LumiQuest 80-20 and Mini SoftBox test
Today I want to share some test shots of flash modifiers LumiQuest 80-20 and LumiQuest Mini Soft Box that I won in a contest. Also I tested two types of Bounce Cards: the regular and feather light (inspired by Peter Gregg www.abetterbouncecard.com). So lets begin.
Equipment:
Flash SB-600
Lens Nikon 50mm 1.8
Camera Nikon D80
01 Direct flash
02 LumiQuest Mini Soft box
I had to increase the power of the flash from 1/16 to 1/4 to get the same exposure as I had with direct flash.
03 LumiQuest 80-20
Also increased the power from 1/16 to 1/4
04 Flash fired directly into the ceiling without modifiers
05 Diffuser
06 Bounce card
07 Bounce card “Feather light”
Conclusion
Test shows that the LumiQuest modifiers are not so impressive as we want them to be. Mini Soft Box sucked at the most, in comparison with direct flash we just lost 2 stops of light and didn’t soften any shadows (well maybe a little bit), so I definitely don’t want to pay $30 for that kind of flash modifier. Next was LumiQuest 80-20, this one was much better then the previous, we can see smooth soft shadows, but you also need to compensate your flash or aperture to get the same exposure like with direct flash. Flash with diffuser, direct flash fired into the ceiling and the regular bounce card showed us nearly the same result as LumiQuest 80-20. And the best result in my opinion goes the “Feather light” bounce card, hurray for Peter Gregg ! So in conclusion of all that, the main thing is that you don’t have to spend money on some fancy “Hi-Tec” equipment, which you can make by yourself in a couple of minutes with stuff you already have at home, but if you are lazy or just want to look cool then don’t hesitate to buy that stuff.
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Tags: 80-20, flash, LumiQuest, Mini SoftBox, test
Categories: flash, tests
English
June 14th, 2009 at 2:12 am
just posted a test shots with LumiQuest flash modifiers http://bit.ly/16njOV
June 28th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Testing well done.
In ‘07 Bounce card “Feather light”’, were you bouncing off of ceiling?
June 28th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
yes the the flash was pointed on the ceiling and the bounce card towards the object, so the light was coming from 2 directions from above and from the feather bounce card.
July 6th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
LumiQuest 80-20 and Mini SoftBox test: Today I want to share some test shots of flash modifiers LumiQuest 80-20 .. http://bit.ly/9hjgL
August 11th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
[...] er een heel stel getest, met als verrassend resultaat dat een simpele bounce-kaart het beste resultaat geeft. Helaas leiden [...]
August 29th, 2009 at 8:28 am
I agree completely on the mini softbox. I found no difference between that and the diffuser dome that came with my SB-600. I was considering trying the 80-20 out – but it seems you’ve saved me the money. I tend to use a lot of home made bounce cards and reflectors – but they tend to wear quickly.
Thanks for the write up
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Thanks bro !
January 29th, 2010 at 12:23 am
Interesting article. Have you tried doing the same experiment outside? Perhaps the bounce card and lumiquest one might fare better.
Nick
January 30th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Thanks for the suggestion Nick, I think I’ll try to test this out.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:02 am
I wonder what difference it would make if when taken outside, it was dark or light. I have noticed in the dark using the standard diffuser, the shots have been o.k. as obviously the light is being thrown around everywhere. I saw somewhere that a guy put a silver strip on the inside back of his modifier to stop the light going backwards, but threw it forwards. He swears by it.
Nick
February 1st, 2010 at 2:16 am
It might be iinteresting to try it when it’s dark and when it’s light. I saw somewhere that a guy stuck a piece of silver material on the inside back of his normal modifier to thorow the light forwards and stop it bouncing backwards. He swears by it.
Nick
February 1st, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Apologies for the same two posts. I think my brain must have stopped working!
Nick