide angle reflector

Did I miss something? Any additions are very welcome! 😉

with the UL-to-Pulso adapter we can attach some old and weird reflectors from the UL-era as this one the right (kind of snoot I assume)

View attachment 4881403

I want to add the Litos/MobiLED reflector to list.

There exist two variants:

- one have two pins to attach on reverse to the lamp and serve as cap. I assume this is the first variant.
Attached to the lamp the combo have a cool egg shape. I don't know if it is made in plastic only or metal but it seems to have a 300W limitation as the SIROS reflector

-the other one doesn't have the pins and stays in ready to shoot position and have also a plastic cap. It is more practical, seems to me more sturdy and is in metal

 

[FOBELIO]

Thanks for your help Fobelio! 🙂

From B&H yesterday I purchased four of the 196AC Manfrotto Clamps. Also I ordered one 196AB-2 and one 196AB-3 Articulated Arm. So one with two sections, and one with three sections.

Happy Happy that all of this is still available from Manfrotto.

all this little stuff get expensive if bought new, especially if you need more than just one piece...
I paid something around 18€ for one 196AC to complete the set.

When I pick up stuff I always have an eye for all this little things that makes life easier...

Last year I picked a very dirty but intact Mini-Hazylight with a Pulso Twin... paid a fair price but I added to the bundle also all parts I found of an incomplete Graf Strato system (sadly no arms), an UL-to-Pulso adapter, some Sinar parts and screws and bolts.

It saw that all this small parts don't add to much value to the bundle but just a Sinar rail starts around 20€...
Lucky me the seller didn't even care...

 

[FOBELIO]

How do you order/store your FOBA stuff in your studio?

Once I found this... I like the idea of a little trolley filled with FOBA stuff to move around...

 

[dxp]

How do you order/store your FOBA stuff in your studio?

Once I found this... I like the idea of a little trolley filled with FOBA stuff to move around...

View attachment 4884969

Ha...I bought some combitube from that seller!

Yeah having a little wooden cart like that is handy...I've seen similar setups in a few studios. Plan to do something similar myself once I get a bit more organized.

 

[dxp]

I want to add the Litos/MobiLED reflector to list.

There exist two variants:

- one have two pins to attach on reverse to the lamp and serve as cap. I assume this is the first variant.
Attached to the lamp the combo have a cool egg shape. I don't know if it is made in plastic only or metal but it seems to have a 300W limitation as the SIROS reflector

-the other one doesn't have the pins and stays in ready to shoot position and have also a plastic cap. It is more practical, seems to me more sturdy and is in metal



View attachment 4884944 View attachment 4884947

View attachment 4884956

I have several of the first generation Litos/mobiLED reflectors, with the two pins. The pins are kinda useless and don't hold firmly. I can understand Bron abandoning them in the revision.

 

[Nokton48]

New to Me Hasselblad ELM Ten Years On The Moon ser 0078 by Nokton48, on Flickr


My 500CM is out for tune up, so I decided on a second 500EL/M, as a backup. Here is my new camera, it's the "Ten Years On The Moon" Anniversary EL/M numbered #0078. Since this is a backup I wanted something different and this is it. My 500C/M is the Anniversary Edition Numbered and signed by Dr. Hasselblad, so it made sense to me to get the Moon Anniversary model. In the studio I prefer the EL/M model.

This is my setup I leave up all the time. FOBA DIMIL Sweep Table with Tempered Glass Top. Broncolor Boxlite 40, Camera Left and Right, about 12 inches away from subject, creating nice catchlights. Broncolor Balloon Head Underneath the glass, about 45 degrees from the front, adding some underlighting. Hasselblad EL/M with CFV16 Hasselblad Digital Back. 120 C T* Planar-S, with Hasselblad Polarizer (to zap the reflections in the glass). Hasselblad Diopter +1 allows even closer focus. Exposure EI 50 F22 I bracketed in 1/2 stops to see the differences. Broncolor Primo 2 Powerpack I bought from Gary for $50.

 

[Nokton48]

Four FOBA Bases Four Manfrotto Articulated Arms by Nokton48, on Flickr


I've finished the construction of the four FOBA Base Units, and have received four Manfrotto Articulated Arms. Coming directly from Manfrotto are four of the 196AC Universal Clamps. So things are coming together nicely, I will soon be able to precisely place and aim my four Broncolor Fibrolite Light Pipes. The Background is a sheet of colored vinyl I bought cheaply (in ten colors) on Amazon.

 

[Nokton48]

Testing New Stands Broncolor Fibrolite Light Pipes Manfrotto by Nokton48, on Flickr

These are working very nicely in my initial playing around. Very adjustable and very precise to aim, which is the whole point of Fibrolighting. Waiting for one more Manfrotto Clamp, and I will have four of these for Micro Lighting

Lit with a 60x60cm Broncolor Softbox with Grid, Grafit A4+ Pack about 1600J or so. F22 Hassy Digital Back Ei 50 80mm Planar 500EL/M.

 

[FOBELIO]

YES!
Looks really great! Happy shooting!

 

[FOBELIO]

It is probably one of the rarest of all open reflectors made by Broncolor... as I said I waited three years to find one... there was one in the UK some four years ago but I hesitated to buy it (was very dusty and probably not in a good shape as this one...), even here in Switzerland or Germany I never saw one offered...
This time hesitation was inexistent. 😆

Here all open reflectors made by Broncolor for the Pulso bayonett known to me:

• L40 standard reflector for Siros
• P45 narrow angle reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• P50 narrow angle reflector for Pulso Twin, Pulso 8 (?), longest by size
• P60-90 Zoom reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• P65 standard reflector for all Pulso
• P70 standard reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• R70 standard reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite, no edge present for attach grids or barn doors
• P120 wide angle reflector for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite
• Background reflector
• PAR reflector
• Umbrella reflector for for Pulso 2, 4, F, G and Unilite (with slot for the umbrella shaft)
• Umbrella reflector d=120mm for LED F160
• Umbrella wide angle reflector d=120mm
• Umbrella reflector for Siros
• P-travel reflector
• beauty dish reflector
• softlight reflector
• Satellite reflector (smallest of all)
• Snoot, if we consider it "open" and not "special" as Broncolor designated it
• UL-to-Pulso adapter, if we use it as wide angle reflector

Did I miss something? Any additions are very welcome! 😉

with the UL-to-Pulso adapter we can attach some old and weird reflectors from the UL-era as this one the right (kind of snoot I assume)

View attachment 4881403

I forgot to add to the list:

the Sunlite barndoor!

 

[Nokton48]

First Test F11 Ei50 Three Light Pipes Fibrolite 1600J by Nokton48, on Flickr

First Test F11 Ei50 Three Light Pipes Fibrolite. A quick run through, these add nice accent lighting. Another clamp is coming from Manfrotto, then I will have four of these fibre optic Broncolor units functioning perfectly. Hasselblad 500EL/M CFV16 Digital Back 80mm C T* Planar F22. Broncolor Grafit A4+ Pack about 1600J or so.

 

[FOBELIO]

Today I visited a buddy of mine, who saved an enlarger from FOBA closing factory...
To my pleasure he told me that he finally could get the entrance logo from the factory.
After a deep clean he showed me the iconic letters...

Here lay on my feet what was once over the entrance of this great factory...