@andybj yea that was a little strange. I guess they had to make that short so it wouldn't hit the diffuser material. Not sure if our have doe this yet but I hated a 7" price of flat metal to the flash bracket so I can still have the flash back as far as possible and tilt the softbox 45 degrees.
It's a lot faster to open then he made it look. Took me about 30 seconds from the time I opened the box until I had the soft box open.So once out of the box it's like a 3 second job. Not sure what took so long in the video but thanks for posting
@Uscbryan949 Yeah, I was a being a bit slow that day. I think what threw me a bit was the fact that I was expecting a longer centre stick to grab hold off, and was a bit puzzeled when it did not extend beyond the hole bit (if you know what i mean).
@disruptfam I estimate you can tip to about 25-30 degrees using the length of a the zip opening on a straight stand. But you can also put the pole sort of through the front of the softbox and easily get it to 45 degrees then.
You can buy a small boom quite cheaply and this might be your best bet if it was to be used often in a studio like environment.
Let me know if you think a video would help and i'll see what i can do.
can you tilt it down? i think it would be slow to change the settings on your speedlite because you will need to take out the flap first, then unzipper , then change the settings/output power, then unzipper, then close the flap, and test...and if the light is low or to bright, you'll have to do 5 steps again, whew! i think if the speedlite is on the outside of the box, then it will be much easier to operate.. just my opinion :) thnks for the review
@vyruzdatabass Yeah you can tilt it down, the zip runs lengthways so accommodates this.
Accessing the flash to change power takes 2 seconds. The front defuser is on velcro and you don't have to do it up completely, and then it sticks back with ease.
I often have the box on a small boom which can tilt at any angle.
Anyway, it's a great product and the main thing its that it delivers good quality light on a budget.
@ashplaystation3slim I personally have't tried anything but strobes, but I have seen people use a small studio light inside one (Alien Bee lights spring to mind).
I can get you the dimension from the back of the softbox to the front most point (where the zip starts and you could compare to dimension of any portable powered lights.
Let me know if that info would help and I'll get as soon as I can (although this Apollo is out on loan with a friend so it might not be for a week or two!).
It is certainly A LOT different to an umbrella. This gives directional light, whereas an umbrella throws it in lots of directions (forward and behind with a shoot through umbrealla).
I would say this would be a very good addition to an umbrella.
However you might be able to create a slightly similar effect with a reflective umbrella closed slightly to direct the light, but it's not very practical!
@MrCJ1988 Yes, this softbox is so worth the money!!! Honestly. It provides good looking light and is so easy to experiment with. Great for portraits and head shots, but also full length shots (I love the light fall off on full length shots which i think adds some drama and interest.
I am ver very glad I bought this - I had shoot through umbrellas and some crappy softboxes that needed poles inserting and stuff - this is great light in a convenient design. Check my Flickr for some images.
i bought this last week , came with a flash shoe adapter high quality , i suggest because its an umbrella to buy warranty 20 bucks .. overall very good i bought for 139 canadian but later a kit came with stand for 149.. lol but a must buy
@Torrel1 HI, Unfortunately it's not a 'kit' really. It was just the umbrella. Stands and Flash holders are pretty cheap though, around £10-£15 for a stand and £5 for a flash bracket.
I have used it outside once. It actually blew over and ended up smashing one of my Cactus V4 Triggers!! I will always ensure I weigh my stands down from now on (lesson learned!)
As for image quality using outdoor shots, I think you would be best at morning or evening times so you can make use of available light more easily - bright conditions mean you need a fast shutter to control ambient, so later in the day will give more control using the shutter speed. Tks Andy
@onjoFilms Hi Onjo! Yeah it is an expensive umbrella really, but you can't really find anything else which is as convenient as this design - and making one myself just looked impossible.
I do use e-bay - although unfortunately there were none of these softboxes on there! Also I have an aversion to getting things shipped over from abroad - I always like things I buy to be shipped from the UK (not sure why - just feel it's safer to know the company is in the same country as you!)
Damn auto correct. ADDED a 7" aluminum, not hated.
Uscbryan949 3 months ago
@andybj yea that was a little strange. I guess they had to make that short so it wouldn't hit the diffuser material. Not sure if our have doe this yet but I hated a 7" price of flat metal to the flash bracket so I can still have the flash back as far as possible and tilt the softbox 45 degrees.
Uscbryan949 3 months ago
It's a lot faster to open then he made it look. Took me about 30 seconds from the time I opened the box until I had the soft box open.So once out of the box it's like a 3 second job. Not sure what took so long in the video but thanks for posting
Uscbryan949 3 months ago
@Uscbryan949 Yeah, I was a being a bit slow that day. I think what threw me a bit was the fact that I was expecting a longer centre stick to grab hold off, and was a bit puzzeled when it did not extend beyond the hole bit (if you know what i mean).
Thanks for watching.
AndyBJ 3 months ago
Just got mine today. For those wondering, it's s
Uscbryan949 3 months ago
Good vid. tks!
torque667 3 months ago
what about tilting @ 45 degree how would you do that?
disruptfam 10 months ago
@disruptfam I estimate you can tip to about 25-30 degrees using the length of a the zip opening on a straight stand. But you can also put the pole sort of through the front of the softbox and easily get it to 45 degrees then.
