This question is in regards to

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/62245-REG/Westcott_2334_Apollo_Mono_Softbox_with.html

It's a wescott apolo 28 inch softbox. It says it's for "flash only". In the One Light Workshop DVD by Zach Arias, he uses it with a Sunpak 120J and I believe even an AB1600.

I really like Zach's style and I see a lot of my work heading in that direction. I plan on buying larger umbrellas than the 43'' wescotts I've got, and I've been toying with an AB800 (or 1600) and a 28inch softbox. I went to BH's site to order the umbrellas, a new stand and a softbox but read this and wanted to know if I'll be able to use the AB800-1600 with this softbox.

Long story short, can you use the Wescott 28inch softbox with an AB800/1600? Also, the 50 inch softbox, same question. Do I need to buy anything different than my bogen umbrella swivels?

Next question, I currently have several interfit stands. While they are good for the money, I'm looking at an Avenger 630B. This looks like a nice upgrade, and wanted to know what you guys thought of it.

Anybody?

Robert,

There is a lot on these two items in the Search, especially on the Avengers.

Here's my take:

The Apollo produces a nice light when used indirect. And direct only in the right hands and with the right head. The problem is the amount of room inside the box needed to make it all work. Nice concept, but with it's issues. Some love them, others can't be bothered. As far as using monolights in a 28", AB's may be one of the few compact enough, but I haven't tried it myself.

As far as the A630B, someone else said it best: "they are the shiznitz".
We use A615, 625, 630 and 635's and IMO they are the best conventional aluminum light stands made. Period.

Good luck with that search.

Thanks Carmen, I will use the search and see what I come up with. I've got a lot to learn about using light modifiers, but it seems a lot keeps coming back to these Wescott Apollo softboxes. 2 of my favorite photographers use them, and it's interesting too because both of them aren't exactly the most technical photogs out there (well Monte RIP wasn't from the people I've spoke/wrote with that met him/knew him).

I appreciate you taking the time to reply to me. When I bought these interfit stands, the folks at Mpex said they were great...maybe for portability but I'd rather spend 2x the money and get something that I'm not worried about falling over. Though they haven't yet, they always keep me guessing. I definitely plan on the Avenger or 2 or more in the near future.

Avenger = good. You won't be disappointed. Get decent umbrella adapters too...the $15 plastic ones won't handle the torque a bigger umbrella will put on them, even if all you have on top is a speedlight. I've never used an Apollo, but the fact that you have to take the face off to access the light seems like it would drive me crazy...might be fine with a pack, but a mono light or speedlight...seems like it would get old not being able to get to the thing. Might just be me though...

I have the Apollo 28". I use it with my Nikon SB800, my AB800, and my Speedoton 102"s. I always face it towards the back to get the softest light. An example with the SB800 can be seen on my website. In the "Say Cheese" part of my portfolio, go to the last shot...it's of my son wearing a black jacket. I fired the SB800 remotely with my onboard pop-up flash as the commander. I added a gold reflector on camera left. I was only about 8-10 ft. away from him, but was still pleasantly surprised that the SB800 fired while inside the Apollo. Scott has a point about removing the front to get at the controls of the AB800, but if you've used the AB enough, you'll get pretty close to setting the amount of power correctly the first time. Since I aim the head into the back of the Apollo, the dials/levers are right there when you open up the front diffuser, and you really only have to flip up a corner to get at the head. I think you'll like the Apollo.

Jon

I own that exact stand. Superb rock solid quality. Don't hesitate to buy it. I have the Zack DVD set as well. The best one light technique on the planet. Zack rules. I have the westcott 28 inch SB. I use it with a 580 ex flash. I'm not sure about AB's going into it.....but.....in the DVD Zack uses a AB1600 in the westcott 50 incher. His results are killer.

