Ultra bright video light the brightest way to light the picture without the heat. Uses 36 LED's 50 times brighter than standard bulbs

• Shoe mount compatible with all Pro & consumer video camcorders


• Patent pending interlocking design


• 600 lumens with built-in diffuser


• Slim lightweight design


• Safe to touch-does not get hot

More detail ...

The Omni-Bounce creates a Diffused Bare Bulb Effect. Giving even coverage across the entire frame with lenses from 15mm to 200mm in the 35mm format. (And equal in other formats as well.) The Omni-Bounce is easy to use and goes onto and off of your flash in seconds with custom fitting except UNI and No Velcro. Designed for years of service with out the bulk of some other Diffusers it is small enough to fit easily into your gadget bag or pocket.

• Can be used on the Canon EOS Canon Rebel XT400D Nikon D40 Olympus E400 E410 E500 Pentax K100Ds

More detail ...

The Omni-Bounce creates a Diffused Bare Bulb Effect giving even coverage across the entire frame with lenses from 15mm to 200mm in the 35mm format. The Omni-Bounce is easy to use and goes onto and off of your flash in seconds with custom fitting except UNI and No Velcro.

• Flash with the Omni-Bounce installed and tilted to 45 degrees gives a nice soft wrap


• Flash straight on without the Omni-Bounce causes the light to go forward only

More detail ...

The Omni-Bounce creates a Diffused Bare Bulb Effect. Giving even coverage across the entire frame with lenses from 15mm to 200mm in the 35mm format. (And equal in other formats as well.) The Omni-Bounce is easy to use and goes onto and off of your flash in seconds with custom fitting except UNI and No Velcro. Designed for years of service with out the bulk of some other Diffusers it is small enough to fit easily into your gadget bag or pocket.[]More detail ...

The Photo Basics 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector Kit is versatile in the field and in the studio providing shadow-lightening detail in your subject using available or studio lighting. It contains a translucent white disc which is perfect for softening direct sunlight or lights without diffusion. Use the removable reversible zippered slipcover to reflect light into shadow areas of your subject. The cover consists of the following colors: silver gold white and black. This 42" reflector is perfect for 3/4 length portraits and medium still-life setups. It folds down to 1/3 its open size and comes with a carry case. We suggest the purchase of a pivoting arm and stand to hold the disc where needed -- especially if you are working without an assistant.

• Silver increases the specular highlights and yields a high-contrast image. Its perfect for video product shots and B&W photography.


• Gold produces a natural golden fill that is great for sunsets or indoor portraits.


• White produces an even neutral-colored bounce light that works beautifully as a fill light source


• Black is used as a flag to block light or can be used to subtract light


• Translucent fabric is used to diffuse light producing a broad light source and a soft wraparound effect

More detail ...

The Photo Basics 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector Kit is versatile in the field and in the studio providing shadow-lightening detail in your subject using available or studio lighting. It contains a translucent white disc which is perfect for softening direct sunlight or lights without diffusion. Use the removable reversible zippered slipcover to reflect light into shadow areas of your subject. The cover consists of the following colors: silver gold white and black. This 42" reflector is perfect for 3/4 length portraits and medium still-life setups. It folds down to 1/3 its open size and comes with a carry case. We suggest the purchase of a pivoting arm and stand to hold the disc where needed -- especially if you are working without an assistant.

• Silver increases the specular highlights and yields a high-contrast image. Its perfect for video product shots and B&W photography.


• Gold produces a natural golden fill that is great for sunsets or indoor portraits.


• White produces an even neutral-colored bounce light that works beautifully as a fill light source


• Black is used as a flag to block light or can be used to subtract light


• Translucent fabric is used to diffuse light producing a broad light source and a soft wraparound effect

More detail ...

Cheapens the Polaroid name

These filters obviously do the job by protecting the glass but that's about it. The quality is nothing more than the aftermarket plastics sold by the Chinese manufacturers. If you're a real photographer and want to get the true result of UV FL and PL buy nothing other than Tiffen Hoya and similar.More detail ...

There's a much cheaper way to bounce...

I own an SB400 flash and looked at this diffuser attachment. First like the diffusion adapter that comes with the SB800 it's a bit bulky and takes excess space. Secondly it costs. Thirdly you can lose it.



Much easier way to bounce and diffuse an SB400: tape a white business card to the top of the flash so it hangs off the front. Bend the card at the middle upward to a 45 degree angle. Tilt the flash tube upward 90 degrees so it dumps the light into this mini white card. Shoot the photo.



