(I glued the screw to the Rapid Box Octa deflector...NO MORE keeping track of that screw! It and the deflector are now one piece, just spin to tighten.) Personally, I had both of these modifiers seen here; got rid of the Glow unit because I found it tedious to set up. I found it nothing but a hassle to use outside, especially, even though it's quality-made and is a great deal for the price! It only took an afternoon to sell it, because of it's girth and build. But then, I'm nearly 80, love the simplicity of setting up the Rapid Box Octa~~One little bag, no extra bracket, and all those tabs on the inner baffle of the Glow drove me nuts. You're a guy, and young, so the Glow is for you. I LOVE the Rapid Box Octa not only for its small size/weight/bag, but also because it makes absolutely gorgeous light for women--which is my specialty in Beauty Portraits and Boudoir. Thanks for the video, though...it was a good comparison of gear!
I still have a couple of Apollo Orb octaboxes around here somewhere that I couldn't get rid of on the used market (amazing how poorly they hold their value) but all my modifier purchases over the past year or so have been Glow units. It's great stuff and the prices are great! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day.
I bought the glow 34 inch foldable beauty dish and I really like it. I have their deep parabolic softbox too and they are made of quality material. For the price you can’t beat them
@@MattSpaugh your going to love it. I was totally shocked on how soft the light looked on my client's faces. It don't even look like your using flash. I bought the 28 inch and I do a lot of head shots for senior portraits. Money well spent. I keep the inner diffusion unsnapped in two spots on the bottom so I don't have to take the inner and outer diffusion off when I am done when I close it. I can have it set up in 10 seconds.
I would love to get my hands on one and test to see the differences between the two - especially when using both layers of diffusion. Thanks for watching!
Glad I could help!. I use the AD200 all the time. I have a pair that I use in the 43" and 60" EZ Lock softboxes. They work great. I recently did a high volume shoot (Over 460 headshots in 3 days!). My AD200s misfired once. ONCE over the course of the entire shoot. They're fantastic.
I also have the Westcott rapid box AND glow soft boxes (but NOT the beauty dish mentioned here. ). The quality of the Westcott products are better than Glow, but you should expect this seeing that Westcott is MUCH pricier than Glow. I do not like the Wescott shoe bracket, nor the front deflector which blows off in the wind (it is elastic, not Velcro). Also, Westcott makes you pay for the grid, and deflector. A Westcott 26" RapidBox costs $150 plus $20 for the internal deflector and another $140 (!!) for the grid for a grand total of $310.00 for a box you can only use with speed lights. The Glow beauty dish comes complete (with grid) costs $70.00. It has a Bowens mount which is the most popular / universal mount out there. At $70.00 If you run it over with your car by accident or a billy goat eats it, it will not ruin your week.
I agree with you on all points with the exception of the your comment, "The quality of the Westcott products are better than Glow." I've owned a lot of Westcott modifiers including the Apollo Orb and others and I currently own 7 different Glow modifiers. The Glow cases are extremely robust (except on the very large units), the stitching is rugged, and the overall fit and finish is or par with, or better than, any Westcott modifier I've owned. Granted, the Westcott equipment I've owned was not the top of the line - but neither is the EZ Lock line. In fact, I think the EZ Lock line is pretty close to the bottom of the Glow line. As you mention, the nickel-and-dime mentality of Westcott is absurd which makes the Glow line that much more attractive. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it - have a good one!
It's a great modifier. I just got the 38" deep parabolic - it came at a discount with a video light I just bought. It's a dandy too! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Hi Matt. I just came across your channel. I picked up the white interior version about a week ago. I have to agree that it is quite a versatile modifier. I was looking for a review ahead of time but I couldn’t find any until this one showed up in my feed today. It’s good to hear of another photographer enjoying it. Thanks for this video.
Glad you liked the video. Shame it didn't get to you sooner. Since making this video I've purchased both the 38" deep parabolic and the 16x48 rectangle. They're both really great. I may do a comparison between the 43" shallow and the 38" deep at some point. Have a great day!
