LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder
Tired of taping and untaping little pieces of colored gel to your on-camera flash? The Lumiquest FXtra Compact Gel Holder is designed to hold small (approximately 1x3") gel color filters (like the ones in Rosco's Strobist 55-Piece Filter Kit) used with any small speedlight/portable flash/on-camera flash. The FXtra mounts to almost any portable flash (excluding the Vivitar 285, which has its own built-in gel slot) using the included hook-and-loop fasteners, and passes the fastener through to the outside, so you can use another light modifier outside of the gel holder, if you want. A pocket to store your gels with the flash when you're not using them is included. Small is beautiful, sometimes.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 66 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
73%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Lightweight (54)
- Packs small / compresses (49)
- Easy to use (40)
- Reliable (23)
- Strong construction (16)
Cons
- Difficult to use (18)
- Poor quality (8)
- Unreliable (6)
Best Uses
- Weddings (30)
- Family photos (26)
- Landscape/scenery (14)
- Sports/action (10)
- Travel (10)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Semi-pro photographer (26), Photo enthusiast (22), Pro photographer (13), Casual photographer (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (30)
Most Liked Positive Review
This really works well
Yea,I know, it's plastic. So is your TV and car dash. I hesitated getting this gel holder because they are molded plastic, but because I bought the Rosco gel color sample pack ...Read complete review
Yea,I know, it's plastic. So is your TV and car dash. I hesitated getting this gel holder because they are molded plastic, but because I bought the Rosco gel color sample pack and recently read Joe McNally's book on flash photography, I thought I'd give it a try. The price was certainly good. After applying the cinch strap(a must have to really make this work well)I picked a gel and slid it in the holder and Wow, did it ever do a nice job. It is a bit of a trick to get the gel in because they are so flimsy,but I found that if I simply remove the holder from the flash, insert the gel and replace the holder it isn't much of a problem. Other readers are right in that some gels can melt onto the strobe. It didn't happen to me, but I was watching for the problem to occur and noticed that some gels may warp and melt. CTO's don't seem to do that although I haven't blasted away continuously with the flash. The SB800 is the flash I use the most with the gels, rather than the SB900 because of the power differential. As I use these more, I will update the review.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
A good first attempt
I've always just cut larger pieces of gels and put velcro on the ends to quickly attach them to my flashes, problem was a place to store them afterwords and quickly get to them while...Read complete review
I've always just cut larger pieces of gels and put velcro on the ends to quickly attach them to my flashes, problem was a place to store them afterwords and quickly get to them while keeping them in good condition. So I bought this to solve that problem. The storage is handy but the whole unit is too stiff and has a hard time folding around your flash without putting too much pressure on the velcro. You have to remove one end to put a gel in as the two pieces of clear plastic stick to each other. I'll try and modify mine by cutting some of the area where the clear connects to the black to help it bend but I'd expect that these sorts of design flaws would be addressed before you produced a product like this. Its not great and I've not actually used it on assignments yet preferring to stick with my old methods.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 66 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Landscape/Scenery
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
If you use flash this is a great way to adjust your colors.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Easy to use,
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Lightweight
Cons
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Yes this works. Yes it could be better designed. but its fast and cheap and works. Because of the design you may need to remove it from the flash each time you want to change gels. It beats pieces of tape or cutting your own gels.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Lightweight
Cons
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
I purchased two of these to attach the Rosco gel set to a pair of Canon 580EX II speedlites.
The gel itself is only marginally big enough to cover the flash area. However the span of the velcro attachments of the gel holder is a bit too short to comfortably span the flash head, leaving a curved gel cover on the flash and light can escape to the side of the gel.
I think this is a good product if you use smaller speedlites such as the 430EX but I suggest the trusty gaffer's tape of you're gonna gel the 580EX's.
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Attaches to my sb800 with no problems. I was going crazy with the velcro strips on my flash head getting attached to the sides of my bag. This is a elegant solution to that problem.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Great product for a great price... fits most flashes perfectly!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Really is convenient and well made for the purpose. I use with the Honl Speed Strap and it stays in place and installs/removes quickly with no fuss. Holds a number of gels in the slot so it is all I need to carry. Beats tape & stick-on velcro hands down.
Also useful for adding warmth when using better beamer to photograph wildlife at sunrise/sunset!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Landscape/Scenery
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
I use the LimiQuest Gel Holder on a Canon Speedlite 580EX. The holder is easy to attach to the flash, being secured with two velcro tabs. The gel chamber on the holder does not quite cover the full head of the flash, but I feel that this does not negatively effect the use of the gel. The gel chamber seems a little snug for the gel strips, but this is not a big deal for me. Overall, I am pleased with the product and find it easy to use.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
I bought this as part of the strobist gel kit, and wish I had just bought the gels alone. The Nikon filter holder accessory that comes with the SB-900 or the add on SZ-3 for the SB-700 is far easier to use, and much more convenient.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
I use this mainly with a Nikon SB600 speed light. I did not use the velcro to attach it to the speed light so that I could use it for other flashes that I have. I just wrapped it around the flash and held it in place with a rubber band. This was a little slippery, but workable. Great product for the price.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Sports/Action
- Weddings/Events
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Awesome way to hold my gels for quick access and quickly switching them out for a variety of lighting situations.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
works good now. not sure of its durability though.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Sports/Action
- Travel
- Underwater
- Weddings/Events
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
This product is a great, affordable way to facilitate changing the color temperature of your strobe.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Lightweight
Cons
- Bulky
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
- Weddings/Events
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
This think is a bit bulky and awkward, but it's cheap and does what's supposed to, so no complaints
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Weddings/Events
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
I picked these up as I was looking for an easy way to attach some gels to my strobes. These work, will be shooting with them this weekend to really test them out. For the price they are okay, but there may be better solutions. Getting the gels into and out of the little holder is slightly difficult, but other than that these work.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
- Family Photos
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Doesn't fit all hotshoe flashes. Its just a bit small for the 580EXII.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Difficult to Use
- Unreliable
- Weak Construction
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
A product like this that actually worked and was designed well would be great. Unfortunately the Lumiquest gel holder fails on just abut every level.
- Too small: wouldn't fit a Canon 430EX II.
- Cheap plastic sticks together and makes it difficult to get gels in or out.
- Pocket for extra gels could at most fit a couple, but again the same problem of the cheap plastic sticking together.
- If it gets folded, creased, or deformed (mine came packaged wrapped up and deformed) it's almost impossible to get it to sit flat again.
Overall a very cheap and ineffective product. Give this one a pass and find something better.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Lightweight
Cons
- Bulky
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
- Flash photography
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
Hard to thread the gel into the slot
I have three Canon flashes 420, 550, 580 and the Holder cannot fit each exactly
The Gel Holder is a cumbersome appendage on the flash.
A better solution is two snippets of gaffer tape holding the gel
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Easy to Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Sports/Action
- Weddings/Events
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
It velcros to your flash and you slide your desired plastic filter into the sleeve.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Pack
- Lightweight
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
Comments about LumiQuest Compact Gel Holder:
It's a great idea but the holder is a tight fit around my SB-600. It makes it all but impossible to slip gels in and out while afixed to the speedlight. You almost have to take off the holder to change gels if you only want to use one hand. I'm not going to use this. Instead, I'm going to attach velcro to my gels directly and attach them to the cinch strap.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
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