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Photo Forum / Film Photography / Other Equipment / December 2004

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HELP! Putting the (Lastolite) Gennie back in the bag

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me88 - 18 Dec 2004 12:50 GMT
I have a Lastolite 6' x 4 ' reflector bought second hand, it fits in a 24''
diameter bag (supplied with it). Having taken it out I can't now figure out
how it goes back in (there's a surprise!). I have some smaller ones which I
have mastered but they only need one 'twist', this one seems to need more.

Can anyone please help and either tell me how to or point me to somewhere
that can.

Thanks
James
Mark Dunn - 18 Dec 2004 14:36 GMT
I think Lastolite's site has some help, but here goes:
Don't lay it flat, start with the long side upright. Try to pretend it's a
circular one, and do what you do woth them.  Aim to bring together the
opposite corners, top right/bottom left or vice versa, doesn't matter. Take
hold of the top corner and bring it down to the bottom corner. Twist the
bottom corner towards the reflector, ie. inwards. At some point it will
collapse into 3 hoops, honest. Then try again. Rinse and repeat. It's more
difficult to explain than to do. I regularly use an 8'x8'. The first time I
had to stuff it into the car as-is. You get the hang of it.
> I have a Lastolite 6' x 4 ' reflector bought second hand, it fits in a 24''
> diameter bag (supplied with it). Having taken it out I can't now figure out
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Thanks
> James
teflon - 18 Dec 2004 15:05 GMT
On 18/12/04 12:50 pm, in article
41c427a8$0$16583$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com, "me88"
<james.kelday@btinternet.com> wrote:

> I have a Lastolite 6' x 4 ' reflector bought second hand, it fits in a 24''
> diameter bag (supplied with it). Having taken it out I can't now figure out
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Can anyone please help and either tell me how to or point me to somewhere
> that can.

It's a complete bitch. I used one and always tried to remember how it folds.
Trouble is, it happens so quick, you don't see it!

Good luck - you'll need it!
teflon - 18 Dec 2004 15:07 GMT
> It's a complete bitch. I used one and always tried to remember how it folds.
> Trouble is, it happens so quick, you don't see it!
>
> Good luck - you'll need it!

...and be careful your brain doesn't fall out. Mine did.
Mark Dunn - 18 Dec 2004 16:21 GMT
me88 has just emailed me with news of complete success after 3 tries. Boast
boast :) Seriously though, you might want to print out my excellent
instructions. Trying to remember how to do it is a BIG mistake. Just
practice the flick. And mind your fingers and other delicate bits.
> > It's a complete bitch. I used one and always tried to remember how it folds.
> > Trouble is, it happens so quick, you don't see it!
> >
> > Good luck - you'll need it!
>
> ...and be careful your brain doesn't fall out. Mine did.
howard - 19 Dec 2004 23:28 GMT
> On 18/12/04 12:50 pm, in article
> 41c427a8$0$16583$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com, "me88"
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> It's a complete bitch. I used one and always tried to remember how it folds.
> Trouble is, it happens so quick, you don't see it!

I have that problem with deck chairs.
Bandicoot - 20 Dec 2004 03:24 GMT
[SNIP]

> I have that problem with deck chairs.

You and Stan Laurel both...

Peter
zeitgeist - 21 Dec 2004 08:16 GMT
> I have a Lastolite 6' x 4 ' reflector bought second hand, it fits in a 24''
> diameter bag (supplied with it). Having taken it out I can't now figure out
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Can anyone please help and either tell me how to or point me to somewhere
> that can.

you know, it is so weird how the small things seem to snap back almost by
themselves, its hard NOT to do it, it seems like the spring has a memory.

but the bigger ones, man, its like a magic trick, you'd expect a carnival
barker to ask gawkers to step right up and give it a try, sure he can do it
instantly closed as it opens but it frustrates even strong men to tears
trying.

the first time I tried it, I was in my kitchen with a new background, an
8x10 thing that was huge, I could NOT get it to collapse, even with their
illustration, I was at it for hours.  Then it just did, and I didn't know
how it did.

Even today I struggle with it, especially if I haven't used it in awhile.

See that metal hoop has spring tension when the hoop is small and that
causes the loose end to twist when you are holding and closing it, but the
large hoops don't have any tension.

put one corner on the floor and put your foot on it, push the top corner
down to meet it, so you are folding it in half, when you get to the bottom
you want keep going, you want to curl it back up, imagine an upside down G,
well actually if your foot was where the comma is, that's about how you
would want to do your move, when you get to the tongue of the G, one of the
sides will start to bend in, fold it down, fold the other side down, that
should do it.   Its almost counter-intuitive, and when you figure it out, it
will be like a circus magic trick, people can watch you do it but won't be
able to repeat it.

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