Westcott Apollo softboxes versus Alien Bee foldable softboxes

[amoergosum]

What's the verdict on Alien Bee foldable softboxes versus Westcott Apollo foldable softboxes?

[TMR Design]

Assuming you're using strobes and not Speedlight's and the choice is Alien Bees foldable vs. Westcott Apollo, I would pick the Alien Bees. Better overall design, in my opinion.

[bobbyz]

I haven't used westcott sb but I have AB foldable strip box and I like it. My other SBs are photoflex. If you need to disassemble and assemble, foldable option is quite nice. And AB grids are much cheaper compared to others and not junk like some ebay brands.

[amoergosum]

Assuming you're using strobes and not Speedlight's and the choice is Alien Bees foldable vs. Westcott Apollo, I would pick the Alien Bees. Better overall design, in my opinion.

No, I'm actually using Speedlites. I plan to purchase a strobe later this year.
P.S.: Yes...I know that you're not a fan of the Westcott softboxes...:)

[TMR Design]

If you're going to use Speedlight's with the Alien Bees foldable box you're going to need to make some sort of bracket to make it work.

Using boxes with standard speed rings requires some sort of DIY or custom fabricated hardware. It can be done, and I've done it, but it takes a little bit of creativity and work.

Unless you're really set on having a softbox you might want to consider the Photek Softlighter II. It's a wonderful modifier that makes use of a standard umbrella adapter and requires no extra hardware at all. The Softlighter is a 3-in-1 solution, offering you a reflective bounce umbrella, a shoot through umbrella and a brolly-like softbox. It produces very nice, soft light, setup and breakdown is fast and painless and it works like a charm for so many varied applications.

There's a 46" and 60" version and both are nice. The 46" comes with the silver and gold disc which are very nice for portraiture.

[amoergosum]

If you're going to use Speedlight's with the Alien Bees foldable box you're going to need to make some sort of bracket to make it work.


Are you familiar with the Onelightworkshop dvd by Zack Arias?
He's using Speedlites inside his Apollo Westcott softboxes without any modification and the images look fantastic....am I missing something?

[TMR Design]

I am familiar with Zack's DVD's and I've met him. He does mention the inability to tilt the Apollo and he may not be aware of the uneven coverage.

Let me be clear about something. Just because I review a product and find fault does not mean that you can't produce great images with that product. I'm also not a fan of Paul Buff products but I don't ever say that you can't create beautiful images with his products or that images created with his products are inferior. But from a technical perspective I look at design and function and when I see a deficiency I point it out.

Another thing to keep in mind is that I've never said anything about the 50" Apollo, as I've never used one or explored its design. My comments about the Westcott Apollo pertain only to the 28" Apollo and my opinion of that product has not changed despite the fact that nice images can be produced using it. It doesn't work for me because I am much more about critical exposure than Zack is, and that's not a knock against Zack but he admits openly that he's not a technical guy so he may or may not be aware of these issues and may or may not be compensating for the shortcomings, whether he mentions it or not.

Not everyone is about critical exposure or looks at falloff as I do but I like to put the information out there for anyone that may care about these things. Nothing says that you or anyone should take my advice or find fault in a product I don't like. I'm just making other aware of my findings and that's all.

[amoergosum]

I am familiar with Zack's DVD's and I've met him. He does mention the inability to tilt the Apollo and he may not be aware of the uneven coverage.

Let me be clear about something. Just because I review a product and find fault does not mean that you can't produce great images with that product. I'm also not a fan of Paul Buff products but I don't ever say that you can't create beautiful images with his products or that images created with his products are inferior. But from a technical perspective I look at design and function and when I see a deficiency I point it out.

Another thing to keep in mind is that I've never said anything about the 50" Apollo, as I've never used one or explored its design. My comments about the Westcott Apollo pertain only to the 28" Apollo and my opinion of that product has not changed despite the fact that nice images can be produced using it. It doesn't work for me because I am much more about critical exposure than Zack is, and that's not a knock against Zack but he admits openly that he's not a technical guy so he may or may not be aware of these issues and may or may not be compensating for the shortcomings, whether he mentions it or not.

Not everyone is about critical exposure or looks at falloff as I do but I like to put the information out there for anyone that may care about these things. Nothing says that you or anyone should take my advice or find fault in a product I don't like. I'm just making other aware of my findings and that's all.


Thanks your sharing your thoughts.

[tenoverthenose]

This reminds me.. when I get a chance I need to get a shoot of my 50" Apollo to check the how even the light distribution is.

[nestle]

He's using Speedlites inside his Apollo Westcott softboxes without any modification and the images look fantastic....am I missing something?

Rob was referring to using Speedlites with Alien Bee softboxes since they are not designed to be mounted on a normal umbrella bracket like the Apollos. Remember that you always need a way to mount a light modifier onto the light source. A softbox designed for a monobloc strobe requires a speedring to be able to mount on a strobe head. You won't be able to use such softboxes on Speedlites without getting something that will mimic a speedring.

This is all unless Alienbees came out with new softboxes very recently that allows it to be speedlight compatible.

[GenuineRolla]

The alienbee's soft and octaboxes will allow for more angles to be used and I really like their light distribution.

[Rellik]

Apollo on a alienbee is a joke. I've tried it just for kicks and it is not something you want to try many time since it's not what it is made for.

If you are using speedlites, then the apollo is what you are going for.

These two products are not really comparable.

[TMR Design]

The Westcott Apollo is also made in what is called the Apollo Mono and that is made for monolights instead of shoe mount flashes but that design is deficient as well. It's just not a well thought out idea. I don't get it. Westcott is a great company but the Apollo line doesn't meet the usual high standard that Westcott is known for.

[Bumgardnern]

I have some expireence with the wescot Apollo. From my observation the older units were much more well made than the new ones. I used a 12 inch Apollo box not to long ago and found of to feel cheap. I used am older 28 inch Apollo box last week and thought of was pretty cool

Having said that the Apollo would be a much better choice for you if you are looking to use a super light and super compact when folded box with speed lights. The AB folding soft boxes are much larger than the Apollo boxes when folded. The Apollo boxes have major limitations mainly they seem to have uneven fall off and they do not allow for angeling the soft box on a standard location stand.

Both of the soft boxes have their advantages and disadvantages. You have to work with in the limitations of the gear you use and use each tool as effectivley as possible.