Oh well, I thought I could save a few bucks with getting just the SB.

Anyway, do you find changing the settings on the Speedlite to be rather difficult or maybe even PITA when using the Apollo since the flash is inside the SB?

Nope, I've never had an issue of frustration changing the power settings. The whole front is velcro. It tears up, you change it, and place it back down. Rather simple. Easy Peasy.

And, yeah, its weird that the cheapest price for the Apollo is the one that comes with the bracket. I'm guessing its a pricing fluke that they haven't addressed or care about. I suppose you could try to find one on ebay, but $119 is a FANTASTIC price for the box and well worth it.

How do you tip an Apollo down?

It needs a little encouragement, but pushing up a little on the bottom quadrant of the softbox gives you a little leeway.

What does Bogen Umbrella bracket give you compared to the kit bracket? Can you tilt up and down with Bogen's?

carbotex wrote:
What does Bogen Umbrella bracket give you compared to the kit bracket? Can you tilt up and down with Bogen's?

Stiffness. Real, solid, genuine, no-nonsense, non-drooping, not-going-anywhere, all-metal stiffness.

I wish my wife could tell me that ...

I just placed an order from bhphotovideo. Thank you all for the info.

Ha ha ha.

and the Bogen bends, whereas the pack-in does not.

PLUS, Apollo's make GREAT Halloween costumes. . .

What I hate about the apollo is the front white panel looks like a oversized hankerchief or something...you'd think they could have used a material that doesn't crease so easily

Good light quality, but I don't think the white panel really makes much of a difference - just evens up the catchlights a bit by removing some of the segmentation

Has anybody tried one of these softboxes?

http://cgi.ebay.com/50X50-Flash-Light-Speedlight-Photo-Studio-Softbox-Kit_W0QQitemZ170416098932QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27ad974e74

HI,

Good thread! Two questions:

* Is it possible to fire a Canon or Nikon speedlight in an Apollo using ETTL? I would be surprised if it did, but I'd guess that if it works at all, the flash body would need to be facing the front diffuser panel with the lighthead facing the back.
* When you're using speedlights, would fitting them with a StoFen Omnibounce dome (or similar) give you a more even spread into the reflector, or would it make much difference?

Jim Quinn

Jim Quinn wrote:
HI,

Good thread! Two questions:

* Is it possible to fire a Canon or Nikon speedlight in an Apollo using ETTL? I would be surprised if it did, but I'd guess that if it works at all, the flash body would need to be facing the front diffuser panel with the lighthead facing the back.
* When you're using speedlights, would fitting them with a StoFen Omnibounce dome (or similar) give you a more even spread into the reflector, or would it make much difference?

Jim Quinn

I've fired my Nikon speedlights in an Apollo via an SU-800 when testing, but I'm not sure how reliable that scenario is.

I think the dome would just eat power, not add much to the spread of light inside the Apollo. Somebody else will probably respond with a more authoritative answer.

Thanks for the good pictures of the setups. I was trying to figure out what the differences were between the 28" Apollo and the Speedlite kit. It appears, they are the exact same, except they include the mount with the Speedlite kit. What's funny about that is they list the Speedlite kit for $20 less on the Westcott site.

Anyone using the SB800 with the 50" Softbox ? How is the light coverage with the larger softbox?

photoCycle wrote:
Anyone using the SB800 with the 50" Softbox ? How is the light coverage with the larger softbox?

580EXII (pretty much same thing), and it does well.

Better than you would think it would, but not quite as nice nice as a 120J (or something similar) or an AB400/800/1600.

photoCycle wrote:
Anyone using the SB800 with the 50" Softbox ? How is the light coverage with the larger softbox?

Its fine; nice and even coverage:

I am looking into the 50" model.

Someone mentioned the fact that it is hard to make it tilt properly...

What is the one pictured, and is that the extent of it's tilt-ability?


Sid Ceaser wrote:

That's the 28, and I wonder if they had to cut the zipper, or just not close the zipper to get that much tilt.

Or maybe the angle seems exaggerated to me, but that's about as absolutely much tile as you can get with it.

That's why I want a boom arm too! Not only could I get the stupid stand out of the way, but I could use the boom arm's angle to "cheat" more angle out of the big softie!

Now if you use a hot pink AB in there, does it give the light a color cast?

MTBtrials wrote:

I am looking into the 50" model.

Someone mentioned the fact that it is hard to make it tilt properly...

What is the one pictured, and is that the extent of it's tilt-ability?


Sid Ceaser wrote: