Lastolite Ezybox 90

Comments about Lastolite Ezybox 90:

I have a smaller Ezybox, but bought the 90cm for a bigger light source. Am pleased with the results so far, and I can site it farther away from the model, so it is less "in your face" when shooting. I now user the smaller Ezybox for fill light.

It's quite a big box, but still retains stiffness and shape so it doesn't sag, and it folds up into a football shape with all its bits, for easy storage. I'm used to Lastolite products so don't find it a problem folding it up, although it requires a little more force due to its size. There are videos on Youtube or Lastolite's own School of Photography website that give folding tutorials. It is easy once you know how.

Unfolding it, putting in the diffusers and attaching to a flash head is all very easy and quick. TIP - don't let it unfold too near you, or anything easily breakable, as it springs out very quickly!

CONS - you do need to buy a separate adpater ring so make sure you order it at the same time, and frankly attaching the mounting plate to the adapter ring is fiddly and irritating (and may involve swearing). The diagram is clear enough, but note that you may not need to use the very bottom washer - I found I couldn't do up the final screw due to overall thickness once the adapter ring was in, but leaving out the bottom washer it worked OK. It was also a pain to line up properly. On the plus side you only need to attach the adapter once, then you can keep in in the bag - but pack carefully. Also, make sure you keep the spare washers and alan key in the baggie, in case you change adapter rings in the future.

On balance, a good, useful and easy to store / transport product, and I'm glad I bought it.

Comments about Lastolite Ezybox 90:

I brought this softbox (and 90x45 equivalent) after trying several Elinchrom equivalents… I needed a rapidly deployable softbox which can be easily transported asI do not own designated studio space, often shoot on location, and have to pack my studio away after every use. The Lastolite Ezybox range fitted the brief perfectly.

The softbox deploys rapidly (set-up and on the light ready to shoot within 1 minute) and is well constructed.
I note none of the issues in the review posted previously. Likewise, packing the softbox away is equally stress free, taking less then 1 minute to fold up and pack in the bag provided (note there are no instructions on how to do this but collapse the softbox into its triangle flat pack state and then screw it in a ball…). The lighting produced by this softbox in consistent with any softbox I have used of similar proportions. In other words, beautiful.

My only criticisms of this softbox is that of the lack of instructions for assembling the mounting place using adapter rings other then those designed for Lastolite lights (which appear to assemble the differently), and the fact that the inner diffuser has to be really stretched to meet its Velcro clasps on the inside of the softbox. This means that on occasions, the inner diffuser will come unattached, and have to be reattached by taking the front diffuser off prior to shooting. Other then this, a fantastic softbox worthy of the Lastolite Name.

Comments about Lastolite Ezybox 90:

It's good to have a softbox of this size. It's as big as a decent window - 1m2. This is fine for head and shoulders shots but too small for the full body - unless you don't care about how far away you put it from the subject (you should - you get better shadow control when its close).
It's awesome for lighting macro, still life, pack shots and anything else where soft light is useful.
I use mine on a boom for easy movement around the studio and it doesn't add much to the weight. Its also light and soft if, heavens forbid, it should fall on the subject.
It's not of amazing quality - the material is just barely thick enough to stop light going through the sides, the stitching stretches to reveal little points of lights when it's assembled and it droops, which can make it hard to point in the right direction.
I've set it up once, which was fairly easy, but making it fit into the bag again is not explained anywhere and I haven't managed to do it.
Also - and this is my pet peeve - it does not come with an adapter ring to fit your light. So out of the box it is useless until you shell out more for the adapter.
It works, its supposedly portable, but I'm only just giving it a recommendation. You just don't feel the quality that you should for this money.