AlienBees folding softbox information

In searching for a new lighting boom, I wanted to know the weight of the AlienBees/White Lightning (Lightgear) folding softboxes. That info is not published on their web sites, so I called.

The medium (24x36) folding softbox weighs 5 lbs (rounded up)
The large (32x40) folding softbox also weighs 5 lbs (rounded up)
The giant (30x60) folding softbox weighs 7 lbs (rounded up)

I also found the sizes for these softboxes when folded up for transport or storage. I also found out that they come with carrying bags.

The medium (24x36) folding softbox packs at 26" long and about 7.5" diameter.
The large (32x40) folding softbox packs at 30" long and about 7.5" diameter.
The giant (30x60) folding softbox packs at 44" long and about 7.5" diameter.

I've ordered the medium and giant folding softboxes, so I'll get to test them out.

HI Skip,

I'm looking forward to seeing how you like the AB folding softboxes.

I'd also be cursious to see which boom you buy. I'm in the market for one now and I'm liking some of the booms that come with stands (some with wheels) because the boom is mounted on the top of the stand and forms a clean right angle whereas many of the booms like the AB boom mount on the second section of an existing heavy duty stand and limit the height a bit.

TMR Design wrote in post #3647453
HI Skip,

I'm looking forward to seeing how you like the AB folding softboxes.

I'd also be cursious to see which boom you buy. I'm in the market for one now and I'm liking some of the booms that come with stands (some with wheels) because the boom is mounted on the top of the stand and forms a clean right angle whereas many of the booms like the AB boom mount on the second section of an existing heavy duty stand and limit the height a bit.

Hi, Robert. I ordered the Manfrotto 3087 heavy duty boom package that comes with their 3071 stand. Here it is at Adorama.

Thank you Skip,

That looks like a very strong, heavy duty boom and stand. Can you tell me why you chose that one? Was there something in particular about it?

I've been looking at booms and my head is spinning from all the different ones I've seen.

Robert, when I added up the weights of the AB1600's and the softboxes, I decided that I was done with using booms that were marginally rated. I also found that the AlienBees 13-ft stands are only rated for 25 pounds load. The boom I am getting has a 15-pound counterweight. Thus, I ordered the kit with the stand that is rated for 66 pounds.

I want to be able to suspend the largest of the softboxes (or whatever modifier I come up with in the future) up in the air for some of the things I want to do, so I figured this will give me the reach and strength to do whatever I dream up.

Thanks again Skip.

That looks like a serious boom and stand. I have a question about the mount for the AB strobe. As you know, the AB's have a 'thumbscrew' that tightens within the swivle mount and fits over the stod on the end or top of a light stand.

If the boom is coming in from the side and the light is no longer sitting on top of the stand but rather coming off it horizonatlly, how do you secure the AB to the end of the boom without the strobe swiveling around on the stud? Sometimes you can tighten and tighten but all it's doing is applying pressure to the stud but it won't hold it if enough weight is causing the light (and whatever modifier is attached) to turn or change position. Have you found a solution for this? Drilling a small counter sink seems like it would work but then you always have to make sure you've turned the boom to keep the hole in the right position for the thumbscrew.

Does this make sense to you? Have you dealt with this before?

TMR Design wrote in post #3651931
Thanks again Skip.

That looks like a serious boom and stand. I have a question about the mount for the AB strobe. As you know, the AB's have a 'thumbscrew' that tightens within the swivle mount and fits over the stod on the end or top of a light stand.

If the boom is coming in from the side and the light is no longer sitting on top of the stand but rather coming off it horizonatlly, how do you secure the AB to the end of the boom without the strobe swiveling around on the stud? Sometimes you can tighten and tighten but all it's doing is applying pressure to the stud but it won't hold it if enough weight is causing the light (and whatever modifier is attached) to turn or change position. Have you found a solution for this? Drilling a small counter sink seems like it would work but then you always have to make sure you've turned the boom to keep the hole in the right position for the thumbscrew.

Does this make sense to you? Have you dealt with this before?

