'studio' softbox for canon 430ex off cam flash

combat squirrel

combat squirrel

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,201
Edit My Images
No
As title is it possible to get a softbox for a canon 430ex on a tripod? It's for an outdoor portraiture shoot on a beach,so obvs need the 430 off cam and is portable, iv found:


LUMIQUEST SOFTBOX III

This any good ? iv heard Lastolite are good, but well expensive, dont want to go over £40-45 really
 
If you're talking about item 380087390557 I don't much like the look of the material it's made of. What's with the thicker area in the centre? Is that to diffuse the brightest part of the flash? Just seems a bit cheap-looking for something that's not your typical 'eBay special'.

How are you going to have the flash set up? Is it to be mounted on a tripod or do you have a lighting stand? Do you already have all the necessary gear to set this all up, including remote triggering, etc?
 
Taking 2 tripods, 1x550ex 1x430ex flash guns, I've found in the past 'direct' flash is harsh, the 550 will be the master wirelessly controlling the 430, ill also have an off cam e-ttl flash cord should I need it, but I guess most will be metered through the cam and accordingly changed, id like the softbox though to Obviously soften the off cam flash
 
Well it looks okay but I'm still not sure about that centre part of the fabric. I'm sure there's a perfectly valid reason for it being there but it just looks a bit cheap and cheerful to me, and the price doesn't reflect that. It's also really quite small for the money, although I'm now assuming the size influences the materials used in its construction as the surface would be so much closer to the flash head.

I've been looking at the Lastolite EzyBox Hotshoe range today and although it's double the price the smaller one would appear, at first glance, to be double the size and double the quality. But would it be any better and therefore worth the extra money?

Ultimately I'd guess the Lumiquest will work. It's just a question of how well. Someone on here must have one or have used one so I'd best leave the informed opinions to those who actually have them.
 
The problem with using a mini softbox with most hotshoe flashes is that, IMO, you are trying to diffuse light already made specular by the reflector. This is kind of like boiling water before freezing it into ice cubes.

The Sunpak 120J is a great hotshoe type flash which can be used with a softbox very well because the reflector of the 120J is removable.

The removable reflector also facilitates "bare bulb flash" which is a technique that can give excellent lighting indoors.

I love the 120J but, unfortunately my unit is not TTL capable. I used it with a Canon A-1 film camera which did not support TTL. There are 120J units which are TTL capable and the non-TTL 120J gives great exposure control.
 
glitch said:
I've been looking at the Lastolite EzyBox Hotshoe range today and although it's double the price the smaller one would appear, at first glance, to be double the size and double the quality. But would it be any better and therefore worth the extra money?
Click to expand...

I had a look at the Ezybox Hotshoe too, considering it's more than double the price of the similar-sized "Magic" one from Photomart, I would have expected it to be something a bit special, but bar the extra baffle I can't see any great difference that would warrant the additional £40....
 
I have the Ezybox 60x60 and it's well worth the money. Constructed well, collapses to the width of one side (flat), and can even then be curled into a bag which is ridiculously small (about 20cm in diameter, 10cm deep). I prefer to store it flat!

It also has two types of diffuser, the first is the standard softbox (full cover), and underneath there is a second, smaller diffuser which has slight gaps on each side (this emphasis the 'highlights' along the body).

Bargain :)
 
Would I be right in saying that the EzyBox hotshoe is also lined with a silver, reflective material? Which along with the double diffuser is something else that the cheaper models don't feature?
 
The Ezybox is well featured on the lastolite site, there are various videos showing how it all goes together and the box in use. IIRC there was a previous thread here that spoke about light loss, the Lastolite site claims you only lose half a stop when using the Ezybox but real world use shows this to be 1 to 1 1/2 stops.
 
I think half a stop is Lastolite's 'standard' for one layer of their normal diffusion material, so the dual-layer system in the Ezybox should, in theory, reduce the light by more than that.

How do they even measure it though? And is that figure ever likely to be a constant across various intensities of light?
 
I can't speak for Merovingian, but I'm still looking for information and experiences with the Lastolite Ezybox Hotshoe if anyone is able to offer some?
 
Ah, that's an excellent article. Was that linked through the Lastolite site?

The only thing that was slightly concerning me was the pairing of a couple of off-camera flashes using the Ezybox and the ST-E2 transmitter as some of the images for the Ezybox almost show the holder covering the infra-red unit on the front of the flash.

Having read the article it would seems to ease my concerns!
 
I've got the Ezybox Hotshoe and it really is easy to use and great in terms of results.
 
