Opinions on Lumiquest softbox?

is it worth it? Should I get my 580 ex II off the camera and then get some type of diffuser?

yes you should get the 580 off the camera and get a diffuser... depending what you want and will be shooting I highly doubt the lumiquest will do thaaaaat much to diffuse, if you are looking at location shooting where you dont need to be tooo portable, get a stand and a softbox or something and you will get some really nice light out of the 580

The lumiquest softboxes are really too small to do much good. You dont say how you envision using it, but they only way they do much good is for event work where you are very close to your subject, otherwise there are better options. Tell us more about how you you want to work.

I have a Lumiquest Softbox - it's better than bare bulb, but not a great modifier.

I've seen the Softbox III and the LTP being used by Joe McNally on the flashbus tour, looks considerably better for headshots / portraits than the regular Softbox model - I'm tempted considering how cheap and portable they are

For soft light...size matters....and proximity.

Shockey wrote in post #12213509
For soft light...size matters....and proximity.

This.

If I'm lighting a small kids toy, my Lumiquest Softbox would probably be fine.

A persons head, I'd go try the Lumiquest LTP or Softbox III and get it right in close (saw McNally doing just this)

I've been using the Lumiquest Softbox III and Softbox LTP for months. They do a good job for head or head and shoulders if placed within about 2-3 feet of the subject. Next option up is something larger like the Cheetah Qbox 16 or Qbox 24 (see Qbox 24 thread elsewhere in POTN). and in answer to your first question: yes, you should definitely get your 580EX off camera for improved image quality.

The self-portrait in my avatar (above left) was shot with a Softbox III just out of the frame to camera right.

Alright, what do you think would be the best for a flash if I wanted to keep it on the camera for now and wanted to do portraits, but not just head shots?

Chrisnuge13 wrote in post #12215626
Alright, what do you think would be the best for a flash if I wanted to keep it on the camera for now and wanted to do portraits, but not just head shots?

Your question pretty much limits the quality of light you can get. Staying on camera means the largest light source you can get is maybe 16 inches or so. That kind of lighting is meant for event work, not a proper portrait setup. I'd suggest a demb flipit, or the large rogue flashbender.

Or perhaps get a reflector and bounce the flash into the reflector. Another option is one of the pseudo ring flash attachments that use your on-camera flash for the light source and produce a more interesting light that straight flash.

Bite the bullet and get the flash off camera if you want to do serious portraits.
My stand and softbox cost a total of $100. it is easy....just do it.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12213470
The lumiquest softboxes are really too small to do much good. You dont say how you envision using it, but they only way they do much good is for event work where you are very close to your subject, otherwise there are better options. Tell us more about how you you want to work.

do you have any other suggestions for ultra-portable modifiers? I just bought the softbox LTP because I was thinking it would be good for some snaps at events. Especially for rooms where I have no good ceiling or walls to bounce flash from. The kind of stuff I intend to shoot isn't anything where I need amazing high-class photos, I'm just thinking for getting usable shots to document an event when there isn't an option of doing the full set-up with multiple lights and large modifiers.


I'll try to post with a few words once it gets here though. There's not a lot of info to be found on these lumiquest boxes, my search just led me here

elogical wrote in post #12237066
do you have any other suggestions for ultra-portable modifiers? I just bought the softbox LTP because I was thinking it would be good for some snaps at events. Especially for rooms where I have no good ceiling or walls to bounce flash from. The kind of stuff I intend to shoot isn't anything where I need amazing high-class photos, I'm just thinking for getting usable shots to document an event when there isn't an option of doing the full set-up with multiple lights and large modifiers.


I'll try to post with a few words once it gets here though. There's not a lot of info to be found on these lumiquest boxes, my search just led me here

The LTP will work for what you want to do. It will be softer than a direct flash, but if your subjects are more than a few feet away the effect will be minimal. I've used several varieties of the small softboxes over the years and have come to believe that the large bounce cards are a better solution, particularly those that are adjustable like the Demb flipit and the rogue flashbender. They are easier to work with than the softbox and they have the ability to be used as to kick light forward when you have a low ceiling to bounce off of, or to direct all the light forward when you dont.

The lumiquest softboxes are pretty nice for what they are: a very small softbox. If you get it up close - for product photography, it's big enough to wrap around small subjects. If you get it like 10 feet away for portrait photography, it's too small to really soften the light around your subject, and will still give you pretty hard shadows.

I'd recommend starting product photography with a cardboard box and something like paper tissue or tracing paper diffuser. I've done quite a few product shots with the box from a senseo coffee maker with two or three flashes (lit from top and either left, right or both).
If that works out for you, a lumiquest softbox is a nice tool, but to get the most of it, consider that you might also want radiotriggers and a lightstand - or preferably a boom arm.
If a boom arm is too big/expensive, a tripod can come a long way, and for speedlights, even a reflector holder can easily hold it's weight and act as a boom.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12238505
The LTP will work for what you want to do. It will be softer than a direct flash, but if your subjects are more than a few feet away the effect will be minimal. I've used several varieties of the small softboxes over the years and have come to believe that the large bounce cards are a better solution, particularly those that are adjustable like the Demb flipit and the rogue flashbender. They are easier to work with than the softbox and they have the ability to be used as to kick light forward when you have a low ceiling to bounce off of, or to direct all the light forward when you dont.

Thanks, I like those ideas too, the flashbender looks nice. I've seen a few of those before but they looked kinda cheap and floppy, this one is hopefully a bit nicer.

I didn't realize at first that the OP is likely referring to the lumiquest mini softbox, not the softbox III or LTP. The mini definitely looks too small to do anything you can't do with a little dome diffuser.

I'd like to use the LTP for situations like, for example, where I have someone someone speaking at a podium and I can clip the LTP in position, then shoot from the middle or back of the room with a longer lens. I'm trying to avoid the snooted straight-flash approach.

The softbox seems to have limited usefulness for moving around a room with it except for when I have someone else to hold it

...or plan B could be just to point my flash straight up with a Fong lightsphere on it and shoot like that all night with no adjustments or further thought ... it seems to work for everyone else, lol