Photek SL-4000 36" Softlighter II, Diffusing Umbrella with Black Cover

2015-04-06T21:00:00

I use this for location lighting for a single or two-person portrait outside. This is the perfect size for an assistant to hold or to hang over a boom. It doesn't get caught in the wind as easily as the bigger sized modifiers. It's easy to transport and the light from this is really nice.

WERN Y.

2012-04-29T21:00:00

This is my first light modifier, I'm using it with a YN-560 flashgun. So far I love it! The light has such smooth falloff and the umbrella is of great quality, the first time I opened it, I was stunned. strong material. The wind blew it down on the first shoot from about 7 feet., only slightly bent one rib, cant tell unless inspecting it. great! Cant seem figure out how to remove the back Black cover. But eh.

ISRAEL D.

2011-02-06T19:00:00

We use this in conjunction with two 60" softlighter IIs with interfit three head brackets and two to three Canon 580 flashes per umbrella to light architechural interiors. The softlighters are excellent and versatile tools for our needs.

Lindsay

2011-02-06T19:00:00

We utilize this item with two 60" Softlighter II's for architectural interiors. We use these Interfit 3-head brackets with two to three Canon 580's per umbrella. We get marvelous results with the Softlighers and they are easy to setup and place in both large and small interiors.

LINDSAY H.

2011-01-11T19:00:00

I am a softbox girl, but for on location work these umbrellas work great! The set up and take down time isn't bad at all. I used to use brolly boxes for on location work, and I found that they spilled light. These umbrellas do not do. They work great with my Alien bees.

steph

2008-12-30T19:00:00

I was told by a professional photographer that Annie Leibovitch used them and that was enough for me. Setting up can be tricky in terms of inserting a choice of a gold or silver reflectors as well as the white outer shell. It seems the outer shell material is flimsy but it is pretty durable but you have to be careful. Results: I use Nikon SB 600s and combined with the umbrella, put out more than enough light for portraits. Indeed, you will have to have them several feet from the subject to reduce the amount of whiteness on the skin just right to get the soft light affect. Much trial and error achieved professional results.

Lamar

2008-08-24T21:00:00

I ordered the 40" Softlighter to use with off camera flash units. After a couple of trys, I found a way to put things together that makes it pretty easy. The most difficult things are 1) putting that sock thingy over top of the flash unit when it is mounted in an umbrella swivel, and 2) inserting one of the two (included) reflectors (silver or gold). #1 is fixed by putting the sock over the flash unit (SB-25) before you attach it to the umbrella. #2 is just a pain. You have to insert the flexible reflector sheet under the umbrella ribs. I found that the light from the Softlighter is very soft which is what I was looking for. A single flash does a good job of filling the entire opening and seems to illuminate the diffuser pretty evenly. While it does take a minute or two to set up, IMO it is worth the time to have a very portable 40" softbox. Much easier to set up and take down than a std softbox. It comes with a nice carrying bag with space for the reflector sheets and the fabric diffuse panel. IMO, very much worth the money if you want a decent sized softbox for not too much money. I really like mine.

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