Looking for Quality Strip Softboxes…

D34N

D34N

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Dean
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I’m about to splurge on two Profoto RFi 1x4’s (+ grids) for 3/4 length rim lighting and other uses. I don’t have space to keep them assembled, and as far as I can tell the only bad part of these is the time it takes to assemble.

Just wondering if anyone had experience of other makes (to fit Profoto/Elinchrom) - preferably good quality, made to last and quicker to assemble.

I’m erring away from the Elinchrom’s due to the exorbitant cost of the grids :-/ and Chinese knock-offs due to grid quality of light.



Dean
 
The Lencarta Profold Strip Softbox measures 140 x 30cm and is extremely easy/quick to assemble/dissemble - just pull away enough of the outer diffuser to get your hand inside, release the umbrella-style catch and fold it up. As it closes, push the diffusers inside to keep them clean.

This is something that I use all the time, I think it's pretty good - although of course I'm biased:) When using any accessory for rimlighting it's vital to get it square to the subject, this lighting stand is ideal for the job

The honeycomb fits via Velcro-style fitting and each egg crate measures 4 x 4 x 4cm, which IMO is the ideal size and depth for good light control.

Profoto and Elinchrom fittings are available for it too.
 
In terms of materials and construction I'm not sure there's a huge difference between any of them. Profoto, Broncolor, Hensel, Chimera, Bowens etc they all have similar construction and prices.

I do like Elinchrom Rotalux's a lot but they're made from very thin material and it's ridiculous they don't provide grids for most of their range forcing you to use the admittedly excellent (and expensive) Lighttools grids. Paying over 50% more for the grid than softbox is hard to justify whatever the situation and the storage bags are too small, stick a big fitting on there and it's suddenly a real tight squeeze.
 
Thanks Garry, the Profold is very interesting. I’ve just taken delivery of a 3' Profoto Octabox and speedlight speedring, of which I do like the fact you can get two speedlights in through the back angled edgeways. Do your Strips have room with a Profoto modifier for two heads placed inside? (Not that I have four speed lights handy yet).

I’m pleasantly surprised of what seems like bomb-proof stitching on the RFi Octa - at least if I go with the 1x4 RFi’s there’ll be only four struts to put them together :-)
Have to agree with Simon on the thinness of the Elinchrom materials, definitely the grid prices are moving me away from otherwise excellent modifiers - I’ll be keeping the Octa Bank, endeavouring to source a suitable adapter to fit a Profoto...that’s for another thread...

Hadn’t thought about low level stands, I think I’ll see how my nano’s hold-up (literally), for now.

Many thanks for your input!
 
D34N said:
Thanks Garry, the Profold is very interesting. I’ve just taken delivery of a 3' Profoto Octabox and speedlight speedring, of which I do like the fact you can get two speedlights in through the back angled edgeways. Do your Strips have room with a Profoto modifier for two heads placed inside? (Not that I have four speed lights handy yet).

I’m pleasantly surprised of what seems like bomb-proof stitching on the RFi Octa - at least if I go with the 1x4 RFi’s there’ll be only four struts to put them together :)
Have to agree with Simon on the thinness of the Elinchrom materials, definitely the grid prices are moving me away from otherwise excellent modifiers - I’ll be keeping the Octa Bank, endeavouring to source a suitable adapter to fit a Profoto...that’s for another thread...

Hadn’t thought about low level stands, I think I’ll see how my nano’s hold-up (literally), for now.

Many thanks for your input!
Click to expand...
We do have a S-fit adapter that will take up to 3 speedlights, this is essential if you're planning to use speedlights in a strip softbox, it isn't just about the limited power, it's about the fact that one speedlight can't spread its light sufficiently to cover the length of the softbox.

That Nano stand won't hold a studio head safely, it isn't designed to.
From memory, I think that The Flash Centre should be able to supply you with a speedring to fit Profoto, or at least they supplied me with one, a long time ago. It wasn't cheap but it did the job.
 
Garry Edwards said:
From memory, I think that The Flash Centre should be able to supply you with a speedring to fit Profoto, or at least they supplied me with one, a long time ago. It wasn't cheap but it did the job.
Click to expand...


They used to discount other brand speedrings when you bought the softbox, only £12 to get the Profoto Rotalux speedring which was a good deal.

Now they seem to have done away with that and it's only 15% off the £54 list price. Which sucks by comparison.
 
