Using a Flash Gun in a Softbox?

[ShutteringFocus]

Would it be possible to use a flash gun, like the 550x or the EF 500 Super, in a softbox instead of the usual "strobe" type lighting?

I'm particularly interested in the 500 super used in this fashion because it has a modeling light option, so would it work like the traditional softbox set up?

Also, does the 500 Super fire with canon's speedlite transmitter? What does it take to get the EF 500 off the camera body without a connector CORD? Is there a generally inexpensive way to do that? (meaning less than $100) Or do you have to buy one of those $200+ radio slave units?

What about using the on-camera flash to trigger the Ef 500? Can you set your on camera flash to such a low power that it has little effect on the overal lighting of the shot and still have it fire the EF 500?

[robertwgross]

I think you are confused about how the Canon wireless system communicates between the master and the slave. That becomes further complicated if you hide the slave inside a softbox.

---Bob Gross---

[ShutteringFocus]

I've no doubt that I am. Is there a way to put the flash in a soft box and make it fire? And would that even work? Or are the flashes inside softboxes a compleatly different type of light entirely? I know they are different, but how different? so different as to make the "flash gun inside the box" idea compleatly un-do-able?

[DaveG]

Would it be possible to use a flash gun, like the 550x or the EF 500 Super, in a softbox instead of the usual "strobe" type lighting?

I'm particularly interested in the 500 super used in this fashion because it has a modeling light option, so would it work like the traditional softbox set up?

Also, does the 500 Super fire with canon's speedlite transmitter? What does it take to get the EF 500 off the camera body without a connector CORD? Is there a generally inexpensive way to do that? (meaning less than $100) Or do you have to buy one of those $200+ radio slave units?

What about using the on-camera flash to trigger the Ef 500? Can you set your on camera flash to such a low power that it has little effect on the overal lighting of the shot and still have it fire the EF 500?


There's so much going on here that I hardly know where to start. I don't know how you'd trigger the flash if it was inside a softbox. Neither the Canon 550 not the Sigma 550 take a conventional synch cord and they would have to be triggered with either an optical or radio slave. If that worked (and I'm not sure that it would) you've spend a LOT of money on something that will be a kludged set up at best.

You lose all of the E-TTL capabilities of either flash. The built into the camera flash won't trigger ANYTHING! It won't trigger the wireless slave, and because of its double pulse it'll premateurly trigger an optical slave, except for one special slave made by Wein that can't be plugged into either flash you mentioned.

Both flashes by the way offer a "modeling light" feature, not just the Sigma; but it's not like a real, always-on modelling light. The flash flickers on for a bit and you look - quickly - to see how things are. I've NEVER used this feature in my 550. It's hard on the flash and I'm not sure if I could see much anyway. I'd rather take a shot and look at the review screen.

What you really need are some inexpensive strobes like Alien Bees. They will have real modeling lights, take conventional synch cords and have very common softbox collars. You'll also need a flash meter to set up ratios if you have more than one strobe. With just one flash you could get away with using your histogram to figure out the exposure, but it'd be very difficult to set up lighting ratios without one.

[robertwgross]

Neither the Canon 550 not the Sigma 550 take a conventional synch cord and they would have to be triggered with either an optical or radio slave.

It MIGHT be possible to trigger a Canon 550EX or 420EX with the normal wireless system. However, trying to get the sensors cranked around to see one another will be very difficult when one end is inside a softbox.

I have a Lumiquest diffuser that fits around the flash head only of my 550EX, so it leaves the lower part of the flash unit exposed for wireless sensing purposes.

Still, it is not an ideal situation.

---Bob Gross---

[ShutteringFocus]

Ahh, I see. So the wireless system is based on "light sensors" that must be able to SEE the light emited from the transmitter.

And I didn't know the modeling light was actually a flicker of the flash...but I suppose that makes sense...the flash bulb couldnt be turned on and left on.

Thanks

[scottbergerphoto]

If you want to, you can purchase Canon Hot shoe to Pocket Wizard miniplug cords that allow you to attach a Pocket Wizard Receiver to your 550EX and put the Transmitter on your hot shoe. You are then using Manual flash as you would studio strobes. I like to have this option. Since I already had the PW's for my studio lights, it was a small investment. You can get these cords here:
http://www.paramountcords.com/Pockwiz.asp
It's the same cord as for the EZ flash.
Scott

[OviV]

With the Sigma 500 Super DG you will most likely be able to trigger it as an optical (non-ETTL) slave. I usually have one that I bounce off the ceiling behind my backdrops and it fires fine eventhough it is not visible. However, you will not be able to use the built in flash to fire the flash off since the pre-flash will fire it before the shutter opens. You will need to have your camera in manual mode and your on camera flash also needs to be one that can be set to manual mode. My setup includes 2 inexpensive strobes with umbrellas, a 500 Super DG set to manual mounted on the camera pointing back and set to 1/32 power (solely to fire the slaves), and a 500 Super DG behind the backdrop bounced off the ceiling and usually set to 1/2 power and to manual slave.

Ovi

[cmM]

there are ways to trigger the flashgun, but if you put one flash inside any decent sized softbox, you won't get much light. A friend tried this, he actually used 2 550EX flashes inside a large softbox, and the result was nowhere near useable.
So if you want to shoot through a softbox you're better off just getting a strobe.

[Akreager]

I think you will find that a standard strobe soft box - say 24x36 is a bit too much for a flash gun. Chimera and Photoflex offer decent options 16x20 and 12x16 respectively that are designed specifically to work with your type of set up. I have the PF one and am quite happy with it.

[Visuals]

I think you will find that a standard strobe soft box - say 24x36 is a bit too much for a flash gun. Chimera and Photoflex offer decent options 16x20 and 12x16 respectively that are designed specifically to work with your type of set up. I have the PF one and am quite happy with it.

Which PhotoFlex one do you own? I was thinking about getting the Chimera XXS 12x16 one but it retails for $90 and the bracket for the 580ex flash is about $50. whats your alternative?

Thanks in advance
Visuals~

[DavidEB]

My home-made softbox is a large (about 12x12x6 in) translucent tupperware container. The bottom of the container points towards the subject. I lined the top with aluminum foil and cut a rectangular hole in the top to accomodate the flash gun (420EX). The hole is cut out on 3 sides, and the plastic lip bends out to secure to the flash with a rubber band. the red plastic receiver thingy is outside the box. I spin the flash around on it's axis so the receiver points to me. The shoe of the flash is waving around in the air. on one side of the tuperware box I cut a 1/4 inch hole, so I can bolt the contraption to a tripod. With my sigma 500 super on-camera, I can trigger the 420EX to fire thru the homemade softbox.

If needed you could conceivably put several flashes in the same softbox.

when done with the softbox I store all my flash gear in it (flashes, cords, 1/4-20 nuts & bolts, colored foil, etc...)