Which portable softbox? (580ex II + PWs)

[ravag3]

Hi all

I'm getting a 580ex II and a pair of Pocketwizard Plus ii's sometime in the near future and would like to mount them in a small portable softbox.

The scenario I imagine is to have a second person holding the softbox (with flash mounted) off to one side like in this video but a) mounted b) triggered by pocket wizards :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-b6JKll054

I did some googling and found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So-ebK8DREc

This seems to fit the bill, but only seems to be locally available from one or two suppliers. There seem to be quite a few other softboxes available but don't have double shoes to accommodate a radio trigger.

I'm a complete lighting neophyte so I have some questions:

Has anyone used this setup or similar?

Can anyone recommend a better solution?

[TotalPanic]

Hi ravag3,

I use a EzyBox version. It seems to do a good job. Only has single hot shoe mount, but I velcro my trigger to my flash. There are a number of flash specific soft boxes on the market. Westcot ones are of good quality and design with flash unit placed inside the soft box it self and pointing backwards. Think of it as a bounce umbrella with a diffusion material.
No matter which one you go for, they will do a good job. Just try to get one with double diffusion panel in it to eliminate the hot spot.

Hope this helps,
GK

[bigdazzler]

First of all, if youre just starting out why do you want to break the bank with PWs ?? There are great triggers available that do exactly the same thing for much less $$$.

I use the Cactus V4s. You connect the flash to the receiver via a hotshoe, and the receiver has a screw thread in the base that will allow you to mount the receiver onto the softbox mounting bracket.

Yongnuo also make a similar product to the Cactus, and are even cheaper again.

There are also plenty of pop-up speedlight softboxes available as well. Check this out (http://protog.com.au/portable-photographic-flash-soft-box-diffuser-50x50cm-p-137.html)

Mate you can honestly set this up for under $150 total (excluding the flash of course). The softbox is about $60, and You can buy a Cactus Trigger/Receiver Set from here (http://##############.com.au/store//catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=109) for $65.

Two PWs will cost you about 500 bucks on their own.

[TotalPanic]

First of all, if youre just starting out why do you want to break the bank with PWs ?? There are great triggers available that do exactly the same thing for much less $$$.

I use the Cactus V4s. You connect the flash to the receiver via a hotshoe, and the receiver has a screw thread in the base that will allow you to mount the receiver onto the softbox mounting bracket.

Yongnuo also make a similar product to the Cactus, and are even cheaper again.

There are also plenty of pop-up speedlight softboxes available as well. Check this out (http://protog.com.au/portable-photographic-flash-soft-box-diffuser-50x50cm-p-137.html)

Mate you can honestly set this up for under $150 total (excluding the flash of course). The softbox is about $60, and You can buy a Cactus Trigger/Receiver Set from here (http://##############.com.au/store//catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=109) for $65.

Two PWs will cost you about 500 bucks on their own.

I had V2s and V4s and ended up buying Skyports because poverty wizards just did not like working with canon flashes or in locations with water pipes and distances bigger then 3m.
PWs are expensive, he may want to look at radiopoppers or skyports.
If you don't care about $60 going into the bin latter on, then get the V4s.

Than is just my personal experience though. I'm sure there are plenty of people who had no issues and love V4s.

GK

[ravag3]

Thanks guys. Some sage advice in there. I was aiming for PWs due to a "buy once, buy right" mentality.

I've done some reading since this morning on the Cactus and Yongnuo triggers. Cactus seem to be a hit and miss (?) whilst the Yongnuo seem to generate a lot of "best bang for buck" comments.

Perhaps I'll pick up some Yongnuo until I can justify a bigger investment.


I had V2s and V4s and ended up buying Skyports because poverty wizards just did not like working ... in locations with water pipes


Haha really?

[bigdazzler]

If you don't care about $60 going into the bin latter on, then get the V4s.

Than is just my personal experience though. I'm sure there are plenty of people who had no issues and love V4s.



Ive flogged the hell outta my V4s and they are perfect.

The blokes only just buying a speedlight, to say PWs are overkill is an understatement.

[TotalPanic]

Haha really?

last straw for me was while doing a bike shoot in a garage with pipes all over the place. 1 in every 5 shots had all the flashes fire. They get better and better with every revision though, and I hear good things about the latest batches, But I still would not use them again for a real shoot.


Ive flogged the hell outta my V4s and they are perfect.

The blokes only just buying a speedlight, to say PWs are overkill is an understatement.
If the intention is to try off camera flash out and see how it all works, then I agree with you about overkill. was just giving a long term outlook.

Gk

[RXA]

Research the new FlashWave III triggers and receivers (http://www.###########.com.au/Accessories-Wireless-Radio-Triggers/c8_60/p381/FLASHWAVE-III-Studio-Strobe/Portable-Flash-Slave-Radio-16ch-KIT/product_info.html).

I've heard nothing but good things about them and you can get a kit for the same price as a PW. Note that I have nothing against the PW's as I am a very happy user of three.

[MarkChap]

I use the Yongnuo (sp ?) RF-602's

Have not had a misfire yet, for $75.00 I got I transmitter and 3 receivers.

Really if you are just starting, there is not much wrong with the current batch of Chinese triggers.

There is an new out there now that is compatible with Pocket wizards at very much reduced price.

Have you tried the Flash Waves yet Richard

[RXA]

Have you tried the Flash Waves yet Richard

Not personally but I know of others who have and they love them.