I’ll probably be using Elinchrom’s in the strips, until budget allows for more Profoto’s. Looking forward(?) to syncing B1’s with old Eli’s :-)
 
Ah yes, just considering the Nano’s - will definitely be looking for something more substantial, and short. Your recommended stands seem to fit the job!
 
Garry Edwards said:
The Lencarta Profold Strip Softbox measures 140 x 30cm and is extremely easy/quick to assemble/dissemble - just pull away enough of the outer diffuser to get your hand inside, release the umbrella-style catch and fold it up. As it closes, push the diffusers inside to keep them clean.

This is something that I use all the time, I think it's pretty good - although of course I'm biased:) When using any accessory for rimlighting it's vital to get it square to the subject, this lighting stand is ideal for the job

The honeycomb fits via Velcro-style fitting and each egg crate measures 4 x 4 x 4cm, which IMO is the ideal size and depth for good light control.

Profoto and Elinchrom fittings are available for it too.
Click to expand...
Does that Lencarta 140 x 30 fit onto lastolite 400s,do you need to buy anything extra to fit it on.
 
jockwav said:
Does that Lencarta 140 x 30 fit onto lastolite 400s,do you need to buy anything extra to fit it on.
Click to expand...
It will fit any S-fit flash head, including the ones branded Lastalite, without an adapter, and any other make of flash head WITH an adapter
 
Thanks for that Garry,trying to talk our club into these.:)
 
Garry Edwards said:
The Lencarta Profold Strip Softbox measures 140 x 30cm and is extremely easy/quick to assemble/dissemble - just pull away enough of the outer diffuser to get your hand inside, release the umbrella-style catch and fold it up. As it closes, push the diffusers inside to keep them clean.

This is something that I use all the time, I think it's pretty good - although of course I'm biased:) When using any accessory for rimlighting it's vital to get it square to the subject, this lighting stand is ideal for the job

The honeycomb fits via Velcro-style fitting and each egg crate measures 4 x 4 x 4cm, which IMO is the ideal size and depth for good light control.

Profoto and Elinchrom fittings are available for it too.
Click to expand...

Hi Garry,

Sorry to go off on a slight tangent here but do you stock profoto adaptors for your Lencarta Profold Octa's? I've got the S-fit Octa but wanted to see if I can get a Profoto adaptor so I can use the same on my B1 too. Other adaptors I've seen (Calumet adaptor) won't fit right.
 
kman said:
Hi Garry,

Sorry to go off on a slight tangent here but do you stock profoto adaptors for your Lencarta Profold Octa's? I've got the S-fit Octa but wanted to see if I can get a Profoto adaptor so I can use the same on my B1 too. Other adaptors I've seen (Calumet adaptor) won't fit right.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's this one
As it happens, there isn't a Profoto adapter in the photo, we didn't have them at the time
 
Dean, if the only reason you're not getting the RFi's is the time they take to put up, I really wouldn't worry. I can get mine up quicker than the large octabox, and as you say its only four rods.

I think its fair to say the quality of the Profoto boxes is excellent and much better than some cheaper alternatives.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Yes, it's this one
As it happens, there isn't a Profoto adapter in the photo, we didn't have them at the time
Click to expand...

great thanks, i just need to check the size of the Octa I have. Do you know the diameter of the speedring plate that slots into the octa frame?
 
kman said:
great thanks, i just need to check the size of the Octa I have. Do you know the diameter of the speedring plate that slots into the octa frame?
Click to expand...
According to my tape measure, it's 152mm - I don't have a more accurate way of measuring it
 
mine octa is about 90cm/3ft, according to the link its not compatible! :(
 
lencarta profold octa. Good news - it should fit as the speedring in the lencarta is about 152mm as well and the profoto adaptor I have for another strip box (made by photodiox) also fits (albeit a little loose but fine to use). So I should be fine, going to order a couple of these. I'm glad cos Profoto don't do a folding octa/softbox, the only option would have been the deep umbrellas for a quick to set up modifier.
 
Thanks treeman, I think that's the way I'll go, just ordered some compact manfrotto's for them. I'm keeping the rods for the Octa threaded in the cover for speed.
 
Have to agree with Simon on the thinness of the Elinchrom materials, definitely the grid prices are moving me away from otherwise excellent modifiers - I’ll be keeping the Octa Bank, endeavouring to source a suitable adapter to fit a Profoto...that’s for another thread...
Click to expand...

