My new toy

Antonio Correia · March 10, 2008

Arrived today.
The battery is charging.
The 40cms * 40 cms soft box is ready for action. I used it for the G9 shot.

.

ziggy53 · March 10, 2008

I moved this to "Accessories" since it has to do more with the softbox at this point.

Antonio, feel free to start another thread for the Canon G9 back in "Cameras" if you wish. (After the batteries have charged, of course.

)

That light box looks pretty cool and I like the light you're getting from it. Where did you get it?

Antonio Correia · March 10, 2008

ziggy53 wrote:

I moved this to "Accessories" since it has to do more with the softbox at this point.

Antonio, feel free to start another thread for the Canon G9 back in "Cameras" if you wish. (After the batteries have charged, of course. )

That light box looks pretty cool and I like the light you're getting from it. Where did you get it?

Ziggy hello.

I was looking for a soft box in the net and I have been to Lighting Modes and Strobist.
I navigate around and after looking at Lastolite I just "landed" in here, in Algarve, at Niobo.
They are importing from Germany at excellent prices.
I have even seen this very same article in Germany but more expensive.

It's advantage is that we can fold it and take it away very easily.:D

Thank you for moving the thread.

Not necessary to start another thread because of the G9.
The camera came from Germany at better price than in Portugal and with European Warranty.

ziggy53 · March 10, 2008

Thanks Antonio. I'm guessing this is the model?:

http://www.niobo.pt/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=62_66&products_id=473

Eric&Susan · March 10, 2008

That softbox does look pretty cool. Since the website you listed in in Euro's I looked around real quick and found this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/42122-REG/Photoflex_XT20XTXS_LiteDome_Q39_Softbox_White.html

Wonder if it works the same?

Eric

ian408 · March 10, 2008

That's a nice looking softbox. Have you had a chance to try it out with your
G9?

ziggy53 · March 10, 2008

I also found this Alzo unit that can apparently connect to a light stand.

http://www.alzodigital.com/online_store/alzo_porta_flash_soft_box.htm

ian408 · March 10, 2008

ziggy53 wrote:

I also found this Alzo unit that can apparently connect to a light stand.

http://www.alzodigital.com/online_store/alzo_porta_flash_soft_box.htm

Another great looking softbox.

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

ziggy53 wrote:

Thanks Antonio. I'm guessing this is the model?:

http://www.niobo.pt/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=62_66&products_id=473

Indeed it is ! Too expensive for you at the moment:D

Lastolite has good alternatives as well.

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

Eric&Susan wrote:

That softbox does look pretty cool. Since the website you listed in in Euro's I looked around real quick and found this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/42122-REG/Photoflex_XT20XTXS_LiteDome_Q39_Softbox_White.html

Wonder if it works the same?

Eric

If - and I think I have - interpreted well the product you point out I think it gives too much work to mount and time spending.
I wanted something easy and fast to mount.
The Photoflex use rods you have to get in, while Lastolite - as well as mine - can be folded and unfolded quickly.
Watch the video demo in Lastolite site and you will see what I mean.

Mine doesn't have any label or brand. Just another made in China product.

Most probably.

But it is quick to unfold and fold.
What take us a little more moments is to mount the metalic pieces together. But once it is done we can keep it this way, at the expense of beeing a bit bulky and unconfortable to travel with.

For me Lastolite was very difficult to buy. I tried the factory in England and they sent me to Spain. And they sent me to Portugal. And there wasn't any in Portugal. Then I ordered. Then the parcel got the wronge product. Then the next parcel would be in 20 days... Oh. I had enought.

Then, I was lucky and stepped into Niobo.

Later I found the same or very similar product - it looked the same - in Germany at a highter price.

I used it last night with the other flash (second picture).

Now, I will only shoot. No. Sorry. Now, I will shoot often with teh soft box and the umbrella and my flash light will be soft and tender.

.

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

ian408 wrote:

That's a nice looking softbox. Have you had a chance to try it out with your
G9?

Ian. Good morning.

I received the soft box and the G9 yesterday evenning.
My wife kept the G9 today to play with. It is morning now here.

I have posted 2 pics I've done yesterday night with the soft box.

I hope I will be able to takes some serious shots today shooting hockey. I hope. I am not sure yet.

Thank you.:D

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

ziggy53 wrote:

I also found this Alzo unit that can apparently connect to a light stand.

http://www.alzodigital.com/online_store/alzo_porta_flash_soft_box.htm

Well, there we are: mine is very very similar.
If not the same

What I need now is a flash bracket to mount the SB on.

And the FB shown looks pretty good because you can extend it.
I have seen however in the few shots I did yesterday that the FB at the end must have some kind of ball to flexibility.:D

I looks pretty much like mine. Even the screws (you know what I mean) are very very similar.

A very good option for you US people. See ? No rods.

ziggy53 · March 11, 2008

Antonio Correia wrote:

Well, there we are: mine is very very similar.
If not the same
What I need now is a flash bracket to mount the SB on.
And the FB shown looks pretty good because you can extend it.
I have seen however in the few shots I did yesterday that the FB at the end must have some kind of ball to flexibility.:D

I looks pretty much like mine. Even the srews (you know what I mean) are very very similar.

A very good option for you US people. See ? No rods.

Antonio,

If I got one I would probably use it along with a bracket like this "Impact" umbrella bracket:

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

ziggy53 wrote:

Antonio,

If I got one I would probably use it along with a bracket like this "Impact" umbrella bracket:

To tell you the truth Ziggy, I was looking at the soft box during lunch and I thought I am needing one of those yellow pieces your got here, in yours. I don't know the English for that.

