p.2 #1 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
Jay,
Do you have it facing the rear of the softbox? Aim it at the back - the silver interior. It fills the inside and gives even coverage to the front.
I'll try to snap a shot of it inside while I'm at the studio tomorrow.
p.2 #2 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
Thanks Sid
Yes I am facing speedlite to the back of box but with umbrella mount that I have ( and with the hotshoe mount that I have to attach to the 580 to connect to the PW which adds about an inch) the flash is nowhere near the central axis of the softbox - it is way above the center
Not sure if this matters but would love to see your setup
p.2 #3 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
Yeah, its higher to the top of the box. Isn't an issue. Still works flawlessly. I've got a frankenstein 120j with an extra inch of gorilla tape and balsa wood added on and it just about touches the top part of the inside fabric. But the light is fantastic. Doesn't really matter where the light is in that box, as its all bouncing around and filling up the diffusion panel.
This first batch of shots are using a BogenBogen Swivel Umbrella Adapter with either a cold shoe, a hot shoe or just the metal spigot.
I'm showing four flashes in these: The 285, the SB-24, the 580ex and the 120j. The first two are using a cold shoe attached to the metal spigot on the adapter. The 580 is sitting on a hot shoe cord attached by the metal spigot. The 120j is just attached by the metal spigot. All of these flashes are in the top quadrant of the softbox. This doesn't cause any lighting issues. Because the light is facing the rear and bouncing around inside, it fills up more evenly from top to bottom. The 120j is just about touching the roof of the softbox, but that is because I Frankensteined the strobe a bit and it has extra vertical height after having to glue/tape some wood to the flash frame.
This second image shows the SB-24 and the Vivitar on the umbrella bracket that comes with the 28" Apollo Speedlight Kit @ B&H. This bracket is smaller and lets the flashes sit a tiny bit lower. This umbrella adapter does not work with something like the 580ex, which needs some sort of hotshoe to trigger it.
p.2 #6 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
These all look pretty spiffy. Quick question for you folks. I'm running just a 580EX and do a lot of run and gun stuff, so speed, ease of use, and portability are key for me. So far this is the first softbox I think really fits all those requirements.
I'm thinking that the 50" would be the most versatile, with the bigger size and all, but I'm worried about a 580 filling that. For those of you running hot shoe flashes in them, how much power are you getting? I realize I probably won't be overpowering the sun here, but I'd like to be able to use this at a minimum as a soft fill on a sunny day.
p.2 #7 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
mikethevilla wrote:
I'm thinking that the 50" would be the most versatile, with the bigger size and all, but I'm worried about a 580 filling that. For those of you running hot shoe flashes in them, how much power are you getting? I realize I probably won't be overpowering the sun here, but I'd like to be able to use this at a minimum as a soft fill on a sunny day.
Mike,
I'm not going to candy coat this for you. With an indirect modifier like a 46" Softlighter, Apollo or umbrella you're going lose approximately 3 to 3.5 stops from the direct bare flash output, depending on whether you are using front diffuser or not. Figure on about 1.5-2 stops with a shoot thru softbox, like a Photoflex or EzyBox Hot Shoe.
Typically with a 580 you're probably somewhere around f22 at 5' with bare flash, which sadly puts you in the neighborhood of f8 (maybe f11 if all stars are aligned) maximum with one of these "indirects". Excellent for portrait stuff in studio or waning/lower light. Perhaps a touch of fill (3 or 4:1) at higher sync speeds in bright sun, but doubtful you'll be matching for 2:1, let alone overpowering the sun on a sunny day. In bright sun, they're also pretty anemic for groups and beyond 10 feet.
I love my Softlighter II and yes the Apollo (which puts out a beautiful indirect light) can also go direct ( ), but if soft fill is what you need then shooting through a cheap translucent (3/4 stop) reflector panel (aka Ghetto Softbox) will not only be cheaper, but far more effective (1-1.5 stop loss) and versatile too, as it can also be used as a scrim or reflector on a sunny day too. And much faster than any soft box to boot.
p.2 #11 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
jerrykur wrote:
Nive images Sid.
