Octabox - Fotodiox or Wescott?

So I just got my AB800 with a 22inch white beauty dish. Great stuff! I wanted an octabox from the get-go but decided on the BD with the original PCB order. Never-the-less, I'm getting ready to pull the card out for the octa but i wanted some opinions first. I current have, and use, a Wescott Rapid Box Octa 26 for my speedlights. It's awesome, and I love how easy it is to put up and take down. Double as a 26" beauty dish for my speedlight as well with the inner deflector plate- bonus! With that in mind the Wescott Rapid Box XXL (47" octa) is high on my list, but it IS a little pricey at $300. So I started looking and found the Fotodiox EZ-Pro 48" Octa for 1/3 of the cost of the Rapid Box.

So I'm wondering if I should just pull the trigger on the Fotodiox Octa, or wait a little bit longer and pick up a Rapid Box XXL. Any opinions from users of either, or maybe if you've used both? I've seen videos on youtube about the Fotodiox octa being difficult to break down due to the umbrella like construction. Any truth to it, or is there a way to lessen the tension to make it easier to break down?

the fotodiox is alot more durable then the wescott, but it also weights more. They both are good octas and do the same thing. I would go with the fotodiox, but I really like their beefier locking system.

I have the smaller Fotodiox Octabox and the tension is pretty tight. It's not the easier to take down.

sportmode wrote in post #17051734
I have the smaller Fotodiox Octabox and the tension is pretty tight. It's not the easier to take down.

LOL seems pretty easy to me

http://youtu.be/RNitRa​bT9yw

I have the 60" fotodiox and a couple of their strip boxes. Theyre great and easy to put up and take down.

Why not the Buff 35" or 47" Octa from Buff? You get a discount on it also, up to 60 days after you purchase a strobe from them. I have both Octa's I mentioned and they perform great.

kcpyro wrote in post #17052745
Why not the Buff 35" or 47" Octa from Buff? You get a discount on it also, up to 60 days after you purchase a strobe from them. I have both Octa's I mentioned and they perform great.

I can get the Fotodiox for $100 and free 2-day shipping on Amazon. That's the biggest reason. But if I did decide on the buff octa would I have to call them to get the discount or is it applied online as well?

I had their (Fotodiox) 48" Octa and they are beefy! The first install of the rods are pretty stiff so I was putting my weight on it (I weigh 210) and once it's assembled & disassembled few times the rod bends a bit to make the install easier.

Also be careful taking off the front diffuser; it can tear really easily if you don't hold it by the velcro. Fotodiox of course replaced within a week I sent it to them but just a FYI. Probably the only part that's a weak spot.

Keep in mind that there are 2 different FotoDiox lines, the Pro & the EZ-Pro.

ozzmodan wrote in post #17052934
Keep in mind that there are 2 different FotoDiox lines, the Pro & the EZ-Pro.

I'm looking at the EZ-Pro.

Just chiming in; I have a Fotodiox EZ-Pro strip box and I like it a lot. The speedring needs a little lubrication, I think, so it'll turn smoothly when under pressure.

I'm mad at it right now, though; I wasn't paying attention when popping it up the other day, and it pinched the livin' bejeeeezus out of my finger.

nathancarter wrote in post #17053347
I'm mad at it right now, though; I wasn't paying attention when popping it up the other day, and it pinched the livin' bejeeeezus out of my finger.

Been there and done that

Ouch! How does the reflector plate of the fotodiox ez-pro fare? I like the deflector plate on my current 26" Rapid Box Octa and I like the idea of having the flexibility of having 47" "beauty dish" on location (if i were to use the Wescott).

rivas8409 wrote in post #17053397
How does the reflector plate of the fotodiox ez-pro fare?.

None of mine came with one. I guess it was added later after I got mine over 4 years ago.

abbadon31 wrote in post #17053460
None of mine came with one. I guess it was added later after I got mine over 4 years ago.

Maybe it is a recent addition. Not sure, but the one I'm looking at on Amazon comes with it. Makes me wonder if I could use the fotodiox as a "beauty dish" like I could with the Rapid Box XXL.