Gear Review: Westcott 43in Apollo Orb and 26in RapidBox

 

    As promised in the last post, here is a quick review of my two favorite lighting modifiers. Both are from Westcott; the 26 inch RapidBox Octobox and the 43 inch Apollo Orb softbox. As you can see from the opening image, they are pretty similar in appearance once set up, one is just slightly larger than the other. The 26in is on the left, the 43in on the right. Other than size, though, there are some major differences between the two.

 

    The 26in Rapid Box is a multi-part setup with a rear, external flash mount. The bracket that the flash is attached two separates from the umbrella section, and is very adjustable for various combinations of speed lights and remote receivers. (seen here is my phottix mitros + unit with built in receiver). The flash can shoot straight through and there is an option to have a beauty dish reflector  with or instead of the diffusion panel. The Diffusion Panel does not use velcro or anything light at to attach, it has a ridge and is held on entirely by tension with the umbrella ribs. 

 In the shot above you can see the inside of the RapidBox with the beauty dish reflector in place and the diffusion panel removed. Although the multiple part flash mount does take a little bit longer to set up, the Rapid Box breaks down much smaller than the Apollo. More importantly, it just feels like a much sturdier piece of equipment. I have had the rapid box for a while now, and used it for several shoots as well as travelled with it quite a bit. It's taken a fall or two on a light stand and come away unscathed. The Rapid Box is designed for portability, it comes in a pretty nice carry bag and is really quick and easy to set up. Take it out of the case, pop it open. If you want to add the reflector, screw it onto the center post. Place your flash/remote onto the bracket, place the bracket onto the light stand and slide it back to the rear. Position the rapid box at the right height for your flash and screw it into the bracket, then slide your flash forward into the opening and tighten down. If you want the diffuser, attach it around the outer edge of the box and start shooting. 

  That's the technical on the Rapid Box, before we move to the Apollo, let's take a quick look at their broken down size comparison, using my standard of reference, the 70-200mm F2.8 lens. 

   On the left you see the complete RapidBox setup. In the (included) bag are the Rapid Box, flash mount bracket, beauty dish reflector (separate purchase) and the diffusion panel .See what I mean about it being easy to pack? On the right you see the Apollo Orb collapsed in it's plastic sock (there is no velcro or strap to hold it shut otherwise, a distinct oversight I believe, although when the plastic bag dies I will just use one of my flash gel attachment velcro straps to hold it shut. You also see the wadded up diffusion panel and the included flash bracket/umbrella holder. 

   The Apollo takes a somewhat different approach. It is obviously a larger modifier, quite similar to a standard umbrella. It collapses like an umbrella, and mounts to the flash using a standard umbrella holder. The main difference between the Orb and a standard umbrella is the depth. The flash slides through a set of zippers to sit deeper into the Orb that a standard umbrella would mount. 

   Once in position, the diffusion panel (if you choose to use it) attaches to the rim via velcro. While the larger Apollo Orb definitely gives more diffusion and a larger light source, it isn't as readily portable as the Rapid Box, and is more a of pain to adjust once it's put together. The only way to adjust it without removing the diffusion panel is to reach up through the zippers and try to adjust the flash bracket by touch. 

   Otherwise, the Apollo just doesn't seem to be as sturdy and well constructed as the Rapid Box. I have only used the Apollo on two field shoots so far, and I can already see slight bends in the umbrella ribs, and the stitching on the velcro diffusion panel attachment points is starting to pull out. I have dropped the Rapid Box a couple of times and it pretty much bounced, protected the flash, and was right back in business each time. I have a feeling that if the Orb goes down, it may just crunch and stay crunched for good. Travel wise, it isn't nearly as portable as the Rapid Box, all I can say is that it fits into the bag with my light stands. One final note on the Orb: You can get a grid attachment for it, if you need one. I have not picked one up yet so can't discuss it, just thought I should mention the option is out there. 

  So, that's the overview and the feel for both, but the really important question is, how do they light? If you saw my last post covering the Veteran's Day portraits, you got to see both used in a real world setting, the Orb was my main and the RB was my fill. Used together they were awesome, nice, soft even light. But to really see how they perform, I decided a more scientific test was in order, so I called in my stunt monkey to do a little modeling. For all of the shots you are about to see, the flash was just off camera left, about 45 degrees above and camera left of the "model," about three feet away. To keep it as equal as possible, I was shooting full manual mode, ISO 100, 1/250sec shutter, F5.6, I left the flash in TTL which theoretically would try to make each exposure as similar as possible. All of these images are straight out of camera JPEG images. (Nikon D800 standard preset). Flash was the Mitros+. I started from bare flash for comparison. 

Bare flash

Flash with built in diffuser

Bounce Flash (unedited so you see color cast from off white walls)

Rapid Box with Diffuser panel but no reflector

Rapid Box with reflector but no diffuser panel

Rapid Box with diffuser and reflector

Apollo Orb with no diffuser panel

Apollo Orb with diffuser panel

  As you can see, the results were pretty predictable, as the modifier got bigger, the shadows got less distinct and the light got softer, neither modifier gave as smooth a result as the bounce flash. That being said, Mr. Monkey the supermodel doesn't give good catch lights, since his eyes are all pupil. Both modifiers give nice, octagonal catchlights that the bounce doesn't and you can't always find a convenient wall. 

   Both modifiers work pretty well, I like having both in my kit to use as appropriate for the situation. If it's a nice, safe, static setup and I had to pick one, I would do with the Apollo Orb,  Better diffusion and a larger light source make for softer, better wrap around light and more flattering images. But for outdoor shoots where there is wind, situations where things need to get moved a lot, durability and portability are issues, or you have to pick just one modifier to put in your kit, I would go with the RapidBox without hesitation. The light is almost as good fully diffused, it is MUCH sturdier, and you have more options for looks- including a pseudo beauty dish. 

   So if you have to pick one, just get the rapid box. If you want a portrait studio that fits into a single bag, grab them both and add a collapsible backdrop kit, and you're set for a quick, on the fly setup that will give great results.

EDIT- got some new information, apparently despite my orb being a recent purchase, I seem to have received an older version with metal ribs. It seems westcott has redesigned the orb with fiberglass ribs and addressed the durability. Not sure when I'll be able to get my hands on an updated version to compare but felt like I needed to at least put this new info out in fairness. 

EDIT 2- After some use, I feel it's only fair to add that you really need to figure out all settings on your flashes and the tilt you want your mount to be on the Apollo orb before you velcro on the diffuser panel, because adjusting anything inside the orb once the panel is on the front requires reaching in through the zippers and doing everything by feel, and is a royal PITA!