Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

I use this for a lot of mobile shots with teens. one trick take small zip ties and place them about 4 inches apart on the support arm and assembly this makes the product much more resilient and has been extremely reliable.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

works great easy set up and transport. Works with my Canon wireless transmitter. Going to buy a second one.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

This is a very nice softbox and it is very portable as well.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

OLMOST EVERTING ITS PERFECT ON THIS PRODUCT, THE ONLY THING THAT I'LL CHANGE ITS THE BOX STICK I'LL REPLACE WITH A SOLID STICK 'COUSE THE ONE THE CAME WHIT IT ITS ALL READY BEND..... OHHH AND I'LL MEKE IT A LITTE BE LONGER COUPLE INCHES..

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

I use it for environmental portraits and such. It's not too big, not too unwieldy. It makes a lovely light and I like that its recessed front keeps light from spilling everyplace and from giving me lens flare.

The umbrella swivel is really great and solid and high quality. Cool that they include that.

My only concern is that it's not like the toughest thing ever. I'm worried about it getting bent up or ripped. The zipper on the bottom doesn't have a zipper stop so I have to put the zipper pull back on all the time. I'm gonna sew a stop on it.

I shoot manual flash, but if I understood TTL better, or if I could control my flash from my camera, using it would be easier because it's hard to change flash power once it's in there. I just remember where the power button is and feel for it and count the times I push it.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

As presented in Speedliter's Handbook pp 199. Don't try it with Westcott's Quad as a substitute for the EZY box. little or no access to 4 speed lite settings in this quad mode.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

Good light for the price. If I had to do again I would get an umbrella softbox as they seem higher rated.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

Love this softbox! It's light, it's easy and has great light. I only wish there was room to tilt it.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

This softbox came as advertised. It provides great light and isn't difficult to setup or use. The one drawback is when using a Pocketwizard you have to reach inside the softbox to change the flash power but so far this hasn't been a real hassle. I would purchase this product again.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

Good value for the product. Like the ease of operation and all in one piece. Do not like that it will not angle down very much. I suppose that is the price you pay for doing what it does. Works well and very flexible in use except for the down and up angling issue. I would recommend this. Kinda hard to set up but once up works well.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

I really loved the quality of light that this created and how easy it was to set up and use. Unfortunately the second time I used it the part that slides to open and close the softbox basically crumpled from pressure. I was sad to return this product and don't know if it was just mine that was defective but I can't afford to buy equipment that breaks right away.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

I do a lot of small weddings. These sets are lightweight and quick to set up which is important after service. I already have many stands, so I am just using ones I have instead of buying theirs. On the downside, outdoors this set will blow over very easily--I did crack a speedlight when this happened.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

Nice light from this softbox.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

This softbox setup for use with my Nikon Speedlight is versatile, easy to use and enables me to do my single light source photography in many scenarios. I like that I can set it with my speedlight forward for a stronger more focused, yet soft light, or point it backward and get a broader more dispersed light - umbrella style. I'm glad to have this in more portable studio kit.

My only complaint is that I find it difficult to tighten the hot shoe attachment for my flash sufficiently to keep my flash from sliding off the bracket when moving the light.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

Compact, gives a good picture, very soft light (use with Canon Speedlite 580EX II) STRONG! In the fall of 2.6 meters bar, nor the soft box flash or not injured, would recommend

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

First off, even though I rated it 3 stars overall, it does very well at it's main task - providing softbox light quality. It's also reasonably easy to set up, though unless you have radio frequency remote control of your flash unit inside the softbox it is going to be a pain operationally to adjust your flash unit.

My other disappointment was that the umbrella frame would collapse when I was moving the softbox from one location to another, while mounted to a lightstand. While I was not using baby gloves, it was not particularly rough treatment either.

Thanks to B&H for an easy return (first return I've made in over 18 years as a customer!). I replaced this Westcott with the Lastolite Ezybox which suits my needs much better and addresses the two concerns above (at almost double the price :-( ).

Final call? If you want an easy to setup softbox that you don't need to move around much, and have radio frequency remote control of the flash inside, or the time to adjust the light levels when necessary, the Westcott is a good product at a decent price.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

this is a great little compact soft box.
folds up like an umbrella and makes it extremely portable. Can be a little hard to setup as the center shaft comes out of the middle guide. Also the bottom zip opening can be a hassle as well. Aim the speedlight to the back and its easy to get to the controls just by pulling the difuser panel loose from the front. This kit came with an umbrealla bracket as well. I always purchased the "Cheap" brackets, this one is of much higher quality metal construction instead of plastic. I can already tell that this is going to be a workhorse for me. Not as easy to use as the 43" colapsable umbrealla, but much more controlled light!!

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

Love how the box opens like an umbrella... sa-weet!

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

Well I work with all kinds of assistance's. I used a broken umbrella that the wind love to tip over. Finally i saw this Softbox that folded up like an umbrella so i bought it. My assistances love my new gear it easy to use, and it takes 2 seconds to open up. price range is perfect bc i didnt pause and think about how much it was. I recommend the Apollo Speedlight by Westcott for photographers that walk aroun to find a cool location.

Comments about Westcott Apollo Speedlight Set:

If you are a professional photographer - two primary things are needed. Great results and durability, this product only gives you one of those.

Fantastic light, very portable, somewhat easy setup. Great size considering portability.

Unfortunately the umbrella shaft is hollow (this should be an arrestable offence) and it falls out when folded (this is easy fix if Westcott put some thought into it). Forget about tilting this thing without an assistant (another easy fix, with some thought from W).

For about $100 more consider Lastolite Hot Shoe EZYBOX Softbox Kit-30 x 30" $244.95 (on this site)

Bottom line worth the money - durability, you've been warned. Still happy to have it.

Tough call on the stars between 3 & 4 - definitely not 5

Used for Wedding and engagement shoots.