Matt Spaugh Photography Very nice. I need to diversify my modifier lineup, so I’ll be very interested in hearing more about the rectangle and para whenever you get around to it.
@@davidcolephoto I've always used a small Phottix 40cm x 90cm rectangle with a grid as a rim-light/kicker for headshots and loved the results. They're very inexpensive and versatile. The 16x48 is huge by comparison. I don't see it as a good on-site option but imagine it will get a lot of studio use.
The quality of light and actual results do not even get a mention in this video, and that is THE most important thing to many of us who do this for a living.
It seems to me that the 'actual results' are on the screen for you to see and judge for yourself. And, I clearly make mention of color shifts and softness of falloff between the different light sources. My primary goal was a comparison of sources terms of light output and usability for quick setups. I'm sorry if you feel I've cheated you by not giving a fuller explanation. Either way, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a good one.
@@MattSpaugh I didn't see any results, just throw up a couple pictures. I have the same Rapidbox and I'm wondering if the light is better from the Glow...
Glow ez lock stuff is so good. Incredible value. I really love my 38" deep parabolic umbrella, but it is very hard to use in smaller spaces because of how incredibly deep it is! The 34" beauty dish is my next purchase. Should work a bit better. Thanks for the good video
I'm with you on the value proposition! I recently bought the 16x48 and love it. The deep parabolic is indeed DEEP! I have the 25", the 42", and the 60". The fact that they come with two layers of diffusion AND the grid just makes them an incredible value to me. I will say, I had a shoot a couple of weeks ago and I really missed the lightweight/small Rapidbox. Never satisfied!
Hi Matt, this video was very informative, educational, and entertaining. Been using the Interfit system for the past 10 years. This wireless system looks awesome, thanks.
Glad you liked it. I still use my Glow EZ Lock beauty dish modifiers on practically every shoot and like them very much. They've held up really well over time. Thanks for watching.
For headshots I actually use the 32" beauty dish and a 12" x 36" strip box. In the beauty dish I use the Flashpoint AD200 (also branded Godox) from Adorama. In the strip box I use the Flashpoint Zoom Li-ion R2 speedlight, also from Adorama. I use an R2 Pro S transmitter on my camera. The "S" is for Sony I think - they make different ones for all brands. Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
Hi Matt! Nice comparison! To help with the heat issues generated by the modeling light in the monolight, I wonder if you could use something like an Aputure 60D LED light (which comes with a Bowens adaptor) to act as a temporary modeling light so that you could adjust the leafs etc... then replace it with the monolight. Cumbersome, but maybe helps with the heat?
Most of the content I'm creating now uses the CLAR with the 43" Glow Beauty Dish (or a simple shoot-thru umbrella). I'll try to do a 'behind the scenes' at some point. I'm planning to do a 6 month follow-up review on the Illumi Max, I'll do my best to get some beauty dishes in there (I have the 25", 43" and 60").
Wow, thanks for this video. I already have had the Glow EZ Lock 25” BD in white for three years. Always was happy with it. BUT I just invested $2k in the Westcott FJ400s and FJ80 lights to replace my Godox lights... so I was considering the switch to Westcott soft boxes as well, it it just doesn’t sit right in my gut to spend triple what my Glow cost especially since I use my gear mostly outdoors. Seeing your video helped me decide to keep using Glow for my location shoots, and maybe, when I open my studio, I will invest in the more expensive stuff for studio-use. Thanks so much!
Having used both (and a few other brands over the years) I'd choose the Glow stuff at any price. The ease of set-up and overall build quality just 'sits right in my gut' as you say. Glad the video was helpful - thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh and I got to thinking after reading a review about the grid on the Glow not lasting the user very long (mine is still in great shape after 3 years)... even if I had to replace the grid on the Glow by buying another full Glow set, the entire Glow set costs less than the Westcott grid by itself.... so it really is the most cost efficient between the two brands.
