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Many softbox speedrings have a tripod thread in one or two notches, enabling direct attachment to a spigot.
Using this manfrotto camera plate, normally designed for use with a magic arm, you can make a very simple speedlight adapter for your softboxes that packs down flat, unlike many of the commercial offerings.
If you're buying from fresh, the total new cost is quite a bit, but I had basically every single part already in my kit, so the overall cost for many people with flexible kit will be low.
What you need
Manfrotto camera platform: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MANFROTTO...hting_Kits&hash=item416128defe#ht_6110wt_1067 or http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/manfrotto_camera_umbrella_bracket_for_143/mn143bkt
This has two spigot holes right next to each other, and a sliding standard tripod thread.
2x double spigots
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-4-male-...ltDomain_3&hash=item5ae3c1a617#ht_2514wt_1067 One to put into the speedring, one to put into the umbrella swivel.
speedring with tripod thread recievers on:
eg (many others have the same threads) http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/calumet_universal_speedring/rd3100
Note that you only need the speedring itself, and not the (eg bowens / elinchrom etc) specific insert to go in it. If you want, you can have the insert in place for quick changeovers (I have only tested profoto, which I think is the longest protruding fitment, and it works with an sb800 ok, so all other brands should be ok too).
and an umbrella swivel that you can put a spigot into the -top- half of - ie has no fixed hot shoe. The common one that many people use is this one:
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/calumet_swivel_umbrella_adapter/mf6830
And finally, a cold shoe for your flash:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Cla...uipment_RL&hash=item230f8fdc00#ht_1604wt_1300
Then all you need to do is screw it all together (very simple operation).
I have one spigot that lives permanently screwed really tightly into one of my speedrings, and a double spigot always in the top of one of my umbrella swivels - so this gives a really quick setup, and it packs down to being virtually flat too.
Because the speedring is quite large, there is some space around the speedlight head. If you're worried about light bouncing back out, I'm sure you could make a kind of 'skirt' for the flash head from white cloth, attached to the inside of the speedring, and with a drawstring to put around the flash head.
The benefits of this setup are that you can still use CLS as the flash is outside the softbox, quick to set up, and you can still change the power really easily. Calumet do also do a 4 flash cold shoe speedring insert if you want a more serious amount of juice: http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/calumet_4_flash_speedring_adapter/mf6722
Using this manfrotto camera plate, normally designed for use with a magic arm, you can make a very simple speedlight adapter for your softboxes that packs down flat, unlike many of the commercial offerings.
If you're buying from fresh, the total new cost is quite a bit, but I had basically every single part already in my kit, so the overall cost for many people with flexible kit will be low.
What you need
Manfrotto camera platform: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MANFROTTO...hting_Kits&hash=item416128defe#ht_6110wt_1067 or http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/manfrotto_camera_umbrella_bracket_for_143/mn143bkt
This has two spigot holes right next to each other, and a sliding standard tripod thread.
2x double spigots
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-4-male-...ltDomain_3&hash=item5ae3c1a617#ht_2514wt_1067 One to put into the speedring, one to put into the umbrella swivel.
speedring with tripod thread recievers on:
eg (many others have the same threads) http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/calumet_universal_speedring/rd3100
Note that you only need the speedring itself, and not the (eg bowens / elinchrom etc) specific insert to go in it. If you want, you can have the insert in place for quick changeovers (I have only tested profoto, which I think is the longest protruding fitment, and it works with an sb800 ok, so all other brands should be ok too).
and an umbrella swivel that you can put a spigot into the -top- half of - ie has no fixed hot shoe. The common one that many people use is this one:
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/calumet_swivel_umbrella_adapter/mf6830
And finally, a cold shoe for your flash:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Cla...uipment_RL&hash=item230f8fdc00#ht_1604wt_1300
Then all you need to do is screw it all together (very simple operation).
I have one spigot that lives permanently screwed really tightly into one of my speedrings, and a double spigot always in the top of one of my umbrella swivels - so this gives a really quick setup, and it packs down to being virtually flat too.
Because the speedring is quite large, there is some space around the speedlight head. If you're worried about light bouncing back out, I'm sure you could make a kind of 'skirt' for the flash head from white cloth, attached to the inside of the speedring, and with a drawstring to put around the flash head.
The benefits of this setup are that you can still use CLS as the flash is outside the softbox, quick to set up, and you can still change the power really easily. Calumet do also do a 4 flash cold shoe speedring insert if you want a more serious amount of juice: http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/product/calumet_4_flash_speedring_adapter/mf6722
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