umbrella frame softboxes with fiberglass rib??

I have come to love umbrella framed modifiers for use with speedlites and "super speedlites" such as the CL-180/360. The problem is that most of them have U channel metal ribs. these are easy to kink at the point where they are connected to the extension arm for the umbrella mechanism.

I am eager to find options that have fiberglass ribs.

I have heard that some of the Westcott Apollos have fiberglass ribs. Aslo, that the Phottix octa does. (unfortunately it can not be ordered for delivery inside the US.)

Are there other options?

Please list them with links and suggested retail pricing.

Thanks.

All of my Westcott Apollos have Fiberglass ribs. Have been treating me very well.

Look here:
http://stores.ebay.com …d=169957222&_st​pos=&gbr=1
Beside this eBay seller,lately I saw some others who sell from China/HK the same stuff (or close to that).
Good luck!

David: SNAP. Exactly the same situation here - love the convenience of the umbrella-opening form, loathe the collapsing-rib-syndrome. I did something about it, I ordered one of the Mk II Phottix Octas which is described by them as having fibreglass ribs (the Octa is the only one they actually mention as having the fibreglass ribs - I checked. Thoroughly). I saw with some glee last night that it was placed on the local van for delivery this morning, so currently jumping about with anticipation.

The price of the Westcott in the UK puts them way beyond realistic for what they are, it's more like catheterisation (ie. taking the p*ss) than pricing to sell. I've heard so many tales of Westcott's offering also collapsing that I'm not prepared to spend US$239 to find if they are true.

Once this has arrived (without the rather puerile video of person-unwrapping-gear-and-calling-it-a-"review"), one of my thoughts was using the principle to modify subsequent softboxes with fibreglass. A preliminary idea was, coincidentally to J.Doe's post, to get one of those rather nice looking umbrellas from Trevor at Cotswold Photo and using the frame to modify an otherwise satisfactory box. 16 fibreglass ribs paired up to make the 8 required may solve the problem. Strange that we've taken a very old design of an essentially disposable article (the bent metal umbrella frame), accepted it's faults and foibles by placing it under far greater stress than was ever intended and only now seek to make it fit for purpose. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" may be a sound principle, but when it is broke(n)..........

I tried 'splinting' existing ribs, either with piano wire inside the 'U' shape (which doesn't support the actual point of collapse) or fibreglass alongside it (which additionally stretches the covering material). Neither was especially successful as they both place additional stress on all the little joints with the added tension - simply shifts the failure zone from rib to joint. We shall see what can be done with a bit of wit, ingenuity and the engineer's best friend, the big 'ammer.

dmward wrote in post #16044080
I have come to love umbrella framed modifiers for use with speedlites and "super speedlites" such as the CL-180/360. The problem is that most of them have U channel metal ribs. these are easy to kink at the point where they are connected to the extension arm for the umbrella mechanism.

I am eager to find options that have fiberglass ribs.

I have heard that some of the Westcott Apollos have fiberglass ribs. Aslo, that the Phottix octa does. (unfortunately it can not be ordered for delivery inside the US.)

Are there other options?

Please list them with links and suggested retail pricing.

Thanks.

David, the Broncolor Para 170 FB has fiberglass ribs but I guess it's just a tad bigger than you want, huh?

Sorry I can't offer you any other help.

Nick5 wrote in post #16044129
All of my Westcott Apollos have Fiberglass ribs. Have been treating me very well.

Nick,
That's good to know. I bought an Apollo a few years ago and sent it back because of the metal ribs. What sizes do you have. The Orb and the strips are the two that I'd get if they have fiberglass ribs.

Phil,
I have a couple of Phottix octas. Got them before they quit shipping to US. They have metal ribs and I've reinforced them with music wire since the ribs had collapsed. Unfortunately they won't ship to US anymore.

I have the Orb, Strip and two Medium Apollos all with Fiberglass ribs.
When purchasing at my local store, we made sure each one was the fiberglass as I was alerted to this by Syl Arena last fall. At that time Westcott was beginning to faze in the fiberglass ribs along with the capped umbrella shaft. This does make a difference.

David: I'm CROSS (furious actually) - my Phottix Octa Mark 2 arrived a couple of hours ago. Label on product bag says Mk 2 but the ribs are still the same useless u-shaped metal ribs; just with a bit of fibreglass rod poked in round the joints. In other words, they are no better than the repairs which you and I have already effected on various makes.

Stating, as they do in their own webpages (no scope for errors in cut & paste from someone else's blurb then), that the Mk 2 has fibreglass ribs is simply misleading. I'm taking this up with Phottix at this moment but I am severely not a happy bunny.

Godox seem able to produce a more workman-like mini Octa for their 19" offering for the Cheetah Fabric Beauty Dish. Does anyone know if this more durable approach extends to their larger softboxes, with components suitably beefed-up? Fibreglass is hardly a new phenomenon so why the lethargy in at least trying it - or is it simply the age-old problem of "Near enough is good enough"? The search continues, apparently.

Nick5 wrote in post #16044810
I have the Orb, Strip and two Medium Apollos all with Fiberglass ribs.
When purchasing at my local store, we made sure each one was the fiberglass as I was alerted to this by Syl Arena last fall. At that time Westcott was beginning to faze in the fiberglass ribs along with the capped umbrella shaft. This does make a difference.

Thanks Nick.

I just bought an Apollo Orb a few months ago and it has metal u channel ribs. Bent one the first time I used it. I have an Apollo strip that I bought a year ago but I will have to find it and get back to you on that.

agv8or wrote in post #16045345
I just bought an Apollo Orb a few months ago and it has metal u channel ribs. Bent one the first time I used it. I have an Apollo strip that I bought a year ago but I will have to find it and get back to you on that.

Here's the image of the Orb interior that Westcott has up on their site:

HTTP response: 403 | MIME changed to 'application/xml'

So, basically Westcott have identified the problem with the 'U' channel ribs and done something about it. Well done them.

Whether we actually get the newer model with the fibreglass ribs is all down to the luck of the draw and how long the supplier has had the item in stock?

agv8or wrote in post #16045345
I just bought an Apollo Orb a few months ago and it has metal u channel ribs. Bent one the first time I used it. I have an Apollo strip that I bought a year ago but I will have to find it and get back to you on that.

That's what turned me off of Westcott and onto the no-name knock-offs. Why pay a premium when they are so fragile.

Now that they have fiberglass ribs its a different story.

I remember some Chinese eBay knockoffs that had dual fiberglass ribs, but can't find the thread or link for those. Anyone recall those?

http://www.amazon.com …3&keywords=neew​er+softbox


This one has fiberglass ribs.