@@rgrayphotog Westcott (and similar 'premium' brands) TOTALLY rip you off on accessories. Any grid can be easily trashed if you don't handle it carefully - but I think the glow grids are every bit as robust as the Westcott. I actually have a 43" Westcott octabox with a grid (purchased separately for something like $89 bucks) and the grid is so heavy that it collapses the softbox if you angle it too far up. It's a terrible design. My favorite modifier right now is the Glow 20" lantern. I did a video on it a few weeks back - small, versatile, nice light. Have a good one.
hello, I have now both. I do'nt advise rapidbox. ezglow 66cm is really nice and works with godox V1 round head with S2 bracket and ad400pro with bowens mount. it makes pro on site ! what i don't like is the snap of inner diffuser, too hard and i am afraid to damage umbrella so i don't use inner one. velcro would be better. another point is that i paid 60usd for taxes and delivery from adorama to belgium. i have rapidbox with bowens ring for same flashes. It looks a toy. with ez glow i open it on ground and plug ad400pro on it, same to remove. with rapid box, if you do it on ground to remove it everything distorts and it is better to leave ad400 pro on stand and disassemble rapidbox holding it from internal. Strange because i see lot of tutos now of photographers using it with FJ400, similar to ad400pro. also i fogot to order the inner plate so i am still waiting for it for one month. i can't afford the grid at 120 euros.
Thanks for the comments - glad you liked the video! I use a pair of AD200s in my setup. I feel like the recycle time is faster than the 400 - but just by a bit. Plus, I have some redundancy if one of them fails. Have a great day!
nice tuto just purchased a ez glow 25" for my godox V1 and ad200 pro both with new S2 godox bracket for round head. i was also surprised "mathematically" that dish is reverse while i thought as a parabol it should radiates from focus to silver. i find the inner diffuser awful to detach and no idea how long it will survive. I like this set but I am so excited by magbox pro kit with magshoe, focus diffuser, two ad200 pro, gel with magnets to simulate golden hour,... did you make a comparison between ez glow and magbox ?
I've never used any MagMod products, but so many people keep commenting on them, I think I need to check them out! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
They're all I use these days. I have the 38" parabolic, 25" and 42" beauty dishes, the 16x46, the 10x24, and the 20" lantern. They're all great performers IMHO. Thanks for watching.
Side by side you might be able to tell a difference - specular highlights being the main way - but if you saw one photo OR the other, I seriously doubt you could say with confidence which modifier it had been taken with. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
I have and use a few Glow umbrellas but I don't use their EZ lock stuff because I've never found a truly suitable Profoto-to-Bowens adapter. There are many out there that say they do the trick but it's all talk and no action. I'd love to use them but without a decent adapter, what's the point?
Thank you for this video , I would like to get strip boxes, octabox and beauty dish , looking at Westcott Rapid Box and Glow Ez Lock. Some people says Glow Ez Lock products has got a disadvantage about opening and closing. ( hard to open and close , need to force a lot ) is it true ? Which brand do you recommend ? Thanks
I've owned both Westcott and Glow modifiers and IMHO, the Glow products are better and cheaper. I've never had issues opening or closing any of my Glow EZ Lock modifiers. I use them almost every day and have had no issues at all. Personally, I find the Westcott products to be overpriced for what they are. Plus they change you for all the accessories that Glow includes. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
HIlarious... I have the 25", the 34", the 38" Deep Parabolic, the 42" and the 60"... but not the 48". They're all great performers (I could do without the deep parabolic if I'm completely honest). I'm sure that 48" is a winner. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Hey Bud. I currently have a westcott beauty dish 26” Joel grimes addition. Wondering if the Grid for the EZ Lock 26” will fit on it. Trying to save more then a hundred dollars. Thank you
Ahhh yes, old JG. I hear he.... CRACKED.... THE.... CODE... ON... LIGHTING. Sorry man, those ads are just so over the top. I have no idea if those are compatible. My guess would be no. The Rapid-box I had had 8 ribs, but the Glow has 16 so even if the diameter is right, I'd guess that the edges wouldn't line up and would allow for light leaks.