You can leave the card on the flash fold it up and stick the whole thing in the SB400's cute little carrying case. Zero cost. Replace it when it wears out.



By the way the SB400 in a room with an 8-10' white ceiling works really well by simply rotating the flash tube up 90 degrees. By design the exact amount of light emits from the edge of the SB400 flash when it's pointed upward. This gives a perfect amount of fill light and the very important eye highlight. You really only need the diffuser or this whitecard trick if the ceiling is so high the flash runs out of gas. The "before and after" photos shown here would look exactly the same if you simply point the flash tube toward the ceiling.



I also found that pointing it up at less than 90 degrees allows too much light to go forward and overexposes the upper half of the frame. If I use the tilting flash at all it's always up the full 90 degrees.More detail ...

No fail operation each and every time.

I have to admit the Elinchrom EL-Skyport competitor units have more advantageous specifications on paper compared to these PocketWizard Plus II units. There are a few other wireless units out there but only two of these brands can compete if you want serious no-fail gear. Heres the comparison:



POCKETWIZARD PLUS II



1. 16-bit / 344.04MHz

2. Sync up to 1/500s

3. 4 Channels

4. 1600+ foot range

5. AA battery or AC

6. Transceiver (auto-sensing no need to purchase different units)

7. Flexible rubber antenna (no swivel)



ELINCHROM EL-SKYPORT



1. 40-bit / 2.4GHz

2. Sync up to 1/1000s

3. 8 Channels

4. 50 meter range indoor / 120 meter range outdoor (394 foot range)

5. CR2430 3.0V battery or AC

6. Receiver or Transmitter models are separate

7. Flexible 360 degree swivel antenna



The PocketWizards are even bulkier than the Skyports which are flat. The antenna of the PocketWizard looks fragile and doesn't hide or swivel down when being kept. In fact the plastic build and feel of the PocketWizard feels like a cheap radio control toy for kids.



And to add more to the above it's almost twice as expensive than the Skyport.



So why did I still get the PocketWizard unit? The PocketWizard MultiMax transceiver is more versatile and more advanced in features than the above two models which is what I am aiming to grab to control the other PocketWizard units. I'm investing and banking on the fact that PocketWizard will try to strike a deal with other manufacturers for wireless flash trigger.



They started with Mamiya Corporation and equipped their Sekonic's current light meters with the technology including my Sekonic L-758Cine flash meter that I've installed a PocketWizard wireless module.



And unlike the Elinchrom EL-Skyport RX model (which is a custom tailored version that plugs into their own RX lighting setup) The PocketWizard technology exists in various lighting brands including Dyna-Lite Norman Profoto and Photogenic.



Nikon did once use PocketWizard in their D1X way back in 2002 until they started their own Creative Lighting System (CLS) which does not simply rely on triggering a flash alone but measures meters and communicates the information back to the camera. It would be best to know each capability and limitation especially depending on the scale of your project intent and creativity.



The PocketWizard has been around for a longer time and they have rock-solid reliability. It sticks out from the camera hot shoe like a sore thumb and for a good reason that enables great communication with other units over a long distance.



Conclusion:



You obviously have to evaluate your needs and how you plan to build your system.



If you are on a budget and would like equal reliability over shorter and more normal triggering distances I would suggest Elinchrom EL-Skyport. In fact I would suggest investing on RX models and be able to control Elinchrom's own lights via their downloadable EL-Skyport software.



However if you want to stick with the proven technology and reliability of PocketWizard then building a system around this wireless set up will be an equally good investment down the line especially as they try to expand with other professional brands of photographic devices.



The advantages of Elinchrom shine when you are building a system around their own brand. Outside of this PocketWizard has been the recognized leader...at least for now.More detail ...

Very accurate and super convenient

This is a tool that will improve my workflow and my results. I've been reluctant to take a gray card with me in the past because of their size. So I'd correct color in post as best I could (shooting raw helps of course). With this product I can now quickly do a very accurate custom WB and since it folds down easily to a very compact size it can fit easily in even my smallest camera bag.



I put the Ezbalance to a real test at a recent NBA game where I was luck enough to have courtside seats. The lighting in an arena is tough to balance. With the Ezbalance card I set the custom WB and also used it to set a manual exposure (ISO1250 f3.2 1/500). Shot the entire game that way with the best results of any sporting event yet - perfect color and exposure on every shot. Post-processing couldn't have been easier - crop resize light USM and that's pretty much it. Since there was no underexposure to speak of noise was more than acceptable.



Highly recommended from someone who's tried them all.More detail ...

