DIY Collapsible Soft Box, Part Deux
Strobist reader Marc Englund is is at it again. We reported on his first-generation DIY collapsible softbox back in October. That one was made out a bug shield.
Version 2.0 (pictured) is made out of kite parts, which we think is pretty darn cool. Marc has detailed instructions (with lotsa pix) here. And there's also a discussion about it on the Strobist Flickr threads.
Marc made his for 20 Euros (about $27.00.) But if you are Mr. Moneybags, you can get a commercial version for less than $60.00, along with lots of other flashy goodies.
UPDATE - Bad news: The above source for the store-bought version is USA only. Good news: Marc has listed some other sources in the comments section.
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Posted at 12:13 AM.
9 Comments:
Kite parts...that is resourceful.
-billy
www.goodpersontest.com
The alzo one looks good, but it looks like US/Canada only :(
I'm trying to get something like this, 2 even.
Cool ... I thought, until I tried ordering the commercial version.
It is US only again ;-(
Is this now the recurring theme here? Old Europe and the Axis of Evil is excluded from the latest and greatest of light modifiers?
;-)
David, et all,
I just got the Alzo Digital version for $60 and am very impressed so far. I've only gotten to make a few quick test shots so far to see how it sets up but pretty sure I love it all the way around. May use it on the flash distance assignment, just for fun.
Clay
One manufacturer is Tristar Photo in Hong Kong (Photax and Scandinavian Photo sell these in sweden).
Life of Photo is another, in Kina (Kaffebrus has this one, also in sweden).
I have not seen any in Finland yet, and I don't know about the rest of europe...
http://www.tristar-photo.com/
http://www.life-of-photo.com/
http://www.photax.se/kmrt/kblixtar/tristarsoftbox/tristarsoftbox.htm
http://www.scandinavianphoto.se/product/item.aspx?iID=5643364
http://www.kaffebrus.com/?484
//emarc
I'd be curious to see comparison shots between this softbox and a similarly sized diffusion panel.
As for a source for materials, when I was building kites I used to order from Hang-em High Fabrics (http://ecom.citystar.com/hang-em-high/) or Kitebuilder.com. Prices at HEH are better, but the selection at KB is hard to beat.
It's a nifty idea and very creative to be using kite parts to make the softbox.
My only concern is the time to make this thing vs buying the $60 version. I know this is all about budget lighting but let's say if this thing took 2-3 hrs to make would it be worth it?
I guess it all depends on each individual and how much they make in an hour to justify the time spent on making this softbox.
I know this is geared for the budget conscious enthusiast, but I'm just saying...
The other day at Wal-Mart they had some neat "Wet Floor" signs that were exactly the same construction: four sided nylon pyramid that folds up into a small circle. My guess is that the opening is 12" square so it would work for a smaller softbox. You could paint the exterior black and the interior gray using fabric spray paint (available at most craft stores).
Here is a picture of one for sale on eBay: http://i2.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/bf/36/aea2_1.JPG . If the link doesn't work, I have a picture that I can post. (FYI: this is not my eBay post).
Wet floor signs, what a great idea!
I just ordered a bunch of these via ebay (I think it was like $10 for 4 units incl shipping).
Thanks for the sugg.
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