On the other hand, I think that if the soft is to be standing in a ... stand

than I am going to loose versatility and movement and that is what I am looking for (also).

To place the soft box in a tripod is more static for both: the soft box itself and the target to shoot.

thumb

Before dinner, I shot this picture in the kitchen with the G9.
My wife is impressed and she doesn' t want me to change the settings because she tested it in the morning and found it to be very good and pleasant.:D

So, the G9 is for me only from time to time ...

cry

ziggy53 · March 11, 2008

Antonio,

The brass item at the top is called a "stud" and it comes with the umbrella bracket.

The nice thing about using a light stand is that you can get the light up high, which usually looks more natural.

I do use tripods for mounting low lights like for the background or to accent a forground element.

ziggy53 · March 11, 2008

Antonio Correia wrote:

...

Before dinner, I shot this picture in the kitchen with the G9.
My wife is impressed and she doesn' t want me to change the settings because she tested it in the morning and found it to be very good and pleasant.:D

So, the G9 is for me only from time to time ... cry

Too bad about the G9! Next time you'll have to buy two of everything.

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

ziggy53 wrote:

Antonio,

The brass item at the top is called a "stud" and it comes with the umbrella bracket.

The nice thing about using a light stand is that you can get the light up high, which usually looks more natural.

I do use tripods for mounting low lights like for the background or to accent a forground element.

bow:D:D

thumb

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

ziggy53 wrote:

Too bad about the G9! Next time you'll have to buy two of everything.

You really don't like me

cry:cry

pathfinder · March 11, 2008

I found this Lastolite Hot shoe mount Ezybox at B&H - 38cm x 38cm - for $156.95

This looks rather similar to what Antonio found.

pathfinder · March 11, 2008

Another party with a G9! Great!

Antonio Correia · March 11, 2008

pathfinder wrote:

I found this Lastolite Hot shoe mount Ezybox at B&H - 38cm x 38cm - for $156.95

This looks rather similar to what Antonio found.

But more expensive :cry

Jim

pathfinder · March 11, 2008

Antonio Correia wrote:

But more expensive :cry

Jim

The Lastolite 45cmx45cm EzyBox softbox I saw on the Niobo site was 119 Euros, Antonio. Makes $157 dollars seem almost cheap:D

ian408 · March 11, 2008

Nice find Jim!

Actually, everyone's got something to report on the softbox ideas. Ziggy, that
clamp looks like the ideal solution for mounting.

Antonio Correia · March 12, 2008

pathfinder wrote:

The Lastolite 45cmx45cm EzyBox softbox I saw on the Niobo site was 119 Euros, Antonio. Makes $157 dollars seem almost cheap:D

Jim, good morning.

Here is what I got from Niobo, the Portuguese site.

Only 59.90 Euros + 4,90 Euros (post) = 64,80 Euros = 99,60 US$ today.

I called them and I have asked if they would send to the US as gift

Sure they would, they will tell me the price of the post for this particular good later on.
I'll let you know:D

Manfr3d · March 14, 2008

Nice! I went for a flash2softbox adapter that allows mounting
a strobe to any standard studio softbox. I use it with a 120x80cm
softbox (~40x30 inches). I paid 60€ for adapter and softbox.

Original source:
http://www.lowbudgetshooting.de/flash2softbox.html

I was going to get a 30x40cm softbox for macro but figured that
the system is too heavy and also too large (even 10x20cm is
huge for macro photography). So I chose a Luniquest Pocket
Bounce. Much smaller and lighter ideal for that type of application.

Antonio Correia · March 14, 2008

manfried. Hello my friend. How are you doing ? Well, I hope.:D

I am sorry but that soft box is not as good as mine. Why ?
You can not - unless I am wrong, but apparently I am not - move and adjust the flash the way I do.
I have two flashes 430 and 580, and they have different sizes.
I shot this picture to show you.
I payed only 5 Euros more.
Why didn't you tell me ? I could have sent it to you ...

Manfr3d · March 14, 2008

Because I bought it half a year ago

Also it
takes every generic studio softbox that mounts
on 9-14cm rings. Btw. it works with nerly any
flash because it has a large diameter (580EX,
430, SB-24s, Metz 54 etc.). Plus my softbox
is 120x80 and yours only 40x40 for the same
price

Antonio Correia · March 14, 2008

Manfr3d wrote:

Because I bought it half a year ago Also it
takes every generic studio softbox that mounts
on 9-14cm rings. Btw. it works with nerly any
flash because it has a large diameter (580EX,
430, SB-24s, Metz 54 etc.). Plus my softbox
is 120x80 and yours only 40x40 for the same
price

cry:cry

Antonio Correia · March 14, 2008

Antonio Correia wrote:

Jim, good morning.

Here is what I got from Niobo, the Portuguese site.

Only 59.90 Euros + 4,90 Euros (post) = 64,80 Euros = 99,60 US$ today.

I called them and I have asked if they would send to the US as gift

Sure they would, they will tell me the price of the post for this particular good later on.
I'll let you know:D

They are not sending to the US yet.

But I can

pathfinder · March 15, 2008

Antonio,

I like your mount for your flash which allows horizontal and vertical adjustments. Better than my softbox mount here at home and my softboxes require rods.

If you are serious and can accept paypal, PM me and we can make arrangements for increasing international trade

Antonio Correia · March 15, 2008

Jim, of course I am serious.

Have you ever seen me jocking ?:D

I'll PM you later because now I don't have the time.

Have a nice week end:D

My new toy

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