How To: 3 Speedlights in 1 Softbox

[paradox963]

That looks like a headache in the making, 3 speed lights that you have to make sure are recycled before the next shot, slow recycle time, having to replace 12 AA batteries at a time, no remote power adjustment so output changes will be slow. And at the cost of 3 good speed lights you are in the 1200 to 1500 range for less power than my Quadra and it has not much more weight, faster recycle, modeling light and a mount made to take modifiers. You can keep the arts and crafts project.

[nixland]

Hi, what length of the ball bungees that suitable for 3 flashes? I spot a 6", 9", and other length on eBay. Thanks

[Brackynews]

This will come in handy for me, thanks! I had to return an excellent $900 studio strobe because the distributor failed to indicate that the speedring mount was proprietary instead of the system I use. So I have a huge octobox with no strobe to fit it, and at this point I am thinking additional speedlights are a better long run investment considering how much travel I do.

[sbeehler777]

One last thing I would like to mention. The speedring used in this video is a photoflex speedring. Photoflex makes a hotshoe mount for this particular ring, it has two coldshoe mounts and screws into the bottom of the speed ring. I attach my stobes in the above mentioned fashion and then mount one of them on the shoemount bracket.

[sbeehler777]

For all the narrow minded people who can't seem to understand the usefulness of this technique (which I use quite often), think about traveling and being able to pack 3 or 4 speedlights in the place of one monoblock which will need either a really long cord or a big battery. Secondly, with the large number of decent budget/used speedlights out there, this can be accomplished for well under $150 (which is what I spend on the 3 strobes I use $50/used canon 420ez).

[oogimook]

hi, what inch bungees were those?

[LaRobertos]

$3000 light box weird LOL

[trongs01]

canon camera's can trigger nikon flashes?

[RickyCayey]

Cool, Thank you! I want to make a big OCTODOME SOFT BOX UMBRELLA, but I believe we can use a PATIO UMBRELLA or SUN-UMBRELLA from Sears or Kmart? If someone can do it, please make a VIDEO, that will be a great idea!

[RickyCayey]

Cool! I want to make a big OCTODOME SOFT BOX UMBRELLA, but I believe we can use a PATIO UMBRELLA or SUN-UMBRELLA from Sears or Kmart? If someone can do it, please make a VIDEO, that will be a great idea!

[spystyle]

OMfG genius and simple solution to a common problem :)

Thank you very much d00d :)

[kreyphotography]

Wow this is quite genius! I'm kind of new to off-camera lighting and want to do this with 3 Sony flashes. Can you give me the links to buy the appropriate speedring and softbox? I have the light stands and mounts already, but not sure where I can find the other stuff. It's not that I'm lazy, I'm just tired of buying the wrong things and returning them.

[007xyzzy]

Thanks... Excellent Idea...

[rubent100]

If i have a Chimera, do i still need a speed ring? I'm newb. thnx

[davincijesus]

Can I trigger with just one PW or Cactus V4 all the 3 flashes?

Thanks!

[roger767]

what brand of speedring do you use? my speedring doesn't have a tread to attach it to a umbrella bracket.

[meatballzinc]

Do you have any example photos where this is in use?

[GotemCZ]

good idea but isnt it too expensive ? :) 1x SB 800 is cca $450 :)

[MortonPhotographic]

Well it all depends. For the most part this is for people who already have three or more speedlights. So if you have them, then this is the cheap way! If you would have to go buy 3 SB900s, then you need to consider your options. You could get a monolight and power pack for less than the cost of 3 SBs. But it is bigger, heavier and no CLS.

[GotemCZ]

I just compared standard studio flash-light with this 3SBs. 3SBs are 3 medium wattage lights with rectangle softoboxes. But never mind, your idea is good too.

[NLS87]

@MortonPhotographic also, for shooting on location, you can save on external portable power supplies

[PapaJoFilms]

can you specify how you connect the speed ring to that fixture?

[MortonPhotographic]

You mean the speedlights to the speedring? Yeah, it's in there, we use Ball Bungees, that's it!

[PapaJoFilms]

No - i saw that - I meant the speedring to a stand. My speedrings attach to the strobe normally and I can't see a way to attach everything to a stand.

Thanks

John

[MortonPhotographic]

Ah, I see... It is a special speed ring with an umbrella mount that links it to a light stand. Most speedrings have a threaded spot to accept some form of mount like an umbrella mount stud, or ball head. Not all of them do, however. Hope this helps!

[damienl]

Great video, thanks for sharing the technique with the world!

[verdesca]

Excellent idea! Could you let us know which speedring you are using (mfgr/model)?

[msscreenwriter]

Very, very cool!!

[rptatbud]

Brilliant!

Thanks so much for sharing.

[yomarm]

old-schoolers need to keep up with technology! think outside the box!

[auroralim]

pretty cool technique! now i'm wishing i have 3 SB800's. i only have one and an sb26. the 800's pretty hard to comeby these days. but i'm this can be adapted to sb900's as well. thanks for the tip on how to rig it.

[MortonPhotographic]

Thanks! Yeah, this shold work woth 900s or Canon strobes. Although the 900 heads are pretty big.

Truth is this will work with SB-26s too. The only downside to a flash like that is you would have to adjust each one individualy.

[markus1030]

niiiiice!

[effyleven]

That's a really expensive way to fake-up a a seriously deficient kinda monolite....

-- a mono that's weak,

-- very awkward to adjust the output,

-- with no modelling light to it.

Definitely a technique for people with more money than sense!

Marks out of ten for practicality? TWO!! ;-)

[MortonPhotographic]

Wow Effyleven, that is a pretty narrow-minded view.

This is more for someone who already has 3 similar speedlights.

Adjusting output is easy, you can adjust all three from a single master flash from the camera!

Canon does have a modeling light. You can NOT use a modeling light on a mono with a battery pack.

This setup is lightweight, portable and plenty powerful if you know what you are doing. Oh, and I can turn this into 3 independant light sources.

Don't be a troll.

[strikerblade1]

This is an essential gear needed if u r shooting out of studio n where u do not have access to power outlet n u need a light weight portable light system i.e. Outdoor Environmental Portraits . Other than that battery packs for studio strobes r not so cheap in case.

[jiphda]

great job!

[phattiremike]

Fantastic!