Photoflex speedring for AB's

I'm looking to purchase 3 AB's really soon, but i have read that the AB softbox/octaboxes are mediocre. So i have been thinking of getting 2 photoflex rectangular and octagon softboxes. If anyone could help me out, i was wondering what speedrings everyone is using to hook up their Photoflex modifiers to their AB's. I have looked at the BH site for speedrings and the ones they sell are 50 bucks a pop... i was hoping that there are cheaper ones...

Speedrings from Photoflex are about what you saw, $40.00 to $50.00. Ones from Chimera are even higher.

An octagon ring will likely cost even more.

I just looked at the speedring at the AB site. I am reasonably confident that the $30.00 ring shown in the link below will work perfectly with either an octagon, or rectangular softbox from Photoflex. But, the cited AB speedring will not work with a strip dome type of softbox.

http://www.alienbees.c​om/softboxes.html

To some degree softbox speedrings from Photoflex and Chimera are standard. It looks like the AB speedring is in sync with that same standard (but not for strip dome type of softboxes).

But note that if you get a softbox from AB, a speedring is included. Unless your softboxes are going to get a grand amount of service, it is very likely that the quality of the AB softboxes will suffice.

I think AB has a no questions asked money back policy (check to be sure). A test fit might not be very painful.

Enjoy! Lon

The AB speedring works fine with my Photoflex 6' softbox...it's not really complex so you don't need to spend more on a name brand from B&H.

Also using an AB speedring with my Photoflex 48" (i think its 48" lol) litedome softbox. Works very well.

Thanks londuck , CDI-ink.com, and Reminisce for the replies.

Awesome news that the AB speedring will fit a photoflex octa and rectangular softbox as they are significantly cheaper than name brand ones from BHphoto and i can still get the accessary discount .

Londuck i was actually still considering the AB softbox and octabox cause they are cheaper, espeacially x3. Not sure what light mod's to get right now ..... my wallet is telling me go AB but my addiction to good gear is telling me to go Photoflex

FWIW, I have cheap $15 translucent umbrellas (one savage, one paterson interfit), a cheap-ish $23 silver reflective umbrella (paterson interfit), and a good Photoflex softbox. IMHO umbrellas aren't worth paying much for but a softbox should be pretty solid.

I have two AlienBees softboxes (Medium and Giant) and I'm very happy with the quality of them. From some of the comments I read in the forums, I was half expecting something made out of tin foil and trash bags. Instead, what I received was a well made product that fully met my needs. These things aren't rocket science. The materials are good as is the fit and finish.

I'd be interested in hearing comments from people who have an AlienBees softbox and a more expensive one. What makes something like Photoflex worth triple the price?

dagwell wrote in post #2030653
I have two AlienBees softboxes (Medium and Giant) and I'm very happy with the quality of them. From some of the comments I read in the forums, I was half expecting something made out of tin foil and trash bags. Instead, what I received was a well made product that fully met my needs. These things aren't rocket science. The materials are good as is the fit and finish.

I'd be interested in hearing comments from people who have an AlienBees softbox and a more expensive one. What makes something like Photoflex worth triple the price?

I'll pitch in. The AB Softbox is actually of good quality, my personal reason for getting a Photoflex softbox, however, had nothing to do with that. The Litedome series is ideal for me because of extremely flexible it is to set up and break down. Its all zip up and stick in, prop up and go. I do almost all of my work on the go, and having a high quality softbox that is also as easy to carry around as the rest of my gear is HUGE plus. I was also set on getting the AB softboxes as I'd already had a big order going already, until I saw someone's tutorial on a Photoflex Litedome and how it sets up, and I was stolen.

Thats my personal reason.

MikeKS wrote in post #2030521
Thanks londuck , CDI-ink.com, and Reminisce for the replies.

Awesome news that the AB speedring will fit a photoflex octa and rectangular softbox as they are significantly cheaper than name brand ones from BHphoto and i can still get the accessary discount .

Londuck i was actually still considering the AB softbox and octabox cause they are cheaper, espeacially x3. Not sure what light mod's to get right now ..... my wallet is telling me go AB but my addiction to good gear is telling me to go Photoflex

I use Photoflex softboxes. I use Chimera softboxes. I use very inexpensive soft boxes from China. And, and I have inspected the soft boxes from Alien Bee.

I agree that both the Photoflex and the Chimera softboxes are more heavy duty. The Alien Bee units are a less rugged that the Photoflex and Chimera softboxes, but more rugged that most of the inexpensive Chinese softboxes.

The quality of the Alien Bee softboxes are fine for anyone except the user that is going to be setting up and tearing down the softbox daily.

If you are going to just set your softbox up and leave it, or just get it out and set it up every week or so, the quality of the Alien Bee softbox is fine.

Enjoy! Lon

I wanna give you all a big hug !!!!

I plan on assembling and leaving my softboxes in my studio space. If teh only advantage of Photoflex or chimera over the AB's is build quality and ease of tearing down and setting up then i think i'll be ok with just the AB softboxes. My wallet is loving you guys right now!

-Mike

I have had the giant softbox for about 3 years now and it has served well. I have had to resow a section of the outer diffuser panel's velcro, but that was rather easy.

I also have the octobox for about a year now and it is very easy to use.

They go up and down about once or twice a month.

At the community college where I am taking a studio lighting class they are use photoflex softboxes on AlienBees (using the AB speedrings) and they don't look much better then the AB softboxes, but I suspect they have seen a lot more wear then mine.

I do know they don't work any better.

Just my experience,

Reminisce wrote in post #2031293
... I'd already had a big order going already, until I saw someone's tutorial on a Photoflex Litedome and how it sets up, and I was stolen ...

Okay, I am interested in the tutorial you saw. Can you give me a ink to it? Thanks.

I have an AB softbox and a Photoflex softbox which I attach with an AB speedring to by AB800s. The speedring works equally well with either softbox.

I have a strong preference for the Photoflex softbox for the ease of setup, the quality of the materials, and the larger selections available from Photoflex.

Ray Marrero wrote in post #2032198
Okay, I am interested in the tutorial you saw. Can you give me a ink to it? Thanks.

I'm not the OP, but it's probably one of these

http://www.photoflexli​ghtingschool.com …ct_Comparisons/​index.html

I have the AB speedring and a Photoflex softbox, works fine.