Great kit at a great price!

I'm very satisfied with this lighting kit. It arrived quicker than I expected and the set up was a breeze. Everything worked perfectly.



The stands are lightweight easy to adjust and more sturdy than I expected. The umbrellas are good quality the lights are bright and the carrying case is well constructed so everything fits nicely.



It really is a great kit for those just starting out like myself.More detail ...

GREAT BASEPLATE!

Please note: This review is for the Manfrotto 200PL-14 RC2 Rapid Connect Mounting Plate with 1/4-Inch 20 Screw ONLY.



I've been using these mounting plates almost exclusively with my lighter weighted Manfrotto tripod heads. I have nothing but good things to say. After years of use occasional (and mostly accidental) abuse dropping extreme heat and moisture exposure - they all work great. I even even over-tourqued one to the point where it snapped off the mounting stud at the base of the camera! The mounting plate and threads are still fine but camera needed a little extra attention at the Canon service center. Not a single mounting plate I own has broken or failed - ever.



Though these little guys are small if you're doing any tripod work - weather macro indoor product portraiture or just doing a star sweep shot in the middle of the woods on some chilly evening they're ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. There's nothing worse than showing up to a shot having lugged your camera lenses tripod and kitchen sink just to find out that your mounting plate is somewhere else - like on another camera that's sitting on your gear rack back in your studio.



So after a few of these frustrating experiences (I often learn by braille) I purchased a few more to keep with me so I've got one where ever I go. Practically every 35mm kit has at least one and for good measure I keep one in my Jeep - just in case.More detail ...

Great multi-use reflector and best all around size

I looked long and hard before I purchased this since I am an amateur photographer looking to take my pictures to the next level and don't want to spend a lot of money or buy multi versions of reflectors. This is the one to buy. The price is right quality is excellent and provides you with 5 options of reflectors. The 32in size is perfect too; not too big not too small. Nice and compact when folded maybe 12 inches around. Hope this helps!More detail ...

cowboystudio strobist kit

This kit works well. The stand is as sturdy as other lighting stands I have. The adapter mounts securely. The umbrella rod fits well through the adapter and adjusts properly. My flashes 430exII and Sunpak 363 mount securely onto the adapter. I just might purchase another of these kits.More detail ...

Solid stand - not so compact

This is a solid medium weight stand. It does what it's supposed to do and is better for lights/flashes/etc that are on the medium weight side(or if you have softboxes). Frankly I prefer my Manfrotto 001B which is a super-light-weight 6 foot stand and folds down much smaller. So in the end... as a studio stand great. As a portable stand not bad but you can buy lighter. Build quality is fine and none of the hardware seems cheap. A previous review said this stand was "air cushioned" but it really isn't. It might have that effect in the right conditions but I own some true "air cushioned" stands and this one is not. For the price you won't complain.More detail ...

High Resolution 3-piece Filter Set (UV Fluorescent Polarizer) For The Nikon D5000 D3000 Digital SLR Cameras Which Have Any Of

Awesome products. They were all just as described and ready to go. Shipping was cheap and they arrived really fast.More detail ...

Simple yet effective

This seemingly simple piece of molded plastic was recommended to me by a professional photographer. Basically it's the shape of an open box that slides firmly onto the flash. It is small and sturdy enough to stash in your camera bag without worrying about damage. When used the light disperses more evenly and is less harsh on the subject being photographed.



The white box is for general use. Also available are the green Omni-bounce for florescent lighting and the gold Omni-bounce for a warming effect.



PROS:

Inexpensive solution for better flash photography.

A quality product that works.



CONS:

NoneMore detail ...

Simple yet effective

This seemingly simple piece of molded plastic was recommended to me by a professional photographer. Basically it's the shape of an open box that slides firmly onto the flash. It is small and sturdy enough to stash in your camera bag without worrying about damage. When used the light disperses more evenly and is less harsh on the subject being photographed.



The white box is for general use. Also available are the green Omni-bounce for florescent lighting and the gold Omni-bounce for a warming effect.



PROS:

Inexpensive solution for better flash photography.

A quality product that works.



CONS:

Reduces the amount of light cast upon subject (should be expected with these types of products).More detail ...

Does what it says

I'm not sure why someone would rate this reflector low because "it's too big" since in the 21st century I would hope that people have figured out the concept of measuring length and it's not the fault of the reflector if they don't understand that 40 is bigger than 32 but truth be told this is a nice large reflector and I am glad for it.