Scott Clark wrote:
Avenger = good. You won't be disappointed. Get decent umbrella adapters too...the $15 plastic ones won't handle the torque a bigger umbrella will put on them, even if all you have on top is a speedlight. I've never used an Apollo, but the fact that you have to take the face off to access the light seems like it would drive me crazy...might be fine with a pack, but a mono light or speedlight...seems like it would get old not being able to get to the thing. Might just be me though...

I have the bogen umbrella swivels already, as I use them on cheeseball interfit stands with 580EXII's and Cybersyncs. The swivels were more than the stands once you factor in the cold shoe :P

Tom K. wrote:
I own that exact stand. Superb rock solid quality. Don't hesitate to buy it. I have the Zack DVD set as well. The best one light technique on the planet. Zack rules. I have the westcott 28 inch SB. I use it with a 580 ex flash. I'm not sure about AB's going into it.....but.....in the DVD Zack uses a AB1600 in the westcott 50 incher. His results are killer.

I was trying to find it in the DVD, something runs in my mind that he uses it in the 28" box too.

At the 47 second mark at this youtube trailer video you can see the SB. I'll bet he's using his Sunpak in the SB though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm1puuyojiE

At the 1:47 minute mark in that same video he is using the 50 inch SB with the AB1600 in it. You can't see the SB in the video here but it is in fact what he is using there.

RobertLynn wrote:
Tom K. wrote:
I own that exact stand. Superb rock solid quality. Don't hesitate to buy it. I have the Zack DVD set as well. The best one light technique on the planet. Zack rules. I have the westcott 28 inch SB. I use it with a 580 ex flash. I'm not sure about AB's going into it.....but.....in the DVD Zack uses a AB1600 in the westcott 50 incher. His results are killer.

I was trying to find it in the DVD, something runs in my mind that he uses it in the 28" box too.

He uses the 28 in the first DVD toward the beginning. The issue with the 28 is it is pretty small. If you want to light a more than 1 person and full length than the 50 is a better choice.

I just watched the DVD again, and I don't see him using the AB1600 in the 28" softbox.

See right now, it's either a new avenger stand, a 60 inch umbrella, and an AB1600, or the stand the umbrella and the 50 inch softbox (looking, the SB is like 300ish). Probably going to lean towards the avenger, umbrella and the AB1600. I'll just wait on the softboxes.

Didn't even realize it was spelled Westcott, and I've got plenty of their products...d'oh!

I used westcott Apollo 28' with B400 with no problem

That's what I'm looking to hear! Now the next question is, are the B400 and 1600 in the same size casing, or is there a lot of difference? I've seen them in person,. but never took note of the size.

He definitely uses the AB1600 with the 28" SB, I found it!

RobertLynn wrote:
He definitely uses the AB1600 with the 28" SB, I found it!

Big deal. Use what works for you, don't limit yourself by just following others. The Apollo is the wrong SB most of the time when using a mono or speedlite without full wireless power control. A brolly (at 1/3-1/4 the price) works better and offers similar light output.

flash only for soft boxes usually means no continuous lights. So don't use it with more than the modeling light -and shut that down after you aim it. There is a big difference in the heat that a 1Kw bulb puts off and a normal flash, even a monolite. I would be a little concerned with running a AB1600 in the Apollo type Westcott boxes for long term use (several hundred shots in short order). Several 30 or so pops here and there should be not a big problem. I have never really all that impressed with the Apollo boxes, seemed that most of the people pushing them were sponsored by Westcott...

The AB's are all the same size. The big difference is the number of capacitors in them. The 400 has one, 800 has 2 and the 1600 has 4. So the weight changes but the exterior dimensions stay the same.

bacilonur wrote:
RobertLynn wrote:
He definitely uses the AB1600 with the 28" SB, I found it!

Big deal. Use what works for you, don't limit yourself by just following others. The Apollo is the wrong SB most of the time when using a mono or speedlite without full wireless power control. A brolly (at 1/3-1/4 the price) works better and offers similar light output.

I was only trying to confirm this before I spent my money on something that wasn't compatible...it had nothing to do with me trying to be him.

I use PW II on the B400.