Skip to main content

Collapsing is a good thing for this softbox and backdrop from Manfrotto

Without a studio, photography accessories are only useful if you have enough hands to bring them along with you and that is why Manfrotto launched two studio-style accessories that collapse down into a size ideal for on-site photography. On Wednesday, Lastolite, a division of Manfrotto, announced the Joe McNally Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 Plus and Urban Collapsible background.

The Ezybox is a softbox-style diffuser designed for hot-shoe flashes, making it ideal for portable gear kits. Softboxes cut back the usual intensity associated with a flash by spreading the light out over a larger area — in this case, an 8.5-inch square. Using two removable diffusing layers, the softbox can also be adjusted to let out more or less light.

Recommended Videos

The softbox attaches to the flash with a twist-lock silicon attachment that Manfrotto says keeps the softbox secure. That attachment system folds down, making the softbox both portable and easier to set up. Honeycombs and gels, sold separately, can also be added to the system to further modify the light.

Designed with the support of Joe McNally, a well-known photographer that has spanned multiple genres from  photojournalism to commercial work, the softbox uses a white interior, which McNally says creates a creamier light. The recessed design also allows more control over the light by preventing light spill, Manfrotto says.

The Urban Collapsible background measures 5 feet by 7 feet, yet twists to fold (much like a reflector) down to a 33.5-inch width into an included carrying bag. When photographers are ready to shoot, the spring-style band pops up the background quickly. The smoke side is a darker gray with a vignetting affect while the lighter concrete-colored side doesn’t use the darker edges.

Both accessories are now available, with the Joe McNally Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 Plus retailing for $79 and the Urban Collapsable Background listing for $218.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
This is what happens ‘when you get two uber-geeks in space at the same time’
NASA's Don Pettit on the space station.



During NASA’s first-ever Twitch livestream from the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, current station inhabitant Don Pettit and recent returnee Matthew Dominick talked about what it’s like to live and work in a satellite 250 miles up.

Read more
The GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition is $100 off, but not for long
A person holding the GoPro HERO13 Creator Edition in front of the ocean.

Outdoor enthusiasts who want to buy a new action camera should go for the brand that popularized the product and look for GoPro deals. Best Buy has an offer that's going to be hard to refuse, as it features the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition. From its original price of $600, it's down to just $500 as part of the retailer's Presidents' Day Sale. There are still a few days remaining before the $100 discount ends on February 17, but we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible because stocks may run out before then.

Why you should buy the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition
The star of the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition is the GoPro Hero 13 Black, which is the latest version of the brand's popular line of action cameras. It's capable of recording video at up to 5.3K resolution, and you can grab photos of up to 24.7MP from your footage using the GoPro Quick app. The GoPro Hero 13 Black can also take videos that are slowed down by 13 times the normal speed, and it can last more than 5 hours on a single charge. The front and rear LCD screens will let you frame your shots perfectly, and the built-in buttons enable easy controls for lengthy sessions.

Read more
ISS astronaut shares epic photo of a ‘starry starry night’
Don Pettit's 'starry starry night' image captured from the space station.

 

Don Pettit's been snapping away in orbit again. This time, the NASA astronaut has captured a stunning image of the Milky Way from the International Space Station (ISS) . It also features Earth and city lights some 250 miles below the orbital outpost.

Read more