Any chance of a little mini review, haggis? Would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
 
That sounds about right. I've always been passed across to Johnsons when I've had reason to contact Lastolite directly. And they definitely do all the spares, replacements, etc.

Lastolite make the stuff, Johnsons distribute it, the retailers sell it and we buy it and use it.
 
I use mine with my 580EX together with my 420EX through a brolly. Mainly for home portraits as I have limited space for any bigger kit and can't keep it assembled. Sorry no pics available to post from it right now but will try to get a couple sorted.
Biggest problem I had was getting it back in the bag!!
Bought it second hand on here and love it.
 
Oh, of course. You're the chap who bought it from strobemonkey.

As I understand it the interior is lined with some sort of reflective material and there's two diffusing panels that you use? Can you fold it all up once you've removed the adapter ring or is it best to remove the diffusers?

Does it feel like a quality product?
 
hi glitch - I tend to take it all apart but have simply folded it after taking the adaptor ring off.
Really does have a quality feel about it and the portability is really the key thing for me. That a brolly, couple of stands and reflectors and it's amazing what you can do.
 
Thanks for the tip, haggis. Sounds like it's just what I'm looking for.

Random question of the day: why do I generally hear about people 'pairing' them with umbrellas? What does a softbox/umbrella combo give you over a two softboxes?

Or is the decision more down to location, subject matter, etc?
 
Been having a mooch around on the Lastolite site today and noticed these on the Ezybox page. Prices seem rather exorbitant, but they look like well-made pieces of kit.

Any thoughts on their usage?
 
glitch said:
Random question of the day: why do I generally hear about people 'pairing' them with umbrellas? What does a softbox/umbrella combo give you over a two softboxes?
Click to expand...

In my experience, especially indoors, umbrellas spill the light everywhere so it is much harder to control wher it goes. The softbox is more directional whilst still have a relatively large surface area to soften the light.
 
Ah-ha!

That makes a lot of sense, Kev. Thanks for clarifying.
 
glitch said:
Would I be right in saying that the EzyBox hotshoe is also lined with a silver, reflective material? Which along with the double diffuser is something else that the cheaper models don't feature?
Click to expand...

The Magic softbox from photomart is lined with silver material aswell.
 
I bought the 60x60 ezybox kit last week - still awaiting Amazon delivery :)
 
Kev M said:
The Magic softbox from photomart is lined with silver material aswell.
Click to expand...
Well aren't you the helpful chap?

Don't suppose you happen to know more about why the Photomart one has that strange 'blob' on the diffuser?
 
Which blob is that? Not noticed one on mine.
 
That's a very good point. I'm getting it muddled up with that eBay softbox that combat originally mentioned.

I do apologise.
 
I reckon the extra material in the middle is to combat any hotspot you might get from the flash head.
 
have a look at the Lumiquest system in a pouch. I have one and it is really flexible.

I can't remember what it is called though! It is a fold up softener which you can use partly filled in (it is a web rather than solid reflector) then you can put in a white full reflector, or a silver or a gold and finally have a softbox diffuser as well - about £45 the lot, in a pouch and it folds flat for living in your bag. Brilliant I use it all the itme.
 
Oh, about 7x5

Lumiquest 80-20 it is called. The kit is what you want. I use mine for corporate portraits for editorial all the time. Nice even and soft light.

It isn't as big as a portable softbox, so it is handier and you will use it. A softbox on a flash head is a nightmare. It just gets in the way.

If I need anything more I use studio lights -on the fly, or bike this is great, it gives good results. Have a look at their website for more detail

lumiquest.com I would guess.
 
Looks interesting but still doesn't give you the directional and distance control you get with the softbox. I guess you could mount the flash gun on a stand but you would still need either cable or remote to fire it so not convinced that for flexibility it is as good as the Ezybox Hotshoe?
 
I can't really see there being a case for using one over the other as they seem, at least to my uneducated eyes, to be doing two totally different jobs.

I guess you could say that the 80-20 could be more directional than a softbox, but that's not really what I'd imagine a softbox would be employed for.

Happy to be told otherwise though. It is a steep learning curve after all!
 
Thats the one - if you turn it a little AWAY from the subject, just like you would a softbox (you don't point the softbox at your subject do you?:gag:)
then you get such similar results the ease of portage and use wins hands down.

The Ezybox is going to need exactly the same triggering requirements as the Lumiquest....it is purely the modelling effect that I thought he was on about.

hey ho. Only trying to help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top