softbox for 312 LED?

L

Lenilenapi

Carbonite Member
Has anyone come up with a cheap, easy to mount softbox for a 312 LED that also allows for flexibility in how much diffusion you use?
. I have seen the airbox on the web which sounds great but am put off by what sounds like 2 layers of 1/2 soft frost. I'd like one clear that I could put my own diffusion & color correction on as needed.

Lenny Levy
 
My lights have a mini ballhead and hotshoe foot and my stands have a swivel umbrella adapter with a hotshoe mount. You then just attach it like you would a flash on your camera. Very quick. There are different sizes of Apollo but I prefer the bigger 24" ones and the 30" strip one since bigger makes softer light. You just have to be careful when handling since it's a light and fast setup but not that durable. I've made it last.
 
@Lenilenapi
Can you clarify your issue with the Macro diffusion setup a little more? What would be ideal from your point of view? Both front and back clear with user-definable diff/gel?


But here's a general response to the question , clearly with a bias since its my company.
The Airbox Macro fits a 312 LED perfectly and attaches quickly and easily with Velcro straps. It is indeed 2 layers of half soft frost, one initial layer close to the light and then another at the front. The front is also a pocket into which you can insert your own gels or diffs. Reason for the double light diff is because I tested a bunch of combinations in my prototyping and found it to be the most softening for the least light loss that was practical. Right now 2 layers of half soft is what it is. But im open to user feedback and if you have any other suggestions send them my way. In the meantime, no other softbox available is going to work as conveniently with your light as the Airbox Macro, nor as affordably. I promise.


yours
Tom Guiney, owner
airboxlights.com
 
Oh that looks like my DIY SMD light box.
https://vimeo.com/52211495
I have found some really nice diffusion and of course there's the venerable Plexiglass but the heavier diffusion just EATS light. A softbox is not much better. If that 312 is camera mounted, don't get too bogged down in diffusion.
Though I pioneered a lot of the LED for Video solutions, I still prefer hotlights direct and bounced.
Having said this, my FAV on camera soft interview/ fill is the Cineroid3k5K in an ebay bought softbox. The softbox had to be modified to attch to my cineroid and still has issues, but folds flat ad cost $8. For a larger 312 emiitter panel light you'd need a 14"X8" box and wouldn't that look weird ontop of a camera?
 
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The very best diffusion material in my opinion is the Bayer Makrolon Lumen XT in 2 thickness sizes and 3 diffusion strenghts. It is designed for LED diffusion and is extremely durable as well as scratch resistant. I use it on all my custom design LED units. It comes in different diffusion strengths and has no color artifacts. Tough to get in small quantities, usually comes as 4'X 8' sheets but you order a couple of small sample batches from the company. I use the thinner size that allows almost 90% of the light to pass through.
 
Wow- Makrolon Lumen XT? That sounds so high tech. Never heard of it! Excited to hear of it. What is it and what applications have you used it in? Is it like halfway between a film and a hard gel? How hard is it to work with? What have you done with it?
Tom Guiney
Airboxlights.com
 
Makrolon Lumen XT is designed to diffuse the bright led emitter in a unique way. The entire thickness of the material has suspended particles in it and comes in 2 thickness sizes.Ithink it is 1.5mm and 3mm if I am not mistaken. It is much more impact resistant than acrylic and has a higher temperature tolerance. i would say it is a polycarbonate material. It can easily be cut by deep scoring both sides and then folding a couple of times or by a bench saw. I have used it in all my prototype projects and works amazingly well. All my lights have the provision to mount the flat panel via velcro. In my application, it is only designed to serve the purpose as not having the full led strength brightness to annoy the subject and does seem to lose 1/4 stop ( the thinner material). It can be used as a larger sheet to act as a true diffuser but must be placed at a distance from the leds, typically 6 to 24 inches away. In my designs it is just 1" away from the emitter as just to diffuse a bit the intense brightness, and works well. The sheets are expensive like $300+ for a 4'X8' panel. I recently used it on my 1000watt led unit placed only 1/2 inch away from the 24 emitters without any heat issues and ran it for 24 hours straight. Leds do produce radiant light heat from the front, especially when outputting 24K lumens. The Makrolon was up to the task, the regular diffused acrylic panel started to deform from the heat in 1 hour. Makrolon comes in 2 thicknesses and 7 diffusion strenghts, if I am not mistaken. Bayer makes it. http://www.sheffieldplastics.com/product_info.cfm?nav_id=3,1,1,50
 
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