Softboxes: Pixapro or Lencarta

[ralphhardwick]

I'm in the process of kitting out my new studio and am in the market for some softboxes.

I will be focussing, mainly, on product photography, but will also do portraits and the occasional wedding. I have some cheap eBay softboxes that have been okay up until now, but I now want to 'upgrade' and also go for easy fold type kit.

I already have two folding stripboxes from Micansu (which will do for now) and a Lencarta folding beauty dish (lovely bit of kit) and so I know their quality is good. However I plan to buy 2 or 3 rebadged AD600s from Essential Photo and thought that I might be able to negotiate a good price if I add the softboxes onto the order.

I'm after 2 100 x 100 square boxes and a large 150 or 170 Octo. Lencarta have these on offer, but once you add in the grids they work out virtually the same price as Pixapro.

So, my question is; are Pixapro softboxes as good as Lencarta or, at least good enough that its's worth going to the single supplier?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[redsnappa]

are Pixapro softboxes as good as Lencarta

You probably almost certainly find they are made on the very same production line in the very same Chinese factory.

 

[Graham W]

If you're happy with Lencarta products and service then I'd stick with them, If you're buying a load of stuff all at once I suspect that they would be happy to give you a good deal.

 

[sep9001]

Not bought for Pixapro but have from Lencarta, the service and help is the best.

 

[connersz]

Just bought a 120 octa from pixapro and its fantastic.

 

[Garry Edwards]

You probably almost certainly find they are made on the very same production line in the very same Chinese factory.

They're not. I'm not saying that only ours are worth buying, just that nobody else has the same as ours.

 

[ralphhardwick]

Thanks for the comments. Is there anyone else apart from @connersz that has direct experience of pixapro soft boxes?

 

[connersz]

Thanks for the comments. Is there anyone else apart from @connersz that has direct experience of pixapro soft boxes?

Go over to the business section and look at my post about the new studio. The photos with the plain backdrop were taken with the Pixaprop 120 octa. The others were taken with the smaller umbrella type softboxes.

I've been buying Pixapro stuff for years and it's all very good quality, but I do like to buy the Lencarta lights.

 

[ralphhardwick]

Thanks. Essential have already offered me a 'deal' for the lights, but I have now supplied them with a pretty major shopping list including the soft boxes. I'm sure they will come back with a good enough offer for me to stick with the single supplier.

I'm sure that the Pixapro kit is good enough for what I need. There are several other pro's using it and seem not to have too many problems.

 

[ralphhardwick]

Okay, so Essential have come through with a really good discount on several items combined. It just goes to show that it doesn't hurt to ask!

Everything arrived the next day and the quality is not bad. Only time will tell if it wears well.

There was one slight glitch. I ordered two reflectors and grids specifically for the AD600s, but they accidentally sent one that was the wrong size. I dropped them an email and the correct one is being couriered and they're happy for me to keep the 'wrong' one rather than send it back.

That's a pretty good response, any eyes.

Thanks for all the comments.