If you do portraits you want to make sure you cover the shadows and with a smaller one it's a little harder to aim. I also like that the translucent part of this is big enough to cover a whole person without standing too close to them. Also the large size lets you use this as a background for a headshot or closeup.



The zipper IS kind of weird but pretty much all 5-in-1 reflectors are a little fussy when it comes to sliding the different reflectors in and this is not something you can do when you're in a hurry. you need a place to lay down the reflector and slide in the middle part and close the zipper. If this is a problem for you it might be better to buy dedicated reflectors or a 2-in-1 type thing but overall if you're on a budget this product works well if you are patient.



FYI I just use a tripod or light stand and home depot clips to hold this together and not the one that is sold for it.More detail ...

Simple yet effective

This seemingly simple piece of molded plastic was recommended to me by a professional photographer. Basically it's the shape of an open box that slides firmly onto the flash. It is small and sturdy enough to stash in your camera bag without worrying about damage. When used the light disperses more evenly and is less harsh on the subject being photographed.



The white box is for general use. Also available are the green Omni-bounce for florescent lighting and the gold Omni-bounce for a warming effect.



PROS:

Inexpensive solution for better flash photography.

A quality product that works.



CONS:

NoneMore detail ...

Solid as it should be

If you are used to manfrotto / Bogen camera supports then you know how solid and well machined their equipment is. This little adapter is no exception. I have no worries about any breaking flexing or "give" when attaching any lighting equipment to this thing. Well worth a few extra bucks.

One little extra feature I really like is that the pivot handle can be adjusted to any rotational position after tightening the position by pulling out on the spring loaded handle turning it out of the way and then back in.

(BTW the photo shows the adapter upside down to the position one would most likely have mounted to a stand.)More detail ...

There's a much cheaper way to bounce...

I own an SB400 flash and looked at this diffuser attachment. First like the diffusion adapter that comes with the SB800 it's a bit bulky and takes excess space. Secondly it costs. Thirdly you can lose it.



Much easier way to bounce and diffuse an SB400: tape a white business card to the top of the flash so it hangs off the front. Bend the card at the middle upward to a 45 degree angle. Tilt the flash tube upward 90 degrees so it dumps the light into this mini white card. Shoot the photo.



You can leave the card on the flash fold it up and stick the whole thing in the SB400's cute little carrying case. Zero cost. Replace it when it wears out.



By the way the SB400 in a room with an 8-10' white ceiling works really well by simply rotating the flash tube up 90 degrees. By design the exact amount of light emits from the edge of the SB400 flash when it's pointed upward. This gives a perfect amount of fill light and the very important eye highlight. You really only need the diffuser or this whitecard trick if the ceiling is so high the flash runs out of gas. The "before and after" photos shown here would look exactly the same if you simply point the flash tube toward the ceiling.



I also found that pointing it up at less than 90 degrees allows too much light to go forward and overexposes the upper half of the frame. If I use the tilting flash at all it's always up the full 90 degrees.More detail ...

It Is What It Is

Hard to say much about this quick release plate. It is super-solid and works exactly like it should. If I have any criticism it is a bit pricey. More detail ...

Wrote this after using for a month!

I ordered and received the Collapsible Lightsphere to use with a Nikon sb900 flash unit. I read several reports that it did not fit properly or would not fit at all! Watched several videos from Gary Fong demonstrating how it went on the SB900. Gary was right! Yes the first few times you put it on the fit is tight (this is a good thing!). A friend has the older version of the Lightsphere and is ordering the collapsible after he tried mine.



Best of all the result speak for themselves...the light "wraps" around your subject and gives a very soft illumination to the subject - say "goodby" to harsh shadows. If you want even more control you can put the sb900 with the lightsphere attached in "remote" mode and use the pop-up flash on the Nikon in "command" mode to trigger the flash without spilling direct light on the subject - allowing you to get very creative illumination.



I've owned two different "three-light" systems and the results with the Collapsible Lightsphere are quite impressive - best money for lighting that I've every spent.More detail ...

It's not just for international use!

FORGET THE INTERNATIONAL PART. This is a light for domestic US use that you can also use internationally. It should completely replace the Sima SL-20LX and addresses all it's primary deficiency: the SL-20LXI can be used with the AC Power plugged in unlike the LX.



After buying 3 Sima SL-20LX I discovered that you couldn't run the light on the AC Charger. When you plug the charger in with the LX version it cuts the light out while it's charging.



During an interview my lights started flashing and then went dead. Then you have to wait for it to charge before you can use it again.



