Watsonville, Calif.-OctoDome nxt™ has been introduced by Photoflex Inc. as the next generation of its popular OctoDome softbox, created for photographers and videographers who want the advantages of a continuous light source with a soft, wraparound light, President Sharon Reeves announced today.

OctoDome nxt will debut at the Professional Photographers of America's Imaging USA convention in Las Vegas, which runs July 25-27. Photoflex will be at Booth No. CC5456.

"Our new softbox combines the best features of Photoflex's OctoDome 3™ designed for strobe lighting, and our SilverDome nxt™ softboxes with highly reflective, silver interiors used predominantly as lighting for digital photography and video production," Reeves states.

"OctoDome nxt has been engineered as a versatile, cost-effective lighting system for traditional and digital photography as well as digital video. Its superior quality and durability make the OctoDome nxt a much better value than cheap, low-quality products."

Available both as a stand-alone softbox and as a kit, the OctoDome nxt is 3 feet (91 cm) in diameter, and its eight-paneled, silver interior and narrow profile make possible a wide range of lighting effects. Photoflex's Starlite 3200™ provides 3200-degrees Kelvin of even, brilliant, and continuous tungsten lighting, with an innovative cooling design ideal for heat-sensitive subjects that would be impacted negatively by traditional hot lights.

The softbox's rear-mounted light generates much more light output than a standard reflective umbrella. The entire range of Photoflex's OctoConnectors™ can be used, even HMI lights for constant lighting at daylight temperatures.

A removable, recessed front diffusion panel allows the use of grids, and lets users switch easily from high- to low-contrast lighting. The removable interior baffle eliminates hotspots, while a removable rear cowling allows air flow for additional cooling of the softbox interior. Sturdy, all-steel suspension rods feature aluminum bullet tips at both ends.

OctoDome nxt's proprietary Brimstone™ black exterior features a thick, light-tight fabric that's heat-resistant and extremely durable. Its shallow profile allows users to work comfortably even in tight spaces, and it sets up and tears down quickly for both studio and on-location use.

The softbox also comes with an instructional CD with assembly information and lessons that use photo-by-photo setups to help users maximize the product's capabilities and take better photos right away.

Retail price for the OctoDome nxt softbox is $274.95.

OctoDome nxt Kits

The OctoDome nxt softbox also is available as a kit. It includes the Starlite 3200 lighting fixture, a 500-watt and a 1000-watt lamp, 40-degree Softbox Grids™, a LS-2214 LiteStand™, and 22-mm casters.

Photoflex's 40-degree Softbox Grids provide precise control of light spread. They direct the light source and keep light from spilling onto a backdrop, floor, or ceiling. Unlike comparable products, these grids retain their shape indefinitely because every point of the nylon-webbed fabric is individually hand-sewn.

Strong and portable, the three-section, all-metal LS-2214 extends to 8 feet, 2 inches (249 cm), with wide footprint, strong brace supports, and thick aluminum tubing throughout. The accompanying 22-mm casters allow LiteStands to roll safely and easily around a set and over power cords and backdrops.

A Transpac™ Single-Kit Case is optional. This high-quality, durable case features padded Velcro® compartments for safe and easy transport of the OctoDome nxt Kit. Double-stitched seams provide extra strength and a polyurethane seal protects against moisture. Oversized zippers are set in a heavy-gauge, self-repairing coil zipper with easy-to-see red pull tabs. ��������

Retail cost of the OctoDome nxt is $729.95 with the Transpac case, a 15-percent savings over buying all of the kit components separately. It retails for $614.95 without the case, a savings of 14 percent.

OctoConnectors are made of heavy-duty, heat-resistant cast aluminum to ensure quality and durability, and include a Teflon rotating system for easy positioning when used with Photoflex's rectangular softboxes. Seventeen kinds of connectors are available. They range in retail price from $52.95 to $157.95, less expensive than most other brands.