Portable Softbox for a Flashgun

[arigram]

I am looking for a softbox for my Metz 45 flashgun, a budget approach to out of studio shoots (since my studio strobes are monoblocks that need electricity).
Lastolite has one that seems interesting:
http://www.lastolite.com/ezybox-hotshoe.php

Anything else you can suggest?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've used a Photoflex Xtra-Small softbox (12x16") that works on a bracket, and Chimera makes one in that size as well. At the time I bought the Photoflex, Chimera didn't have one that small, but if I were looking for another one, I'd probably buy the Chimera.

 

[df cardwell]

I've liked the Chimera for a while... kinda big, but nice light

 

[John Lawrence]

I own one of the (earlier?) Lastolite Apollo softboxes, which I've used on my Sunpak flashgun. It worked well, but I found it a bit of a fiddle to attach it and take it off again. But this may well be due to the size of the Sunpak head.

I think the updated and improved version they make these days is called the micro-apollo, and they may well make one dedicated to the Metz 45 flashgun.

Ebay also used to have quite a few variant designs (mainly from Hong Kong and Chinese vendors), ranging from inflatable types to those which had to be slotted together. None of them particularly expensive.

John

 

[arigram]

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[eddym]

I've tried some small softboxes but have never been happy with any of them. If they are small enough to be portable, they are not big enough to really provide a large, soft light source. I prefer bounce cards made from white foamcore or the round folding reflectors, used with diffusers on a Nikon SB800 or Vivitar 283 flash, or the diffusion head on my big Sunpak flash. Makes a really nice, soft light.

 

[benjiboy]

I am looking for a softbox for my Metz 45 flashgun, a budget approach to out of studio shoots (since my studio strobes are monoblocks that need electricity).
Lastolite has one that seems interesting:
http://www.lastolite.com/ezybox-hotshoe.php

Anything else you can suggest?

I had thought about one of these for my Metz 45, but one potential problem with the Micro Apollo60 just looking at the picture of it is that unless you use it with a camera with TTL flash it's size will foul the Metz 45 flash auto sensor, and you will only be able to use it on manual.

 

[nick mulder]

A big bit of diff gel and some cardboard ?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The best use I found for the 12x16" softbox was with the strobe mounted high on a Stroboframe over the lens bracket, angled down a bit, for a butterfly lighting effect for portraits within about six feet from the subject. I used it with a Norman LH2 head, which is a barebulb head, so the effect may be softer than with a Metz 45. I eventually switched to a Norman mini-octabox, which is a bit more versatile and quicker to set up, but it isn't adaptable to a Metz.