Manfrotto 12x48" Hotrod Strip Softbox

2014-05-18T21:00:00

This strip box is the perfect size and shape for my portrait photography. I use it primarily as a rim light, but sometimes as a key light for full length portraits or horizontally as a key light for a group. Build quality seems fine to me despite other reviews to the contrary. The stitching is reinforced and the brackets are well made (hard plastic - not metal). The part I'd be most concerned about is the little tension bracket that holds the flash in the cold shoe. 'Seems like it could easily break or pop out. But the cold shoe can be easily/cheaply replaced if/when that happens. The cold shoe also does not lock the flash in place so I use a Velcro strap around the back of the flash and lash it to the bracket so it doesn't slide off the back when being moved around. The cold shoe also rotates 360° so when using line-of-sight wireless flash, you can rotate the sensor toward your controller flash with the flash head through the box (assuming your speedlight heads rotate). And what I really like about this strip box is that the box itself rotates 360° so easily. You can push it from vertical to horizontal with one finger. It also has an interior baffle for better diffusion. The light quality is quite pleasing. Even comes with a nice case, too. Yes, it's a little cumbersome to assemble at first, but I can keep everything intact except for the tension rods that give the box its shape. And those take all of 30 seconds to setup. I've used it on several shoots and overall, I'm very pleased with it.

Kazey