strobe softboxes with speedlight - adapter

[astroNikon]

Has anyone tried this adapter ==> Flashpoint Universal Softbox Adapter for Shoe-Mount Flash FASRSHO

I've had a couple of softboxes that I've always wanted to get - the tall thin ones but those always require a strobe adapter. Of course, I don't know if a speedlight would be able to light the entire thing but this adapter would seem to allow a transition from speedlights to the larger diffuser options of strobes, without having to initally buy strobes.

 

[Designer]

I've never considered that, but one thing to keep in mind is that speedlights do not have the same power as a plug-in studio strobe. You might want to do the math on how much difference there is to see if you want to try that.

BTW: You can buy a studio strobe for $49.95, about twice as much as that adapter.

 

[tirediron]

Speedlights have plenty of power for portraiture. This is a single SB800 at 1/4 power (IIRC) driving a 50" Westcott softbox.

 

[JoeW]

Has anyone tried this adapter ==> Flashpoint Universal Softbox Adapter for Shoe-Mount Flash FASRSHO

I've had a couple of softboxes that I've always wanted to get - the tall thin ones but those always require a strobe adapter. Of course, I don't know if a speedlight would be able to light the entire thing but this adapter would seem to allow a transition from speedlights to the larger diffuser options of strobes, without having to initally buy strobes.

Multiple answers:

1. I haven't tried exactly that mount but do have a soft box and mount that is very similar. I also have a couple of mounts that differ from that in terms of the connection but the same principle--they clamp on a speed light rather than a strobe.

2. I have 4 soft boxes/umbrella soft boxes (light goes inside the umbrella but it's covered like a speed light and I can either bounce off the inside of the umbrella or the flat cover like a soft box) and I use speed lights with all of them. I'm very happy with the results I get for portraiture and the work I shoot. I don't expect the speed lights to match the power and firing frequency of professional strobes. OTOH, I fly with 2-3 speed lights in my carry-on baggage all the time. So speed lights are what I've chosen and I'm fine with 'em. If most of my work was in a studio, I might go in a different direction but that's not the case for me.

 

[astroNikon]

I've never considered that, but one thing to keep in mind is that speedlights do not have the same power as a plug-in studio strobe. You might want to do the math on how much difference there is to see if you want to try that.

BTW: You can buy a studio strobe for $49.95, about twice as much as that adapter.

Yes, i've looked at the economies of it all. I also have a small home studio which is also the kids play area. And little room for storage. So the bulk of a strobe head has to be taken into consideration too. Of course those adapters (and diffusers) take space too. Also, when I go strobe I want to get a strobe that will last me forever with modeling lights, maybe cooling fans, etc. I'm still undecisive on which ones, when etc. It's just I want to start playing with some diffusers and all of them require the strobe adapter. I figured, this is a good first step towards that.

my current diffusers consist of
shoot thru umbrellas
bounce umbrellas
brolly (Joe, I assume like your umbrella with a cover ==> Amazon.com : PBL 43" Photo Softbox Umbrella Reflective Steve Kaeser Photographic Lighting : Shoot Through Umbrella : Camera & Photo )

a couple small 23cm x 23cm diffusers

but I really want to start experimenting will taller thinner ones .. as I want to control spillover light alot more.
I've toyed with covering the brolly's with strips of cloth on either side. .. but they're not tall enough, though I could use 2 vertically.
Thus my reasoning on certain diffusers which require certain adapters.

but it's good to know John is using 50" with SB800s ... my same speedlight.