I used 580s in my Westcotts and love the effect.
I am considering this for use with my 580's as well. Can you tell me if you see a huge difference in the light shoot through a umbrella vs. the softbox? I have never used a softbox and I'm just wondering of there is any advantage other than the light fall off.
Thanks
-sorry for the stupid question...I'm just starting at this...
p.2 #12 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
The Westcott has a rim along the four sides that control the spill. Its great for one or two people. With a shoot-through, you are getting more coverage and a wider spill. I use a shoot through when i want to light more of the surrounding environment with the subject; ground, walls, etc. When I want to just light the subject, and control my spill over the background, I use the Apollo.
Also, some people like rounder catch lights rather than square catch lights in the subjects eyes.
p.2 #15 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
All the Westcott Apollo sofboxes are exactly the same thing. I have no idea why B&H has three different prices/SKUs for them.
The cheapest one (119) is the same as the others. I believe the "mono" comes with an extension arm that adapts mono-lights that won't fit inside it. Its simply a metal rod that attaches to the umbrella shaft, and then the monolight points up through the bottom of the box.
p.2 #16 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
Sid Ceaser wrote:
The Westcott has a rim along the four sides that control the spill. Its great for one or two people. With a shoot-through, you are getting more coverage and a wider spill. I use a shoot through when i want to light more of the surrounding environment with the subject; ground, walls, etc. When I want to just light the subject, and control my spill over the background, I use the Apollo.
full,
Sid makes good points, however there are shoot through's like the Lastolite EZYBox Hot Shoe that also have a lip for spill control. But to get comparable eveness of Apollo, or other indirects, from a shoot through softbox will require additional internal diffusion due to the directionality of the fresnel light source of a speedlight. An internal diffuser is included with the larger EZYBox with a resulting reduction in output comparable to the Apollo. Both are great boxes, but the EZYBox is quicker and easier to set up, provides better access to controls/IR and gives you the option to remove internal diffusion for an increase in output when needed.
p.2 #17 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
If you are using a remote like the cyber commander wouldn't the access issue be largely eliminated because you could control the power remotely?
Also I thought the Apollo was an umbrella-like softbox or is that just the Halo? I would think that it wouldn't get much easier than that to setup. I'm leaning towards the Apollo as part of a beginners portable setup hence the questions.
Carmen Miranda wrote:
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full,
Sid makes good points, however there are shoot through's like the Lastolite EZYBox Hot Shoe that also have a lip for spill control. But to get comparable eveness of Apollo, or other indirects, from a shoot through softbox will require additional internal diffusion due to the directionality of the fresnel light source of a speedlight. An internal diffuser is included with the larger EZYBox with a resulting reduction in output comparable to the Apollo. Both are great boxes, but the EZYBox is quicker and easier to set up, provides better access to controls/IR and gives you the option to remove internal diffusion for an increase in output when needed.
p.2 #19 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
Where did you buy yours? I would like to buy the Westcott Apollo softbox without the umbrella bracket kit. Does anyone know who is selling the Westcott Apollo 28" softbox just by itself?
p.2 #20 · Westcott Apollo type of Umbrella Softbox?
Carbotex,
Oddly enough, the package with the umbrella bracket is the CHEAPEST version of the softbox. All the various prices that are on B&H are the same Apollo, but they have a pricing (error) issue.
Pick up the one that comes with the bracket, and then just toss the bracket in your back-up bag.
I'll use this with it....
), but if soft fill is what you need then shooting through a cheap translucent (3/4 stop) reflector panel (aka Ghetto Softbox) will not only be cheaper, but far more effective (1-1.5 stop loss) and versatile too, as it can also be used as a scrim or reflector on a sunny day too. And much faster than any soft box to boot.