Strip Box recommendation

Whippet

Whippet

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Tom
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I've been asked to shoot some wine bottles for a friend who has started a sideline importing from Bulgaria. Spent a whilst thinking how I can modify my existing kit but there's no way round it as I don't have any standard softboxes to modify.
Sooo I'm going to have to fork out on a pair of strip boxes which I'm sure will be an investment for the future...
So any recommendations? (s-fit and cheap!)
 
Unfortunately, cheap strip softboxes aren't worth having, you need to control the light from them really well and the cheap ones produce very uneven lighting that's just worthless - poor design and poor materials become a much bigger problem as the softbox becomes longer, and closer to the subject.

I'd recommend ours, but unfortunately we're out of stock.
 
Whippet said:
…strip boxes recommendations…
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Tom,
the cheapest way to strip a soft box is to flag it from both sides.

My thaughts are that if you are opting for that solution, you may
not have completed your research homework.

One tip, you need more flags then anything else… cheap!
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•
Tom,
the cheapest way to strip a soft box is to flag it from both sides.

My thaughts are that if you are opting for that solution, you may
not have completed your research homework.

One tip, you need more flags then anything else… cheap!
Click to expand...
Don't take this as a criticsm, because your English is better than my French - but the OP did say that he doesn't have a softbox that he can modify...
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•
Tom,
the cheapest way to strip a soft box is to flag it from both sides.

My thaughts are that if you are opting for that solution, you may
not have completed your research homework.

One tip, you need more flags then anything else… cheap!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I don't use soft boxes so I don't have any to flag in the first place. Did look to see if I could flag my brolly boxes but it won't work.
I was thinking if I should get some large soft boxes and just flag... But I'd want a min 140cm strip so the box would have to be on the large side and expensive.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Unfortunately, cheap strip softboxes aren't worth having, you need to control the light from them really well and the cheap ones produce very uneven lighting that's just worthless - poor design and poor materials become a much bigger problem as the softbox becomes longer, and closer to the subject.

I'd recommend ours, but unfortunately we're out of stock.
Click to expand...

Yeah did look at the Lencarta Pro strip but as you say out of stock and it's a touch pricier that what I'd want. Not sure I'd ever use two in the future, but would def use one for rim lighting portraiture.
 
Garry Edwards said:
but the OP did say that he doesn't have a softbox that he can modify
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If I was not clear enough, sorry Garry.
I suggested to flag a softbox… that may be cheaper to buy too!
 
Kodiak Qc said:
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If I was not clear enough, sorry Garry.
I suggested to flag a softbox… that may be cheaper to buy too!
Click to expand...

I'm warming to this idea but a 140 x 140 soft box is quite expensive, although would prob come in for more use than 2 strip lights...
 
Kodiak Qc said:
My thaughts are that if you are opting for that solution, you may not have completed your research homework.
Click to expand...
•
Maybe flagging the scene, rather then the softbox, could be a better strategy!
 
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Whippet said:
Unfortunately I don't use soft boxes so I don't have any to flag in the first place. Did look to see if I could flag my brolly boxes but it won't work.
I was thinking if I should get some large soft boxes and just flag... But I'd want a min 140cm strip so the box would have to be on the large side and expensive.
Click to expand...
You don't need 140cm for wine bottles, 100cm will be fine.
Whippet said:
Yeah did look at the Lencarta Pro strip but as you say out of stock and it's a touch pricier that what I'd want. Not sure I'd ever use two in the future, but would def use one for rim lighting portraiture.
Click to expand...
I agree, they aren't cheap. I may be biased, but I think that they're the cheapest ones that actually work - but irrelevant as we don't have any:( You do though need 140cm ones for rim lighting people
 
Garry Edwards said:
You don't need 140cm for wine bottles, 100cm will be fine.

I agree, they aren't cheap. I may be biased, but I think that they're the cheapest ones that actually work - but irrelevant as we don't have any:( You do though need 140cm ones for rim lighting people
Click to expand...

Yeah, was looking at 140 just so I can find another use for them afterwards!

Kodiak Qc said:
•
Maybe flagging the scene, rather then the softbox, could be a better strategy!
Click to expand...

How are you thinking? I was planning on the strip lighting to either side, gridded reflector to label and white BG lit separately which seems to be the standard setup (client is after white isolated, but will throw in some samples of something more interesting as well)
 
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Whippet said:
I've been asked to shoot some wine bottles for a friend who has started a sideline importing from Bulgaria. Spent a whilst thinking how I can modify my existing kit but there's no way round it as I don't have any standard softboxes to modify.
Sooo I'm going to have to fork out on a pair of strip boxes which I'm sure will be an investment for the future...
So any recommendations? (s-fit and cheap!)
Click to expand...
Can you hang scrims/silks (i.e. cheap translucent shower curtains)? Hang one up folded over with a good bit of space between the layers and it's a good stand-in for a largish softbox. Angled in from behind/side and I don't think you'll need to flag it.
 
I got a pixapro from Amazon, it wasn't massively cheap but not fortunes either, it has an internal baffle and a decent grid.

There's none there atm but there are other suppliers I believe.
 
Thanks for the pointers folks. Guess I'll be carving a bit deeper into the overdraft, at least I'll get back enough to cover the costs.
 
Maybe I missed it, but what lights are you using? Speedlites?

Try strobepro here in Canada. They have a good stripbox, inner diffuser. I have no idea how much shipping would be
But considering the state of our dollar you may be able to get one for a few quid. ;)
 
michaelg said:
What about one from these maybe? They also do folding ones that have smaller gaps in the baffle.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll take a look.

Nicholas Mitchell said:
Maybe I missed it, but what lights are you using? Speedlites?

Try strobepro here in Canada. They have a good stripbox, inner diffuser. I have no idea how much shipping would be
But considering the state of our dollar you may be able to get one for a few quid. ;)
Click to expand...

Lastolite s type monoblocks. Nice idea, and will take a look but shipping time might be a deal killer.
 
I've had one of the Bessel 120cm speedbox octas and as well as being ridiculously easy to put up it seems to be quite decent quality so come the Photography Show I'll be looking for a cheeky deal on a couple of their strips. Whilst there are bucket loads of cheap softboxes kicking around Amazon and ebay I like to stick to quality I know will last some time. I saw Viewfinder at the NEC and their kit looks to be good quality as well.
Post an update when you get them, always good to read an honest review.
 
I have two Bessel units, can't fault them for the price - have internal baffle and grid, easy enough to put up and tear down and have side access vents for fitting internal diffusers to your heads.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bessel-16...9be16fe&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=281298854215

I only have the 120's which made sense at the time (Was photogrpahing rifles) , but no longer do (Photographing people), and I wish I'd got the 160's
 
I have a lencarta and Bessel one. The former is definitely better quality but the latter will do a job for the money.
 
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Decided to get some cheap Photosel ones from Amazon, will see if they give acceptable results then will get some decent ones at the PhotoShow if I find them useful. If the Photosel ones are so crap I can't use them for the current project think I'll prob drive up to Bessel to get theirs.
 
Whippet said:
Decided to get some cheap Photosel ones from Amazon, will see if they give acceptable results then will get some decent ones at the PhotoShow if I find them useful. If the Photosel ones are so crap I can't use them for the current project think I'll prob drive up to Bessel to get theirs.
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In fact, regardless of the name printed on them, most of the cheap ones come from the same production line in the same factory, so if it's a cheap one you're after then they are very likely to be identical to each other.
 
I've got a Photosel umbrella box that's fine, apart from being a touch dangerous with the unremovable pole sticking towards the subject!

Will make amends and get some decent brand items at the show once my finances are looking a bit better.
 
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