Help with stripbox modifier purchase

Hi gang,

I'm thinking about my first stripbox to emulate window light inside homes when a window isn't practical. I have my eye on this one on Amzn. https://www.amazon.com …l&keywords=stri​p+softbgox
It has a double diffusion element, which is new to me, so I'm wondering if I'll really need my strobe inside or if I can/should buy the speedlite adapter and if a speedlite such as YN560IV is enough power for a key light on say 1/2 power.
Other recommendations welcome. I'm really curious why some cost $250.

Thanks!

something like thishttps://www.amazon.com …l&keywords=stri​p+softbgox

Heya,

The difficult thing with a large/long modifier and a speedlite is the spread of light, even at 24mm on the speedlite, will produce a hot spot and have a gradient down towards the edges. A strobe is configured to have a lot more spread and will fill it better.

That said, if you want to try it with a speedlite, I would look for a version where the light bounces on a silver reflective surface, rather than firing into the box from the back. You will get a more even spread that way.

Very best,

I probably wouldn't get such a large box especially for small speedlites. I have a 18x36 asymmetrical strip soft box for my big strobe for jewelry advertising and fashion. I think a 10x24 size is appropriate for speedlite since it won't fill that 14x63 even on the widest setting because of the fresnel section of the speedlite.

I even looked at what Westcott company does for their speedlite strip boxes, and they put in a deflector plate for speedlite to help light up the edges of the boxes they sell. See LINK~~ https://www.fjwestcott​.com/the-rapid-box-deflector-plate

As for the prices these boxes cost... Well, only the end user can answer if it is worth it. I have an asymmetrical strip that works wonders for fashion since I don't have to waste half the box on the ceiling, and on top of it I have a wonderful falloff/ feather for the dress. This is what it looks like~~

I angle the top of the strip closer to the face and so the bottom is moving back and so you a bit the same result.

The special box above is better and I might get one.

....tinking of making it myself. Get a strip light box and a normal or square one of which is the width measures back+sides is the same as of the strip light box in the middle. Cut both in the middle and in the back of the square one I also cut out a V shape with the pointy bit towards the speed ring hole. Saw it together or use awesome tape and I think you have to shorten the rods from the square box a bit.

The leggs of the V can to be straight because the bent rod was there before so that is already present in size of the box itself.

Silver-Halide wrote in post #18391430
Hi gang,

I'm thinking about my first stripbox to emulate window light inside homes when a window isn't practical. I have my eye on this one on Amzn. https://www.amazon.com …l&keywords=stri​p+softbgox
It has a double diffusion element, which is new to me, so I'm wondering if I'll really need my strobe inside or if I can/should buy the speedlite adapter and if a speedlite such as YN560IV is enough power for a key light on say 1/2 power.
Other recommendations welcome. I'm really curious why some cost $250.

Thanks!

Silver.
If you want a modifier for both strobes and Speedlites without the additional need for other brackets is the Westcott Apollo. A 16x30"Strip with optional Grid. Also in the Apollo line is the 28" Medium, 43" Orb and a 50" Box as well. Opens like an umbrella. Fire the light source into the back with its silver lining and the light bounces through the front soft diffusion panel creating nice soft light.

Cost wise, most here will never blink on $$$ on camera/lens. Good modifiers are worth it and very cheap IMHO compared to any lens purchase. I get light is light but if something makes a life little easier, it saves money. On better modifiers, fit and finish is better, grids are so much better. You can use with high wattage lights, they don't yellow that fast or change WB. I suggest spend money if you can on lighting gear.

thank you all, keep the comments coming.

I have a bowens mount strobe, but I'd rather use a speedlite indoors if possible, since I'm lazy and all that high hanging weight of a strobe whilst moving around in confined space makes me nervous. Strip box would be for people (models) photography so I don't think 36" length would be enough to be wroth the investment and learning curve. So I guess its strobe or bust. No pun intended. Just not sure if I need one for my next shoot later this month

Stripboxes aren't meant to emulate windows...how many windows have you seen that that 3-4' tall and 1' wide?!

Stripboxes are used to provide long light sources but with much less lateral spreading (that would be obtained with more squarish overall shape like 2'x3', 3'x4' that do emulate windows) which is often useful in product lighting sets

Just because a box is 3' wide does not mean that it has really hard cutoffs that make it ill suited to illuminating something 5-6' tall. I quantified to falloff from a very small softbox in this post...

https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=17847815

It will be for my first boudoir shoot. Are you saying that 3' is more practical than a 5-6' strip box? I assume a grid is appropriate to control light spill since we're shooting indoors.

Silver-Halide wrote in post #18392318
It will be for my first boudoir shoot. Are you saying that 3' is more practical than a 5-6' strip box? I assume a grid is appropriate to control light spill since we're shooting indoors.

I am saying

1. a stripbox is for 'more selective' dispersal of light, where you need a LONG source -- but which is not wide (so that you can more easily be selective in where light is cast)
   
2. a softbox which is any particular dimension does NOT necessarily have a hard cutoff which only illiminates an area of 'same' dimension...(see how my linked test illuminated a 5' tall area with a 2' tall softbox!)
   

SH, take a look at mmm's post 5. The point of the first two paragraphs is that you can achieve various looks with just one softbox. Given a decent quality box, there is no saying whether one is more or less practical than the other, rather, if it serves your purpose, it is practical FOR YOUR PURPOSE.

I tend to agree that a speedlight is not going to "fill up" a large strip box, but maybe that doesn't matter? Maybe you put the hotspot on the model's face and the part above helps provide a little more wrap around her head? Maybe that isn't what you want? Maybe grids help kill the spill inside? Maybe you want more spill?

You're not gonna fill that with a speed light, you need a bare bulb. What I like about the Fotodiox EzPro boxes is they have a deflector that redirects the light back into the reflective surface of the box (still need a bare bulb). Also, the Fotodiox are umbrella style so they are easy to deploy.

Also, a softbox isn't going to emulate window light because of fall off.

Ok consensus received: no being lazy. Strobe or don't bother. No speedlites. Thanks

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18392648
SH, take a look at mmm's post 5. The point of the first two paragraphs is that you can achieve various looks with just one softbox. Given a decent quality box, there is no saying whether one is more or less practical than the other, rather, if it serves your purpose, it is practical FOR YOUR PURPOSE.

I tend to agree that a speedlight is not going to "fill up" a large strip box, but maybe that doesn't matter? Maybe you put the hotspot on the model's face and the part above helps provide a little more wrap around her head? Maybe that isn't what you want? Maybe grids help kill the spill inside? Maybe you want more spill?

I mainly have in mind where a model has a strip of even light on the side of her body/limbs that is even and has some fall off across the body part. That's actually the main developmental practice goal I have from the shoot: Feathering light across the curved surface of mostly unclothed body parts.