I want to start using my flash off shoe in the outdoors and I was wondering that you guys know a great soft box and stand to recommend me?
I know that lansolite makes some great soft box but I'd like to spend a little less if possible.
Good soft box and stand?
(7 posts) (7 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Funny you should mention this as I just received some great stuff a couple of days ago.
I bought:
2 X Westcott 43" collapsible shoot through umbrellas ($20 each)
2 X Lumopro 5 section 7' light stands ($40 each)
2 X Lumopro superclamps ($20 each)
2 X Lumopro umbrella swivel w/ adapter ($18 each)Everything is very high quality, much better than I was expecting, and cheaper than other brands (strobist says it better than manfrotto). It is far superior to my chinese ebay stand and swivel (now donated).
The umbrellas fold up to only 14", the stands to no much more. I can fit everything in a nice small shoulder bag and be able to light anywhere.
I know you mentioned soft boxes, but you also mentioned cheap. So you really should give these umbrellas a try. I am amazed at the results compared to my more expensive 32" unbrella.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Personally I use Lastolite EzyBox Hotshoe (have the middle size) and I'm more than pleased with it, works with both SB-900 and SB-800 w/o any problems.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I use the Manfrotto nano stands that David Hobby recommends, and I find they are great- lightweight, but capable of carrying some weight (battery flashes and umbrellas and such). For a soft box, I made my own using foam core and paper, so I can't comment about buying one.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I use the small lastolight softbox and or a 40" umberella
The important thing to understand about soft boxes is, the bigger they are the softer the light, so if you use a small one, get it as close to your subject as possible
You lose quite a lot of power through the diffuser , so outside use them in the shade or at sunset. The umbrella is the cheaper option and easy to put up but they are more weather depedant if its windy. With an umbrella you can fit 2 or 3 guns to boost the power
if you are outside, there is allways a danger of the stand being blown over. I use a heavy tripod with a spigot if its windy
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi,
I have a long Lowel light bag that I carry 4 UN-TO stands (fold to 21.5") in. There are 4 mounting brackets to put up my speed lights on the stands and brackets.
On the strobes are Fong modifiers and Strobie modifiers and umbrellas (all of which go into the light bag with Gaffer's tape, gel material, and other odds and end. I would like for it to be more elegant and 'lighter' - pun not intended - but it gets to be a hassle to carry. There are some smaller supports and smaller strobes, too, for kicker lights. On some shoots I've used everything and wish I had twice as much. On a few, I just shoot with a simple reflector.
I think you can save some rather significant money and use of of the brains of the cameras by going with wired/wireless operations and these methods and getting terrific results. Light modifiers cost little and are iTTL-ed to the camera.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
Softboxes:
I've always liked Photoflex' softbox products. Plus, they make their own honeycombs and fabric eggcrates to fit their softboxes. This is important, because many manufacturers don't offer fabric eggcrates for their softboxes, and you have to find them from another supplier. Photoflex makes for one-stop, light-control shopping.
If you have another brand of softbox, and need an eggcrate to fit, Lighttools is one of the largest suppliers of "after-market" fabric eggcrates, and are often used with Chimera softboxes and KinoFlo lighting products.
For collapsable silks, Westcott's products are excellent.
I have several Photoflex softboxes, but when spill isn't an issue, I prefer using large umbrellas because they're less bulky. Even better, large pieces of Foamcore . . .
I'll be planning a fairly extensive, fill-flash, exterior shoot in the next few months, and I've been kicking around a Foamcore/Speedlight lighting rig idea. Instead of softboxes or umbrellas, I'm planning on mounting Speedlights onto C-stands, reflected into 4' x 8' sheets of Foamcore. The C-stand will hold both the Foamcore and the Speedlight, so if I need to move the source, I only have to move one stand. I'll power my Speedlights with Quantum Turbo batteries, so I'll have rapid recycles. Quantum makes a really neat bracket for their batteries too, which enables you to hang the battery on a light stand.
1. First, I'm gonna need a couple of Foamcore holders. Matthews makes a great one: #206495 Foamcore Holder $57.
Matthews #206495 Foamcore Holder2. Then, I'm going to need a couple of 4' x 8' sheets of white Foamcore.
3. C-stands and shot bags--already own some of those.
4. Hot-shoe receiver to 3/8-inch spud adapter.
These rigs will be mounted on C-stands, so I gotta figure out how to mount the Speedlight to the stand. Basically, I need to get a female hot shoe receiver onto a 3/8" spud (pin) so I can put it into a standard C-stand griphead. I can use a Cartellini to clamp a 40" extension arm to the stand, and insert the hot shoe-3/8" spud thingy into the extension arm's griphead. I still need to find the hot shoe-3/8" spud adapter somewhere. I think I saw one at Samy's Camera once. I'll check there. The Foamcore is then probably mounted on a 20" extension arm, inserted through the C-stand's top grip head. (I'll post a picture once I get this all assembled.)
Stands:
For most grip hardware, C-stands, baby stands, etc., I prefer Matthews. For lightweight stands, either Manfrotto or Photoflex. The Arri lightweight stands were the best, but I was told they were made by Manfrotto. But, the Arri stands are designed differently (better), but cost twice as much. I only have the cheap Photoflex stands, which are actually just fine. Someday, I may invest in some cushioned light stands, made specifically for strobe heads.
Shotbags:
If you're going to set up lights on stands, you'll likely also need some shot bags. I get mine from Filmtools in Burbank, just because I work near there. Moletown Hollywood carries them too. But anyone's are probably fine. The better ones have strap handles on both sides of the bag. My cheap Filmtools ones have it only on one side (kind of a pain sometimes). They come in several sizes. I think I have the 15 lb. ones. which seem to be "just right." I just wanted to point out that shot bags are much easier to work with than sandbags, mainly because they pack more weight per cubic inch (i.e., they're smaller).
Posted 2 years ago #
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