The plate helps to bounce light into the softbox for a more even distribution of light. I've found on the Glow EZ Lock boxes - in some cases - it can create a small dead spot in the center of the diffusion.
Thanks for the video. It was very helpful. I am looking at different alternatives for portable softboxes and both of these are on my radar screen. Can you give us a general idea of build quality? Do they look rugged? Is there any significant difference in terms of build quality between the two? Also, a general question about softboxes.... What is the difference between the collapsable beauty dish and a deep parabolic softbox of similar diameter? Again, thanks for the video.
They're both very well built. I'd say if portability is your main concern, the Rapid Box is lighter and packs down smaller. IMHO opinion though the Glow EZ Lock is a better modifier - and includes a grid which, for me anyway, was a huge plus. Deep parabolic softboxes are going to narrow the light spread more than a beauty dish. I prefer the beauty dish + grid because it gives the greatest flexibility. Good luck with it, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi Matt, nice tuto I have just ordered a round head godox V1 flash for my D750, which is incompatible with rapidbox (it seems however a solution exists in BH : Raya reflector adapter for speedlight). So i am very interested with the GLOW EZ beauty dish you are mentioning. There is a new godox S2 adapter for V1 with bowens system. Some questions : - Are you happy with this EZ box LIGHT compared to westcott ? - is 65cm enough on field (street...) ? - which typical distance do you recommend with subject while keeping enough power from flash ? - do you use high sync for darkening background ? - isn't silver too hard light ? - isn't it a problem to turn dish that way ? it is in conflict with "parabolic geometry" to spread light everywhere inside umbrella, isn't it ?
Yes, I'm very happy with all of my EZ Lock modifiers and have sold most all of my Westcott modifiers. 65cm will work great. Keep in mind that the closer your light source is, the bigger it is and the softer the light will be. Distance depends on the look I'm going for. I like soft light so I tend to get my modifiers as close to my subject as possible - keeping them out of frame of course. I've never had an issue with silver being too hard. I always use at least one layer of diffusion - two if I can. As far as light direction, you'll just have to experiment. If you can get a subject that will sit still for you, take a wide range of shots and write down your set ups. I actually have a mannequin that I use for this purpose. It's really helpful. Good luck with your new modifier and thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review - I was originally going to buy the Aputure Lightdome II with a Godox S2 bracket. But this looks like it'll take the S2. Im hoping to get a Godox AD200 Pro to go with it.
I think you'll be very pleased with the GLOW modifiers. I have a pair of AD200 strobes - they're fantastic. I did a private school shoot - 500 headshots IN TWO DAYS - and never had a mis-fire. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Great video, planning to buy ez glow but cant decide 25 inch or 34, which one would be enough for multi purpose shootings, like portraits, products, food
Thanks Nickk! I own both (and the 60") and I'd say the one that I go for most is the 34". It's a really versatile size. However, if portability is a concern, go with the 25. The 25" is great for location portraiture and low-key video interviews. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@badhabit714 Rave on! I actually just ordered the small 10x24 Glow EZ Lock rectangle to use as a hair/rim light. I've been using a 40cm x 90cm Phottix box for years but I wanted something with the Bowens-S mount for video use. If it's as great as the others, I'll definitely do a review of it. Stay tuned!
I have a couple of the RapidBox Switches. I just put the plate screw back in the threads after removing the plate, so that's not an issue for me. I do find it to be a strike against the Westcott that the grids are an additional purchase AND they are expensive.
@@MattSpaugh I've seen an S mount taken out and replaced by simply using friction to squeeze the neo 2 inside the opening. Supposedly it works and I've seen it used by an assistant that way (with the assistant holding the entire unit as opposed to a stand). The softbox that rotolight designed for the neo 2, is very small and requires me having to first purchase the barn doors as well. I'm just trying to think outside the box. I've seen this Glow EZ for sale in combination with their Arclight that's almost too good to pass up. But I have yet to see the Wescott Eyelighter, Glow EZ Arclight, and Cheetah BowFlector compared in a video. I have no clue how they compare and contrast.
