| Both Creative Light RF & FF softbox designs feature a removable interior diffuser, as well as an external diffuser. All Creative Light Softboxes are constructed with reinforced stitching, ensuring no light is lost through the seams. Also unique to Creative Light Softboxes is the use of all flexible steel rods rather than aluminum or fiberglass. The rigidity of steel maintains the shape of the softbox regardless of working conditions. Finally, rods are color coded to make assembly simple. Just match the color with the appropriate color-coded hole on the Creative Light Speed ring. Whether you are using a square, octagonal or rectangular softbox, set up is easy. The heat-resistant fabric is perfect with flash units of any power, or continuous lighting up to 500 watts. All Creative Light Softboxes come with a high-quality, soft-sided storage case. |
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 This rocks!!! |
| Review Date: August 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: R. J. Kern, Denver, CO |
| I purchased and used it for formals at at wedding and was blown away at the quality of light it puts out for the value!!! My clients may not appreciate it as much as my print sales do! Great craftsmanship. |
It's cheap and you may not get what you pay for
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| Review Date: Septembre 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Chet Lee, Los Angeles, CA United States |
1. The button that secures the baffle to the box broke the second time we used it. Lets face it, assistants who are in a hurry to tear down are not going to look at that flimsy button and figure that if they're not really careful, it may break. Most of them may not even be old enough to remember how many times shirts made with higher quality materials were ruined by those types of metallic clasp buttons that would rather tear the fabric than unbutton. For a note, the retailer said he mentioned to me not to remove the baffle when tearing down, but I don't remember it and not removing it doesn't make it not crap. He mentioned that this was the second of four that came back because of this issue. As far as I know, Creative Light just started shipping in the USA so those other 2 may very well go back as well. I mean, it's enough of an issue that the retailer gives a warning? I was so upset that he even recommended it to me. I was seduced by the low price.
2. The rods are very thin and kinked a little. I set it up for a test shoot, about 100 frames, 45mins. Then I brought it to do a location shoot, 3 days. When I returned the box, I noticed that some of the rods were kinked. I'm lucky the retailer I bought it from was willing to take the box back. The rods are thinner than others I use.
3. There are no sleeves for the rods on the box. There is only 1 small loop about 1cm in length in which to slide the rods through and a pocket on the edge of the box to put the end of the rod in, otherwise the rods are exposed. Many times while trying to get the box open, I wondered if any of these loops, made from the same fabric as the box, would tear as the rods were getting tension put on them. They didn't, but I don't have confidence that they would last either. In my opinion, there's too much tension for just a centimeter of stitching to hold each rod in place.
4. Uneven light. With the baffle, the box metered f/14 in the center and f/10 on the edges. The Calumet box I used before was even all across.
5. Very slight yellow cast. I was shooting white on white. Subjects wore white uniforms and I was using white seamless. I noticed a very slight yellow cast when shooting with the box. The cast was not bad enough that I would return the box strictly because of that, but it was something that I noticed, especially against the lit white background. Only the main light was using the Creative Light box.
6. I've seen better speedrings. While this is not about the speedring, I've seen speedrings with hinges. I don't think Creative Lights has those. I'm going to be looking for those speedrings from now on.
7. The box is pretty deep. I kept having to remind myself that it was cheap and worth the inconvenience. I didn't measure it but it was an inconvenience that I am grateful to be rid off.
The Mac group was willing to replace the box, but I had to pay shipping. Since my retailer was willing to make an exchange for me, I brought it back. However, rather than taking the exchange, I just spent more money and bought a better box.
If you can be really careful with the box and you do not intend to break it down a lot, and the pictures are not commercial, I think this box may be worth while. You can throw out 3-4 of these before you've paid the price of a decent box. |
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