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Softbox for Alien Bees
I'm sure this has been covered before, but the search is broken... I'd like to get a softbox for my Bees. I've seen a few comments that the quality of their softboxes isn't as good as the lights. I am considering one of the foldable giant softboxes. What should I be careful/concerned about with the build quality of the AB softboxes? What are suitable alternatives in the same price range (within 50-75 bucks)? Is the foldable softbox a good choice or should I stick with the standard softbox? The idea of being able to easily take it on location is appealing, but I can always just use umbrellas if there are downsides to the foldable model. Thanks! Mar 14 08 08:03 am Link they aren't as bad as poeple say, mine work just fine, don't have the foldable once but if I was to buy them again I would consider them. If you buy different softboxes you would need speedrings adaptors, they go for something like $40 each, additional cost to you and not much more benefits unless you are buying high end sb. Mar 14 08 09:21 am Link Don't forget a sandbag to weight the stand down  I have the AB's boxes. The folded one didn't come out until after I bought my gear though. I like them. They work for what I need them to  Mar 14 08 09:23 am Link I have three of the standard AB softboxes. The quality of the light is fine, but the design is such that take down and set up is a royal pain. The also are somewhat loose and floppy, so if you're anal retentive, you won't like the way they look. I plan to replace mine soon with something that looks a little nicer, assembles quicker, and most importantly, has good options for the attachment of grids. Paul Mar 14 08 09:27 am Link bang bang photo wrote: The foldable AB softboxes take grids. I have been considering a Photoflex small (16x22) softbox with an AB brand speedring. (AB softboxes start at 24x36"). Mar 14 08 09:46 am Link Why not use Chimera softboxes? They are great for their prices. Mar 14 08 09:53 am Link ChanStudio wrote: I agree 100% I do the same thing . Mar 14 08 09:56 am Link I am still using my 20 plus year old Photoflex boxes with my Bees, the AB speedring is $29.95 plus shipping and I haven't found a box yet that won't fit it perfectly. Photoflex boxes are about $75 to $100 more than a similar size AB box. Mar 14 08 09:59 am Link Photoflex makes a decent softbox too. Get them through Adorama, VERY fast delivery. Mar 14 08 09:59 am Link No Bull Photography wrote: I own the 7' octo, two 5' , a 56" strip and 36" strip from photoflex (speedrings required. and use them to death even on location. Mar 14 08 10:03 am Link I have the large and giant foldable softbox from Paul Buff and they work fine. Setup is painless as they incorporate an umbrella system instead of individual rods. However, even when using the internal diffuser and outer diffuser, there is a hotspot in the center of both boxes. I don't have this issue with my elinchrom octabank due to the design of the box itself. Mar 14 08 10:03 am Link I have the giant foldable, and the strip softboxes from AB. No complaints here. Definitely go with the foldable versions if you want to use them on location. Makes life much easier. Mar 14 08 10:31 am Link GM Photography wrote:
GM Photography wrote: How well will it hold up after being setup/taken down? GM Photography wrote: Not many decent sized softboxes are in that price range. How large do you need? GM Photography wrote: More convenient. I can't speak on durability. Mar 14 08 02:12 pm Link I like my standard AB octobox. Mar 14 08 02:13 pm Link bang bang photo wrote: I am with Paul on this. Mar 14 08 02:17 pm Link The new foldable boxes are much better all around than the original boxes. Better construction, setup time can be measured in seconds, and they have a lip for a grid. Mar 14 08 04:25 pm Link I've never had a problem setting up or tearing down my medium softbox from ab (it's the one that has "light gear" or something on the side). It takes down easily, and takes about 2-3 min to get up and going. That said, I don't care for the foldable stuff as much as some people. I just think the design is flimsy and (like on the large softbox) it's a pita as well. and yeah, the large softbox looks pretty sad when you put a grid on it - however it does the job pretty well. Mar 14 08 04:50 pm Link Since your question has been covered I would strongly recommend to get sand bags and/or heavy duty stands Mar 14 08 05:08 pm Link GM Photography wrote: I really love the soft box you can buy off their site. Mar 14 08 05:15 pm Link I have one, ( ABee's softbox) It makes my life easier. No fighting with a Damn speedring. It's built in! Mar 14 08 05:23 pm Link The combination of the mostly positive comments on the AB softboxes and the substantially higher prices of the Chimera and Photoflex softboxes all factored in my decision. I ordered one of the AB giant foldable softboxes. I have some pretty solid stands but I'm going to get some sandbags also. Thanks for all the feedback. I should have some new images with it soon Mar 14 08 07:09 pm Link The new design is very nice. J T Mar 14 08 07:11 pm Link Anyone ever use the Amonva equipment ? if so yes no ? I have Alienbees as well! Mar 14 08 07:14 pm Link Black Victory Inc wrote: My AB large softbox arrived while I was at work. My 5'4" mechanically-disinclined wife got it set up before I got home without any difficulty whatsoever. Mar 14 08 08:09 pm Link I ordered a softbox from Amvona. The poles are two pieces and fit _really_ tight. When I put it together one of the poles broke where they join together