visico grid softbox

[Galaxy99]

I am looking into various grid softboxes. I am usually a Calumet Nova software user. However, it doesn't come with grid. So I look around ebay and seeing some visico strip softbox with a higher price against all other non-brand. I like to good quality ones especially the rod connection at the box corner. Does anybody have experience with visico stuff. Also it comes in cm dimension which is tough to figure out how big they exactly are...:p

Thanks,

[57hardtop]

I posted about these softboxes a short while ago...maybe this can help (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=8631454#post8631454)

or this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=8820929#post8820929) thread may be informative for you...then follow the links in the threads I linked to

In a nutshell...I think they are a fantastic alternative to the overpriced name brands...albeit maybe not as high in quality...they're worth every penny for a non pro ;)

40cm is approx 16 inches
60cm is approx 24 inches
150cm is approx 59 inches
200cm is approx 79 inches

Hope that helps a little :)

[Galaxy99]

thanks. I bought a small grid strip softbox off ebay, but the 4 rods were not fixed with the 4 corners of the softbox, they kept falling off and there was no way for me to use it without spending much time to adjustment them. I hope it won't happen on visico. Can you please confirm that?

[57hardtop]

it sounds like you want a foldable softbox...one where everything is pre-assembled and you just unfold it...all the parts are attached together. The Visico softboxes need to be assembled and disassembled each time you want to use it or take it down...maybe they aren't for you then :(

[mrrod2001]

Just got the 150cm octobox and it's alittle to big, but yes it has holes and little straps for the poles. Good quality for the price, great for the hobbyist/enthusiast on a budget.

[Galaxy99]

it sounds like you want a foldable softbox...one where everything is pre-assembled and you just unfold it...all the parts are attached together. The Visico softboxes need to be assembled and disassembled each time you want to use it or take it down...maybe they aren't for you then :( oh, if the assembly doesn't take too long and easy, it will be fine, especially the place where I can insert the rod in... oh any suggestions on foldable softbox with grid for sale on ebay

[isaax]

oh, if the assembly doesn't take too long and easy, it will be fine, especially the place where I can insert the rod in... oh any suggestions on foldable softbox with grid for sale on ebay

I have the Visico 36"x48 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Softbox-90cm-x-120cm-Honeycomb-Grid-AlienBees-Alien-Bee_W0QQitemZ200408451904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item2ea9464b40)" softbox for my Alien Bees and I am pretty impressed with the build quality for the price. Looks like the seller raised the price by $10 since I purchased a couple months ago though. The metal poles are pretty strong so the softbox when fully assembled does not sag from it's own weight even with the grid installed. The black shell material used for the softbox is pretty thick so there is no visible light passing through it. IMO you get MORE than what you pay for the Visico product and would recommend it to anyone looking for a non-foldable softbox. My only gripe is disassembly. It takes a little more effort than assembling it. But that's just me since I'm a lazy ass with little patience :).

Now for the FotoDiox Foldable 32"x48" Softbox (http://cgi.ebay.com/EZ-Pro-Softbox-32x48-AlienBees-Alien-Bees-Grid_W0QQitemZ350261183681QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item518d3184c1) which is another eBay softbox but is foldable like an umbrella. I purchased this shortly after purchasing the Visico. It too comes with a grid for $139. I am not happy with the build quality. The black shell material is very thin and I am able to see my modeling light through it. The umbrella frame works, but is not very strong. When the softbox is fully assembled and mounted to my Alien Bee it sags under it's own weight and sags even more when the grid is installed to a point where I'm worried it's going to break. The included grid is longer than the softbox itself and not a perfect fit. If I had to do it over again, I would've spent the additional $40 for the large foldable softbox + grid from Paul C. Buff.
You get what you pay for for the FotoDiox unit IMO.

[Galaxy99]

I have the Visico 36"x48 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Softbox-90cm-x-120cm-Honeycomb-Grid-AlienBees-Alien-Bee_W0QQitemZ200408451904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item2ea9464b40)" softbox for my Alien Bees and I am pretty impressed with the build quality for the price. Looks like the seller raised the price by $10 since I purchased a couple months ago though. The metal poles are pretty strong so the softbox when fully assembled does not sag from it's own weight even with the grid installed. The black shell material used for the softbox is pretty thick so there is no visible light passing through it. IMO you get MORE than what you pay for the Visico product and would recommend it to anyone looking for a non-foldable softbox. My only gripe is disassembly. It takes a little more effort than assembling it. But that's just me since I'm a lazy ass with little patience :).

Now for the FotoDiox Foldable 32"x48" Softbox (http://cgi.ebay.com/EZ-Pro-Softbox-32x48-AlienBees-Alien-Bees-Grid_W0QQitemZ350261183681QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item518d3184c1) which is another eBay softbox but is foldable like an umbrella. I purchased this shortly after purchasing the Visico. It too comes with a grid for $139. I am not happy with the build quality. The black shell material is very thin and I am able to see my modeling light through it. The umbrella frame works, but is not very strong. When the softbox is fully assembled and mounted to my Alien Bee it sags under it's own weight and sags even more when the grid is installed to a point where I'm worried it's going to break. The included grid is longer than the softbox itself and not a perfect fit. If I had to do it over again, I would've spent the additional $40 for the large foldable softbox + grid from Paul C. Buff.
You get what you pay for for the FotoDiox unit IMO.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. :) I use bowen mount so I usually use calumet softbox foldable but no grid. I don't think you can buy separate grid for their nova softbox but I could not be wrong. I have less patience on assembling or dissembling stuff as well. I will defi stay away from fotodiox for sure then.