You can buy a small boom quite cheaply and this might be your best bet if it was to be used often in a studio like environment.
Let me know if you think a video would help and i'll see what i can do.
Thanks.
AndyBJ 10 months ago
can you tilt it down? i think it would be slow to change the settings on your speedlite because you will need to take out the flap first, then unzipper , then change the settings/output power, then unzipper, then close the flap, and test...and if the light is low or to bright, you'll have to do 5 steps again, whew! i think if the speedlite is on the outside of the box, then it will be much easier to operate.. just my opinion :) thnks for the review
vyruzdatabass 11 months ago
@vyruzdatabass Yeah you can tilt it down, the zip runs lengthways so accommodates this.
Accessing the flash to change power takes 2 seconds. The front defuser is on velcro and you don't have to do it up completely, and then it sticks back with ease.
I often have the box on a small boom which can tilt at any angle.
Anyway, it's a great product and the main thing its that it delivers good quality light on a budget.
AndyBJ 11 months ago
@AndyBJ thank u for the info
vyruzdatabass 11 months ago
way too much work! these things are suppose to make things work faster, make you more portable.
Doesn't seem like it does! For the money you spent......
I am not sure.
Thank you for taking time to show it.
LoneTrekker2015 1 year ago
@LoneTrekker2015
No way....I was making this look fiddly as I was being careful straight out of the box because I didn't want to break it....
I can have this up in under 10 seconds now under 20 on a bad day....
I don't think any other softbox is really this practical.
It's also definitely worth the money because of the light it produces (which is surely your main consideration when buying a light modifier????)
If you don't believe me then I'll happily do you an updated vid!
AndyBJ 1 year ago
What type of lights can be put in this except speedlights?
ashplaystation3slim 1 year ago
@ashplaystation3slim I personally have't tried anything but strobes, but I have seen people use a small studio light inside one (Alien Bee lights spring to mind).
I can get you the dimension from the back of the softbox to the front most point (where the zip starts and you could compare to dimension of any portable powered lights.
Let me know if that info would help and I'll get as soon as I can (although this Apollo is out on loan with a friend so it might not be for a week or two!).
Andy
AndyBJ 1 year ago
@AndyBJ would you recommend this or should i keep my umbrella ?
ashplaystation3slim 1 year ago
@ashplaystation3slim
Hi
It is certainly A LOT different to an umbrella. This gives directional light, whereas an umbrella throws it in lots of directions (forward and behind with a shoot through umbrealla).
I would say this would be a very good addition to an umbrella.
However you might be able to create a slightly similar effect with a reflective umbrella closed slightly to direct the light, but it's not very practical!
Hope that helps.
Andy
AndyBJ 1 year ago
so what about performance-wise. was it worth the bucks when u used it?
MrCJ1988 1 year ago
@MrCJ1988 Yes, this softbox is so worth the money!!! Honestly. It provides good looking light and is so easy to experiment with. Great for portraits and head shots, but also full length shots (I love the light fall off on full length shots which i think adds some drama and interest.
I am ver very glad I bought this - I had shoot through umbrellas and some crappy softboxes that needed poles inserting and stuff - this is great light in a convenient design. Check my Flickr for some images.
AndyBJ 1 year ago
i bought this last week , came with a flash shoe adapter high quality , i suggest because its an umbrella to buy warranty 20 bucks .. overall very good i bought for 139 canadian but later a kit came with stand for 149.. lol but a must buy
nextwavephotography 1 year ago
@nextwavephotography Excellent! Enjoy!
AndyBJ 1 year ago
Did the kit come with the stand and head or just the box its self?
Torrel1 1 year ago
@Torrel1 HI, Unfortunately it's not a 'kit' really. It was just the umbrella. Stands and Flash holders are pretty cheap though, around £10-£15 for a stand and £5 for a flash bracket.
AndyBJ 1 year ago
How have been your experience with the soft box outside?
StuartLoria 1 year ago
@StuartLoria
Hi Stuart
I have used it outside once. It actually blew over and ended up smashing one of my Cactus V4 Triggers!! I will always ensure I weigh my stands down from now on (lesson learned!)
As for image quality using outdoor shots, I think you would be best at morning or evening times so you can make use of available light more easily - bright conditions mean you need a fast shutter to control ambient, so later in the day will give more control using the shutter speed. Tks Andy
AndyBJ 1 year ago
Great Video! Glad you could find an Apollo! We are working on expanding our presence in the UK - keep your eyes out!
FJWestcottCo 1 year ago
expensive umbrella, lol. Do you buy much from eBay there? I buy a bunch of stuff for good deals on there.
onjoFilms 1 year ago
@onjoFilms Hi Onjo! Yeah it is an expensive umbrella really, but you can't really find anything else which is as convenient as this design - and making one myself just looked impossible.
I do use e-bay - although unfortunately there were none of these softboxes on there! Also I have an aversion to getting things shipped over from abroad - I always like things I buy to be shipped from the UK (not sure why - just feel it's safer to know the company is in the same country as you!)
AndyBJ 1 year ago
@onjoFilms Yes but allot of the ebay stuff is crap! hot spots no warrenty etc etc.
rickjbradbury 1 year ago