and when I took it apart, all of the poles were bent. I sent an e-mail asking for a replacement pole. They sent a message back asking me to provide the length of the pole. Despite my immediate "WTF, they should know what size it is", I called. Nobody answered the phone. I left a voice mail with the pole measurements and my phone number. Nobody called. I left a number of additional messages on their "customer service" e-mail. No response. I have filed a complaint with the BBB. So... that's why I'm looking for a different brand of softbox! I have bought other items from Amvona (light stands, backdrop stands) and been happy with the quality / service. I'll never order anything else from them. Mar 14 08 08:59 pm Link I have two of the folding octaboxes and they're much nicer than the original ones. Interestingly enough I bought them at different times and the one I got later is much more robust - the side walls were rather thin and looked like the silver could wear off on the older one. The Buff products are a bit of a moving target - the good news is they continually improve them, the bad news is that they sometimes rush things to market under the assumption that they can fix it later and their service is such that if anybody complains they'll either swap it out for free or cheap. I've noticed improvements on the lights and called them and if it's something like a reflector or a flash tube with shorter flash duration where they can just send the component they'll do it for half off. But you have to ask. Mar 14 08 09:52 pm Link Jeremey Tripp wrote: yes i have several of their boxes, strip lights, small octobox and 5" octobox, a 24X?? box, all seem made well, come with grids get the ab speedring, cheapest around, or cut grooves in the ring that comes with the box, i have done that too. Mar 14 08 09:59 pm Link Keith R Smith wrote: Why such a small box ? Mar 14 08 10:09 pm Link I have no problem with the soft boxes. I think they're great and have had no problems. They break down quickly, and like any softbox, can be put face down to have the light attached conveniently. I never heard there was one until I read this thread. Learn something new everyday. Mar 14 08 10:17 pm Link My studio mates use AB800s and an octabox. I have Chimera softboxes and have ordered two additional AB800s and the Strip Softbox. In more than two years, we have had no problems at all with the octabox, umbrellas or the attachable barndoors. I look forward to the 5 light AB setup and 7 lights if we had my clunky old Sunpaks back into the mix. I bought the strip softbox because we already have the 2 Chimera, the Octabox and lots of umbrellas to use. Will update you all after Sunday's shoot. Mar 14 08 10:19 pm Link I just bought one of these and Giant is a good name for it. The first time opening it up was an experience to get it to expand, mostly my fault. If you place the ring on the floor and slowly unwrap the cover and spokes, line the spokes up coming straight out of the the ring then push the center hub down it will expand easily and is no problem to collapse. I felt the workmanship was fine and the price was not bad for its size. Make sure you realize how big this really is. I have a home studio and I would have been better off with the next size smaller. Mar 14 08 10:34 pm Link Paul Brecht wrote: Hi Paul! Mar 14 08 11:28 pm Link Keith R Smith wrote: Have you thought about a beauty dish (22" or larger) ? Mar 14 08 11:35 pm Link AngryLightStudios wrote: Too late for this common sense statement...mine blew over during a shoot... No biggy though. Works just fine! Mar 14 08 11:44 pm Link Paul Brecht wrote: I suspect that the beauty dish would be soft enough w/o going overboard, but the small soft box may be more directional and I can change the look of the light by rotating it on its axis. I did try putting a diffuser (matte acetate) over the reflector with the grid in place, but I did not like the result. The Photoflex 16x22" soft box is small, but on the same order sizewise as a 22" beauty dish. It is also designed to be used with studio strobes. I do not understand how a strobe that is fine with a 22" beauty dish would be overkill for a 22" (okay, 16x22") soft box. Mar 15 08 12:18 am Link I use a 3' and 7' Photoflex OctoDome3's. I also use the standard AlienBee speed rings with them (Paul sells the speedrings about half the price and offers a educational discount which is nice too!). The big key feature that the Octodome is that it has reversible inserts so that the inside of the softbox you can have white, silver, or gold, which gives some really nice effects for your lighting needs. Oct 25 08 03:32 pm Link dont forget the brolly boxes, cheap and very easy to use, i use them a lot. Oct 25 08 03:40 pm Link I don't care for the foldable ones, and in pratice they take about as long to setup as a normal one. Not sure about the quality of them, they seem to hold up just fine, and shit, they will last forever if you leave them up all the time. Oct 25 08 04:20 pm Link Weird. I started this thread 7 months ago! I went with the giant foldable softbox in case anyone cares. I thought it would be nice for location shooting. Even though it's really easy to break down, I usually just take umbrellas instead and leave it set up in the studio all the time. I guess I'm too lazy to mess with it. Oct 25 08 09:46 pm Link Gret choice! I was a little concerned that it would be cheap. I bought one anyway. To my suprise the quality is excellent and I like the way it folds up in to a bag. I used calumet soft boxes before and really like the Paul c buff ones much better. Aug 12 11 08:16 am Link |
