SOFTBOX OVERVIEW FOR FOTOKVANT SBK-40 AND SBK-40EX CHAMBER FLASHES

What does an amateur photographer use as a dope? Far from the last place in the list is the purchase of equipment and accessories.

My arsenal of light modifiers for on-camera flashes is quite small. First of all, because of the unwillingness to carry with them, if not heavy, but rather cumbersome softboxes and nozzles. For a long time, I have been using the kit from the Rogue Flash Bender and the Rogue Diffusion Panel – it doesn’t take up much space in the bag, and definitely adds “flexibility” when using the on-camera flash.

I decided to buy a flash disk – “ring softbox for camera flash”, which I liked the possibility of compact storage and transportation and a relatively low price.

As far as I know, the ancestors of such light modifiers were Patrick Hall and Lee Norris from Fstoppers, who in 2013 presented the photo audience to Fstoppers FlashDisc – a folding light modifier for camera flashes. I do not exclude that they simply popularized an already existing product, but this does not negate the fact that the flash disk quickly gained popularity and in recent years acquired a considerable number of clones.

The modifiers are similar, both are 40 cm in size, differ in the design of the mount on the flash and in the back wall – in the SBK-40EX it is made in three-color (a kind of expression with black, white and 18% gray areas).

The set is similar: the softbox itself and the fabric cover. At Fotokvant SBK-40, Velcro tape has been added for attaching the softbox to the flash.

Materials and production
I admit that the name “round softbox” is not to my liking, but the “flash disk” can be misleading. One way or another, in both cases, the name carries the characteristics of the product – it is a reflector-diffuser for a round-shaped camera flash.

At the base – two circles of flexible steel wire, on which the soft box body is fixed. The front wall is made of light-scattering material, the inner surface of the rear and side walls is silver reflecting.
Fotokvant SBK-40 is attached to the flash with velcro tape, the SBK-40EX has pretty wide elastic bands inside. Mounts “sparing” – on the body of the flash you do not need to stick anything or modify it in any other way.

Both softboxes are made neatly and subjectively correspond to their price. In addition to the difference in the mount and differences in the manufacture of the back wall, I note only that the Fotokvant SBK-40 is a little more than the stated 40 cm, and the SBK-40EX is only slightly less.
Fotokvant SBK-40 and SBK-40EX are easy to fold and unfold. Careful when unfolding – straighten themselves independently and unexpectedly quickly. We fold them, taking them from two sides, bending over into the “eight” and combining the resulting two parts with each other. Softboxes used with YongNuo YN-568EX II Speedlite. Fastening on the flash without any complaints: not monolithic and at first caused doubts, but during the operation they were dispelled – held tightly.

The best results are shown when shooting from small distances. For an item very, very good. I think that would be a great tool for food bloggers and photographers. For portrait photography, the light is harsh, but I think that by acquiring a flash trigger to shoot with a flash not on a camera, I can achieve better results.

I shoot most often at a power of 1/64. Exhibited 1/64 and looked at the results – it was not often necessary to change the settings.
Conclusion

Review of softboxes for Fotokvant SBK-40 and SBK-40EX camera flashesObzor of softboxes for Fotokvant SBK-40 and SBK-40EX camera flashes
Since the advent of camera flashes, photographers have sought to “soften” their hard directional light and achieve natural lighting as much as possible. The easiest and painless way is to shoot in reflected light (most often the on-camera flash goes to the ceiling), high-quality use professional large-sized light modifiers. The distance to the subject and the size of the light source are two main factors. Therefore, it would be naive to expect a miracle from a flash disk with a diameter of 40 cm, and it is unlikely to replace a large and bulky softbox and cannot provide an effect comparable in quality to the reflection of a pulse from the ceiling / wall. With these reservations, ready to confirm that the task of alleviating the light from the camera flash, he performs successfully. Recommend.