Any feedback on this softbox?

[rraman]

I came across this on Amazon, it's pretty cheap and has got good reviews. Would appreciate any feedback on this or possible alternatives.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017U0WM8/ref=s9_subs_gw_s0_p114_t3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=13YZDC8FM8JH4JAJSX8J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470939031&pf_rd_i=507846

Thanks!

[The Fox]

They are pretty nice for the money. Still to small for really soft lighting unless you get close(good for off camera macro). I would still prefer my omni bounce over it unless I was using if for macro.
Nick

[TMR Design]

For what it is, I"m sure it works but 'works' is a relative term. Increasing the apparent size of the light source will diffuse and soften light. A device like that really isn't increasing the size of the light source by much and if the flash is on camera and you're at any reasonable distance from your subject you're not going to really improve the quality of light.

Something like a Westcott Mini Apollo is really the smallest modifier I would use on an on camera flash to increase the size of the light source and change the quality of light in any significant way.

[fanorama]

Its nice and got good reviews. http://www.cookiewriter.com/trafficreport/img/3721/j09s0423emrh/a.gif

[rraman]

Thanks everyone for feedback!

[Hermes]

Not worth it for on camera work IMO. The huge efficiency gains you get from your flash zooming to match the focal length of your lens will be lost when you use a diffuser that sprays light everywhere - that's a big sacrifice in battery power and recycle times for such a tiny, insignificant increase in the size of your light source. From my experience, you get much better results using direct flash on a good bracket than with a small softbox in the hotshoe.

If you do a lot of shoots where you know you'll be working close-up and you'll be able to deal with the wasted battery power then it may be worth your while getting a softbox. Still, you'd need to go a lot bigger than this for any real difference in light quality.

[bobbyz]

I saw a guy on FM use something similar from lumniquest. He was using 2 off camera flashes side by side and both flahes had these little things. The pictures taken were real nice IMHO.

Edited - Here is the link:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/755623

Admin - Hope it is OK to post this link.

[Familiaphoto]

The Lumiquest equivalent is the Softbox II. Its ok, but I don't use it any longer as the light source just does not get large enough. I have used the softbox III off camera and been happy with the results, but even with that you have to get in close.