I really have not run into the problem before, as I have not had anything heavy on a boom. However, with this unit it appears that there is a very significant screw clamp for the boom side of the double-ended 5/8" stud (brass), so making a solid connection from the boom to the stud shouldn't be a problem. If I need to drill a dimple into the monolight side of the stud, that will be an easy task. What I do not want to do is to have to overtighten the clamp on the light because most of the mounting adapter is plastic.

There are adapters available that can provide a vertical stud at the end of a horizontal boom. I may need to get (or build) such an adapter for some of my planned ideas. Time will tell. At least I think I've chosen a boom that won't be the weakest link in the program.

Sounds good Skip. Let me know how you like it once you've got things set up.

I received the AB softboxes today. They are everything I had hoped for, and are actually a lot lighter than the numbers I was told on the phone. What they told me was actually the shipping weights. The actual weights are approximately 2.6 pounds for the "medium" folding softbox and right at 4 pounds for the "giant" softbox.

The "giant" softbox is about as big as many house windows. I expect that it will do quite nicely for portrait work as well as a lot of the other stuff I have in mind (a cross between tabletop and industrial work - photos of the artifacts such as an old fire pumper in our local museum, for example).

Hi Skip,

How is the construction? Would you recommend these softboxes? How do you think they'll hold up on a breezy day compared to something like a Photoflex?

Since I have a large diffusion panel it functions well as the gaint softbox and I'm looking for something portable. Do you think the medium or large softbox is a good portable solution for single subject outdoor shooting?

Can we see some photos of them?

TMR Design wrote in post #3658811
Hi Skip,

How is the construction? Would you recommend these softboxes? How do you think they'll hold up on a breezy day compared to something like a Photoflex?

Since I have a large diffusion panel it functions well as the giant softbox and I'm looking for something portable. Do you think the medium or large softbox is a good portable solution for single subject outdoor shooting?

thekid24 wrote in post #3658831
Can we see some photos of them?

Lotsa questions.....

I really don't have any experience with other softboxes except for my tiny 12"x12" from Smith Victor. Thus, I cannot comment on a comparison.

I do like the construction quite well, particularly for the price. Setup is a breeze. I had the giant unit (30" x 60") completely assembled in two or three minutes, and that was the first time out of the box. Tearing it down and putting it into the carrying bag took less time. The folding feature works VERY well. The folded-up sizes are about what I published above and the stowed units are very easy to store.

The only (and minor at that) complaint I have is that the snaps that secure the inner diffuser panel don't separate very easily when removing the panel from the elastic supports. I will probably use a small tool of some sort (maybe a little screwdriver?) to pry the snaps apart rather than pulling them apart and risking damage to them.

There is a little light leak through the material at the rear of the softboxes as I read about a couple months ago. In other words, the side material is not truly opaque, even with the silvered interior. However, I seriously doubt that the little bit of stray light that gets out will be of any consequence.

The total surface area of these things is rather large (like I would suspect most softboxes are), and I suspect would be a bit more affected by breezes than even my large umbrellas. I feel that I'd be more likely to use my umbrellas outside especially if the air is moving much at all.

As soon as I get a couple of my projects done I intend to shoot some photos, but don't expect them tomorrow. I think I'm going to wait at least until I get the boom and stand. Those were just shipped from New Jersey today.

For the money, I would definitely recommend these softboxes - especially if one intends to travel with them.

Hi Skip! I actually like the 30x60 soft box. We just got our set last week. I like how the soft box folds up and it's really genius of how it was made. Which bees do you have? The 800? or the 1600?

It's great to see more people getting these. I was thinking of going the Photoflex route but perhaps the AB with the Speed Ring included makes more sense.

TMR Design wrote in post #3659515
It's great to see more people getting these. I was thinking of going the Photoflex route but perhaps the AB with the Speed Ring included makes more sense.

We were thinking of the speed ring too TMR. I just never used a speed ring at all. How would you use that in a studio situation? I'm very new to portraiture so any tips would help. Thanks.