NOT SO WITH THE SL-20LXI! The LXI comes with a nifty charger with interchangable plugs which work I presume in Europe and other countries with 220 volts AS WELL AS US 120 volts and I imagine it's a constant regulated voltage charger. As such Sima seems to have changed the circuitry so the power from the battery no longer cuts out to the light while you're charging. BUT ONLY ON THE LXI VERSION. The power supply doesn't help with the LX at all. So now I have 3 LXes and 3 LXIs. Well you can never have too much light.



These things put out a lot of light especially for their size. I'd estimate color temperature at around 4500K but it white balances well on its own and works well with florescents which thanks to compact light bulbs are really really common. I've bought 3200K gels when I'm mixing with incandescents though that does give a nice warm fill with the 4500K white balance



The light interlocks with other 20LX and 20LXI lights and is simply the most amazing value in video lighting today. I also like that they're cool to the touch and if I have to use them on battery power alone they last a little under an hour. The throw isn't too far so they're not going to replace your 50 watt halogens but for 15 feet and under they do beautifully with my Canon HG-21 for interviews. They also pack small enough to carry a bunch of them so if you need to light a larger area you can discretely tape them up or put them around with light stands. The light is fairly soft even with the highish color temp the built in you-don't-have-a-choice diffuser having a really nice dispersion.



Since the lights interlock if you really do want a ton of light on top of your camera you can interlock as many of these things as you want. I've tried 5 of them on top of the camera and it lights up a really wide area with 180 LEDs. For [...] 5 (or thereabouts) that's a lot of light. The Sima SL-20LXI is the most practical amazing value in lighting I've seen and I love using it. There is one drawback. You can't change the battery. Sorry. But they're almost as cheap as a lithium-ion battery alone. Not enough of a drawback for me to dock it a star though.



Also I had to get a cold shoe adaptor to use it with my Canon HG-21. You can find those here: [...] and here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AHUPRA (same company either way).



Summary: Epic WIN!More detail ...

Good value for money but...

The pair of lights are good value for the money. They were relatively easy to assemble and use (adjust). I am a beginner with indoor lighting. The lights give off a strong white light that brings our details in house interior photos.



__ But



The bulb rests on the umbrella's metal rod. I called the vendor cowboystudios.com and they said that is not a problem since the bulbs do not get very hot. I agree the bulbs do not get very hot but I am concerned that any sudden accidental jerking of the lights when moving could cause the bulb to break because of the contact between the bulb and the metal rod of the umbrella. Those new style florescent bulbs are energy saving but they contain mercury and must be very carefully cleaned up when you break one.



I wish the lights came with instructions. My first attempt at assembling them almost met with disaster. I grabbed the light just in time before it almost fell over and broke. I did not realize that the light must extend over one of the tripod legs -- not inbetween them.



I guess I could search the web for instructions and tips on using lighting but I would have appreciated a cheat sheet on using the lights.More detail ...

Gets the job done

When I was shopping for a light tent kit I was tempted by some the cheaper kits that featured smaller lamps. I'm glad I choose this one instead. The included lamps provide good light and color temperature for shooting small and medium size products. I can't imagine trying to get good shots with less light than what these lamps provide. I may in fact even add another lamp to light up from the top to really envelop light around the product.

More detail ...

The filter can be rotated to determine the amount of reflection to be removed. Lens filters are translucent pieces of glass placed in front of a camera lens to alter or adjust the light entering the camera and more importantly to protect the camera lens. Lens filters improve photographs by giving you control over light and allowing you to emphasize the features of a scene that you consider most important. This filter kit is a combination of the three essential filters no photographer should be without. PLEASE NOTE: Some cameras require an adapter tube to fit the filters

• This Filter Kit Includes 3 Filters :


• FILTER UV: Protects your camera's lens from scratches dust dirt moisture and fingerprints while reducing unwanted ulra-violet light.


• FILTER PL: Polarizers let you acheive vibrant color saturation reduce or eliminate glare from non-metallic object


• F-DL fluorescent light correction filter gives true-to-life color rendition. Fluorescent filter dramatically increases color satruation


• Multi-coated optical glass for enhanced optical resolution Includes protective carrying case Backed by a 15 year USA warranty

More detail ...

Great fast worth it!

I love the HonlPhoto system of light modifiers and this is the base of that. The speed strap really lives up to its name...once it's attached to a flash you can quickly and easily switch between snoots grigs gobos and gels...in a flash (pun intended).



While some think this is expensive I will continue buying this and the rest of the HonlPhoto line as it's all made very well looks professional and helps me work faster.More detail ...