AlienBees folding softbox information

Hi jdizzle,

From the way you are asking the question I'm thinking that you are confused as to what the Speed Ring is.

The speedring is the aluminum ring that is attached to the opening of a softbox and allows it to mount to the front of the strobe in place of the standard reflectror.

Alein Bees softboxes come with the appropriate speed ring and the foldable box has the speed ring attached already.

Using a softobox like a Photoflex requires the AB speed ring but has to be purchased seperately for $30.

TMR Design wrote in post #3659591
Hi jdizzle,

From the way you are asking the question I'm thinking that you are confused as to what the Speed Ring is.

The speedring is the aluminum ring that is attached to the opening of a softbox and allows it to mount to the front of the strobe in place of the standard reflectror.

Alein Bees softboxes come with the appropriate speed ring and the foldable box has the speed ring attached already.

Using a softobox like a Photoflex requires the AB speed ring but has to be purchased seperately for $30.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I was thinking in terms of the ringflash is what I meant.
Here: http://www.alienbees.c​om/abr800.html

I got a 5' octabox from Amvona for $59+ on ebay, and the real reason I didnt get the AB octabox is because I wanted to have the option of putting gold inserts into the box, to give off a warm light.

Had to order the speedring monday, it will be here tomorrow and the box will be here monday. Im stoked to gett'em. I also ordered the Vagabond II from AB but its gonna be weeks before I get it. Once I do IM MOBILE. Definately got some shoots waiting for it

Robert & Skip

On the boom I have there is a 'flat' milled on the brass stud that is fitted on the end of the boom arm. I can clamp the stud to the boom and to the light head and have my largest softbox mounted without any slippage or unwanted rotation.

If I want to swivel the softbox, I can do that at the 'T' where the boom is attached to the stand.

My boom only has 4.5kg counterweight so I still have to be careful with balance.

::John:: wrote in post #3661394
Robert & Skip

On the boom I have there is a 'flat' milled on the brass stud that is fitted on the end of the boom arm. I can clamp the stud to the boom and to the light head and have my largest softbox mounted without any slippage or unwanted rotation.

If I want to swivel the softbox, I can do that at the 'T' where the boom is attached to the stand.

My boom only has 4.5kg counterweight so I still have to be careful with balance.

Hi John,

Don't leave us in suspense. What type of boom is it?

::John:: wrote in post #3661394
Robert & Skip

On the boom I have there is a 'flat' milled on the brass stud that is fitted on the end of the boom arm. I can clamp the stud to the boom and to the light head and have my largest softbox mounted without any slippage or unwanted rotation.

If I want to swivel the softbox, I can do that at the 'T' where the boom is attached to the stand.

My boom only has 4.5kg counterweight so I still have to be careful with balance.

If the stud that's coming with my boom does not have something like the milled flat you describe, I fully intended to do a little machining on the stud. Fortunately, I have the resources for that. I have already made 5/8" studs out of brass for various custom applications, using my little lathe/mill (a Unimat that I've had for several decades).

TMR Design wrote in post #3661639
Hi John,

Don't leave us in suspense. What type of boom is it?

Oh, it's just a cheap Chinese one:

Minimum height: 110cm
Maximum height: 180cm
Footprint diameter: 120cm
Boom weight: 4.5kg
Wheels: 8cm
Spigot diameter: Ø:21mm , 15 mm
2 sections risers Diameter: Ø: 35mm, 30mm
2 sections arm [FONT=Arial]Diameter: Ø: 30, 25mm.
Leg Diameter: Ø: 22mm
Minimum extension boom: 19 cm.
Maximum extension boom: 90 cm.
Minimum extension arm: 18 cm.
Maximum extension arm: 120 cm.
Total arm Length 228cm

SkipD wrote in post #3661648
If the stud that's coming with my boom does not have something like the milled flat you describe, I fully intended to do a little machining on the stud. Fortunately, I have the resources for that. I have already made 5/8" studs out of brass for various custom applications, using my little lathe/mill (a Unimat that I've had for several decades).

Those Unimat machines are great - and I am guessing you have done tool manufacturing or model work with yours?

::John:: wrote in post #3661678
Those Unimat machines are great - and I am guessing you have done tool manufacturing or model work with yours?

A bit of both in addition to making gun parts, repair parts for many things around home, and parts for any little project that pops up such as making adapters for things. Many moons ago, I even made a pair of stainless steel wedding rings for myself and Cindy.

SkipD wrote in post #3661711
A bit of both in addition to making gun parts, repair parts for many things around home, and parts for any little project that pops up such as making adapters for things. Many moons ago, I even made a pair of stainless steel wedding rings for myself and Cindy.

Excellent. A friend in New Zealand had one and his hobby was radio controlled model boats. He made a scale replica of a British minesweeper paddle steamer, the Duchess of Fife. All the deck fittings (stanchions and winches and all) were hand turned on his Unimat.

John,

Can you possible post a picture of the stud with the milled edge? I think I know what it looks like but want to make sure.

um - it's quarter after midnight here and I'm not in a position to go and fire up the studio just now to get it and photograph it. I'll see if I can find an online picture of one.

No problem John. You mean you don't stay up all night like I do? LOL

Whenever it's convenient I'd appreciate it.

I've got one of the AB Large Softboxes. Use it with the AB1600. Works great. If you like I will be glad to post a pic showing some results?

I'd be more interested in just seeing closeups of the construction and the mount to the strobe.

I'm a little concerned about the slight light leak Skip mentioned. I'm really big on isolation form spill and comtmination of one area by a light in another one.

Have you experienced this light leakage and if so how insignificant is it? Is it measureable?

If you had the softbox at about 45 degrees to the subject and fairly close, with the subject about 6 feet from the background, are you getting any spill from the back of the box as compared to the light coming from the front? Is it so slight that is just doesn't come in to play?

Here is a 'before and after' where you will see that the second picture has a flat section on the right hand side.

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