Westcott Softbox Questions??

I am looking for a way to be able to tilt the 28 inch Westcott Softbox I recently bought. I currently mount the softbox on a Lightstand that holds a 580 ex. The 580ex mounts through the bottom of the softbox and there is no way to angle the softbox down. I want to believe that there are some more experienced users out there that have useful tips on how to engineer this so that I am able to tilt the softbox...

Regards,

110yd

110yd wrote in post #9757303
I am looking for a way to be able to tilt the 28 inch Westcott Softbox I recently bought. I currently mount the softbox on a Lightstand that holds a 580 ex. The 580ex mounts through the bottom of the softbox and there is no way to angle the softbox down. I want to believe that there are some more experienced users out there that have useful tips on how to engineer this so that I am able to tilt the softbox...

Regards,

110yd

i bought a 1/2" copper pipe and mounted it in an umbrella stand, another umbrella stand on top. put the flash + softbox on the top umbrella stand and you can use the bottom one to tilt everything.

cost me $3

ninext wrote in post #9757786
i bought a 1/2" copper pipe and mounted it in an umbrella stand, another umbrella stand on top. put the flash + softbox on the top umbrella stand and you can use the bottom one to tilt everything.

cost me $3

a photo of your setup would he helpful, your description leaves out a few details perhaps.

I use the Westcott Tilt Bracket for my softboxes.

http://www.arlingtonca​mera.com …ter_Bracket-10200-57.html

This and need to jerry rig the light are the reasons I sent my Apollo back.

It takes three umbrella adapters and a 14 inch piece of tubing or similar for me to make the Apollo useful. There are better solutions in my opinion.

The one I received also had the velcro sown onto the defuser in a funny way. And, one side was sown to the softbox.

It's amazing that Westcott has such a poor design on the Apollo considering the quality of most of the product line.

You can accomplish the tilt several ways but it seems that one of the easiest is to add a short arm or extension and use a second umbrella/tilt adapter.

I used a background stand vertical piece. Had to cut it down about 6" per section to get the right length.
After a day of experimenting with it, decided it was too much of a hazzle, so I sent it back and ordered a QBox24.

My goal is to find something that is easy to carry and setup that will work with 580EX and FlexTT5.

The Apollo required three umbrella adapters and the extension arm to provide any usability for me.

I realize getting the 580EX with Flex inside added to the complexity.

dmward wrote in post #9759048
I used a background stand vertical piece. Had to cut it down about 6" per section to get the right length.
After a day of experimenting with it, decided it was too much of a hazzle, so I sent it back and ordered a QBox24.

My goal is to find something that is easy to carry and setup that will work with 580EX and FlexTT5.

The Apollo required three umbrella adapters and the extension arm to provide any usability for me.

I realize getting the 580EX with Flex inside added to the complexity.

why did it take three?

ninext wrote in post #9759302

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All well and good but an absurd thing to have to concoct just to get a softbox to tilt. Utterly ridiculous.

TMR Design wrote in post #9759416
All well and good but an absurd thing to have to concoct just to get a softbox to tilt. Utterly ridiculous.

im sure there are better softboxes when it comes to mounting/light distribution, but it serves my needs and is easy for me to use.

ninext wrote in post #9759620
im sure there are better softboxes when it comes to mounting/light distribution, but it serves my needs and is easy for me to use.

If it works for you that's great.

Yes, there are much better alternatives to the Apollo.

ninext wrote in post #9759620
im sure there are better softboxes when it comes to mounting/light distribution, but it serves my needs and is easy for me to use.

Thanks for the photo, makes it easier to understand.

Thanks for the alternative solutions. I knew that someone would have engineered a way to make it useful.... I tried to contact Westcott before I purchased the item and got no response. After purchasing the item, I contacted them by phone, and I got put in to voice mail, and again no response.

I probably should have followed my gut and purchased something else.

Regards,

110yd

110yd wrote in post #9760005
I tried to contact Westcott before I purchased the item and got no response. After purchasing the item, I contacted them by phone, and I got put in to voice mail, and again no response.

That's odd. I've called Westcott on a number of occasions and always gotten through to very helpful people.