softbox for speedlite

vickylou

vickylou

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Vicky
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I am looking for an inexpensive softbox for my speedlite (430exII) to use off camera. I have a omnibounce but i want to spread the light a bit more and to be able to use it directly. It is just for use in my home to take portraits mainly of my little boy. I have seen a couple on ebay and amazon and wondered if anyone had used them.

This one has inner diffusers

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-F...item1e7633468b

This one attaches to speedlite but seems expensive in comparison?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lastolite-...item3a7e3740d5

This seems the most basic but do I need more?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358549767&pf_rd_i=468294

Thank you for your time.
 
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I have the one from amazon and yes it's not built like a tank and it may not be the best but it does me ok if you look on my Flickr the Helen hawk set was taken with this exact box and flash you have.
 
Thank you, do find as the 430 does not have the highest guide number the light is not as much as you might want? How do you trigger yout 430exii currently I am triggering using my built in flash wirelessly. As you need line of sight does the softbox get in the way for wireless triggering?
 
I've got some cheap amazon triggers but I do use the built in thing as well the box is never that far away from my subject so it's never on full power
 
JonathanRyan said:
I have this one.

IMO better built than the (ancient) genuine Lastolite one I have.
Click to expand...

Slightly OT here, but would this one take a 580 EXII with a Yongnuo 622C attached do you think? There looks to be enough adjustment in the product shots on Amazon.
 
magirus said:
Slightly OT here, but would this one take a 580 EXII with a Yongnuo 622C attached do you think?
Click to expand...

Dunno.

I use it with an SB800 and RF602. Takes a little wiggling (602 goes at an angle) but it's fine.
 
vickylou said:
I am looking for an inexpensive softbox for my speedlite (430exII) to use off camera. I have a omnibounce but i want to spread the light a bit more and to be able to use it directly. It is just for use in my home to take portraits mainly of my little boy. I have seen a couple on ebay and amazon and wondered if anyone had used them.

This one has inner diffusers

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-F...item1e7633468b

This one attaches to speedlite but seems expensive in comparison?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lastolite-...item3a7e3740d5

This seems the most basic but do I need more?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358549767&pf_rd_i=468294

Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...

I got the neewer amazon one - a lot of the recent stuff on my flickr is with this, the konig stand and a background. It is basic but does the job. A good cheap purchase.

However I do think the one recommended above with the two diffusion panels would be better.

Hope that helps

S
 
Cannot view the eBay links probably ended. Not had any experience with the amazon or lastolite ones, but do have an ebay soft box. The one I have is pretty good apart from the bracket which had to be adapted slightly as it wouldn't tighten down properly. overall though for the money, it worked out ok for me as I think it was half the price of the equivalent ezybox.
 
I've also go the Neewer Amazon one, in fact Amazon tells me I've got exact same one.

It's okay for a softbox, works as it should and makes the light to be 24"x24". The 430ExII I use has plenty power for the softbox.

To trigger it off camera, I use Yongnuo 622c TTL triggers, they can be left in automatic and works well, or manual with everything set on-camera.
 
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Just ordered the Neewer one from Amazon, I have no wireless triggers. I'll have to see if the D7000 still works firing the flash in commander mode, even when it is hidden in the softbox....
 
I've had a the 24" neewer in my basket for weeks now. What stand and bracket stand did you get? Also does it come with an inner diffuser?
 
I have the 24" neewer softbox and mine came with a inner diffuser.
I would say buy a good stand for it,I got a air sprung one and use a weight at the bottom
 
craig.walton2 said:
I've had a the 24" neewer in my basket for weeks now. What stand and bracket stand did you get? Also does it come with an inner diffuser?
Click to expand...

Don't think the Neewer one has an internal diffuser. The one I linked to on Amazon does. IMO essential with a speedlight.

If you want a portable kit then look for a 5 section stand on eBay in Costwold's shop. Bought a couple recently to back up some aging Manfrotto Nanos. IMO better made than the Nanos though a fraction heavier. If you don't need portability then pretty much any stand will do.
 
I have ordered one from eBay with an inner diffuser, looks the same as the Neewer one. I will let you know what it is like when it arrives. I also ordered a cheap Neewer light stand off amazon to get me started.
 
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I went with the interfit one when I was using flash, the box itself was good quality and the stand fully damped, the whole thing worked really well.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Don't think the Neewer one has an internal diffuser. The one I linked to on Amazon does. IMO essential with a speedlight.

If you want a portable kit then look for a 5 section stand on eBay in Costwold's shop. Bought a couple recently to back up some aging Manfrotto Nanos. IMO better made than the Nanos though a fraction heavier. If you don't need portability then pretty much any stand will do.
Click to expand...

My Neewer softbox arrived today, I can confirm it does not have an inner diffuser. It also only has a hinge-joint for positioning the softbox, the one Jonathan linked to has a nice ball-joint.

I'm returning mine and getting the other one (should have listened to you first Jonathan!).
 
Thanks for the info folks. Was gonna get the neewer with a separate adjustable bracket but I think I'll go for the one linked above.
 
Softbox arrived and seems good quality, has an inner diffuser, i am thinking that the way the bracket fixes into the diffuser it may loosen over time and could be a problem as material stretches. I had my first attempt using it and it makes such as difference - bearing in mind I am a complete beginner at off camera flash.

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The mistake I did make was the cheap stand! its fine with the softbox, bracket and speedlite with 2 x 1kg bags of rice on the bottom :) I do not want to risk speedlite plummeting to the floor so have seen three stands of better quality. Anyone used any of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150974400419?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160903970378?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140889102301?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
 
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Pretty :)

I have the second stand you link to. Very good if you need to travel. For home sue I'd choose something else. Having said that, I've had one sitting 2 feet behind my desk with a softbox and SB800 on right up against the ceiling for a week and it's fine.
 
Likewise, I have the second one linked and have had no problems. Think lencarta do the same one for a pound less.
 
What about the giottos with the air cushioning? The Cotswold 5 section says a max load of 2.5kg vs giottos 10kg? I guess base width is v.important and I like that the Cotswold versions legs can go flat to ground. Found YouTube videos of both unfortunately neither are shown with a softbox.
 
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