The profoto strip boxes are my favourite from any manufacturer. Bombproof construction and nice and recessed at the front. Not cheap mind, but yeah... they last. (for the sake of argument, I haven't used lencarta ones, but have literally every major brand in the UK. I assume they're good, but anything with an umbrella action is always going to be a bit quicker to put up, but more parts to go wrong. Umbrella or rotalux boxes always take up more packing room too which can be a consideration.)

At first when they're new they can be pretty stiff to squeeze into the speedring, this goes after time. Assemble them with the front down on the floor so you can lean in to bend the spokes a bit.



as the aside: for putting the rotalux octa on profoto, they do an alternative ring for it which is about £60 or £15 if you buy it when you buy the softbox. Alternatively you can pay a whopping £150!!!!!! for an elinchrom to profoto adapter - or make one yourself using a hacked up bowens->elinchrom adapter from ebay, and a profoto speedring insert from calumet, and a bit of glue. Drop me a pm if a blog post on this would be handy, I've been meaning to do one for a while...
 
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I've heard bad things about that Elinchrom to Profoto adapter and it's not cheap either, I think Luminary Lighting make a good Profoto adapter intended for use with Elinchrom Lightbanks. Naturally it's expensive but from what I remember it looked pretty solid.
 
Yes, I’ve read the same about the Elinchrom brand adapter - requiring removal of the reflector part, and it being held together by three small screws. AJ’s have mentioned they have a more robust solution, yet I am yet to see it, so unsure of the manufacturer.

Interested in seeing more info on your Bowen‘s hack Dave...
 
D34N said:
I’m about to splurge on two Profoto RFi 1x4’s (+ grids) for 3/4 length rim lighting and other uses. I don’t have space to keep them assembled, and as far as I can tell the only bad part of these is the time it takes to assemble.

Just wondering if anyone had experience of other makes (to fit Profoto/Elinchrom) - preferably good quality, made to last and quicker to assemble.

I’m erring away from the Elinchrom’s due to the exorbitant cost of the grids :-/ and Chinese knock-offs due to grid quality of light.

Dean
Click to expand...

Just avoid the large spaced grids. The cheap and nasty ones tend to be 8cm and the better ones are around 5cm. The Profotos come out of the same factory anyway and you'd be paying x5 for the badge.
 
The 3' Octa from Profoto has aprox 4cm (from memory) grid (50°) which worked mighty fine yesterday. Originally I was looking at Wallimex Pro Orange(?) for strips, but read that the grids weren’t much use (unsure whether that was down to the depth/width/positioning of the grid), but I always prefer to buy once, buy well.
 
The effectiveness of a softbox honeycomb depends on both the size of the 'holes' and the depth of the design - the 2 are directly related so it doesn't make sense to say that the 'holes' must be of a certain size. There's a Company in the USA that makes a range, going from something like 8 degrees to 40 degrees (from memory) and they're horrifically expensive, but it's good to have choices.

SOF-gridsC-400x400.jpg

The Lencarta ones have 40 x 40mmm 'holes' and are also 40mm deep, this gives an angle of about 20 degrees, which I think it right for most uses, most of the time. The cheap ones bundled free with many cheap softboxes are worth what you pay for them, not only are the holes far too big, the depth is nowhere near adequate either, which means that they do little or nothing.

Typically, the incredibly expensive honeycombs are sewn together, so hopefully will last longer than the ones like ours, which are glued together. Only the buyer can decide whether it's worth paying 10x as much for that.
 
Yes, it was the price of those USA grids that pushed me away from Elinchrom, most of the Profoto Softgrids are reasonably priced, proportionate to the modifier, IMHO.
 
D34N said:
Yes, it was the price of those USA grids that pushed me away from Elinchrom, most of the Profoto Softgrids are reasonably priced, proportionate to the modifier, IMHO.
Click to expand...

In fairness those Lighttools grids are fantastic (which sounds daft to say) but Garry wasn't exaggerating about them being 10 times more expensive sadly.

You dodged a bullet avoiding the Walimex, had to return the one I tried because it gave me such a different colour temperature to every other softbox I was using. Still strikes me as odd because I've used at least 5 different brands recently and none of them has been that far off.
 
I think it was the one modifier that I was struggling to nail - and the solution has moved me over to a whole new lighting system, so looking forward to delving into it when it arrives.
In regards to fitting the Profoto’s to the Octa Bank, I believe the part is manufactured by Profoto, but is not a listed item. Should be interesting!
 
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