@@brentsealy9623 I'm with you on thinking outside the box. There's usually many ways to get any job done. With regard to your comment, two things come to mind: One, the EZ Glow is not exactly heavy, but it's not light by any means. I would have concerns about a friction fit. Second, the diffusion material is pretty stout. I'm not sure about how much power the Neo 2 has, but lots of it might get lost, especially if you're using two layers of diffusion. Even my Clar Illumimax 120 suffers in that respect and it's a really bright light for it's size.
Thanks John. It's interesting - after I sold the Rapid Box, I actually had two jobs where it would've really come in handy. The Glow is awesome, but its bulk can be a drawback in certain situations.
I own the Rapid Box as well (smaller version). I've really liked it but frankly am tired of the breakdown on it particularly when it comes to the shoe mount which I don't think is a very elegant or modern design. I'm trying to decide to either go Glow Box or the new Mag Mod Kit's.
@@jmanjr I don't have much experience with the Mag Mod stuff but I know folks who like it. I have the 25", 42", and 60" Glow EZ Lock soft boxes and they're all fantastic. I like the build quality especially -I feel like they'll last me a good long time. I'm using them with the Clar Illumi-max 120 right now for video and couldn't be happier with the set up.
Excellent suggestion! I should've included some side by side shots in this video. I felt like my videos were getting a bit long and wanted to keep this one short and simple. My two cents is that I found the Glow to be fore focused and felt I had better control with being able to use the extra layer of diffusion to get softer light (and the grid, which you cannot use on the Rapid Box 26). That said, the Westcott always produced a very pleasing light for headshots, portraiture and product photography IMHO. For quick jobs, the Wescott is hard to beat - no extra bracket, super quick set up, etc.
@@MattSpaugh if they're informative and helpful, you shouldn't worry about the length of the vid. Edit: oh nice. A bunch of us photographers had a shoot meetup and mostly all of us had the EZ Glow and a few had the Westcott. those who had the Westcott said it produced softer light. But I dont know, man. I'm very happy with my EZ Glow.
@@joes2828 I'm wrapping up production right now on an unboxing and review of the new Clar Illumi Max 120 LED bi-color monolight. In the new video, I do a side by side comparison with two other lighting set-ups. New vid should be up by Thursday.
You gotta go with whatever works best for you! I will say that since I sold my Rapid box, there have been a couple of times when a lighter weight option would've been nice. I still love the Glow through - having the grid option and being able to add the additional layer of diffusion gives a lot of flexibility. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment Travis - have a good one.
When used with COB LED lights, if you don't use the small reflector you can get a hot spot in the center of the single diffusion panel. The additional panel can help reduce it.
Hi Matt, nice tuto I have just ordered a round head godox V1 flash for my D750, which is incompatible with rapidbox (it seems however a solution exists in BH : Raya reflector adapter for speedlight). So i am very interested with the GLOW EZ beauty dish you are mentioning. There is a new godox S2 adapter for V1 with bowens system. Some questions : - Are you happy with this EZ box LIGHT compared to westcott ? - is 65cm enough on field (street...) ? - which typical distance do you recommend with subject while keeping enough power from flash ? - do you use high sync for darkening background ? - isn't silver too hard light ? - isn't it a problem to turn dish that way ? it is in conflict with "parabolic geometry" to spread light everywhere inside umbrella, isn't it ?
Thanks for your comment - I apologize that I'm jsut now seeing it. I usually try to respond quickly to all comments. To answer your questions: Yes, I love all of my EZ Lock softboxes (I have 5 of them currently). I think the 65cm (25") would work fine, but it's going to need to be close to your subject. Yes, I use HSS. I've always been happy with the softness, but that's just my opinion. You can always add the second layer of diffusion if you want to soften the light further. The light spread seems very even to me even with the dish in that position.
(I glued the screw to the Rapid Box Octa deflector...NO MORE keeping track of that screw! It and the deflector are now one piece, just spin to tighten.) Personally, I had both of these modifiers seen here; got rid of the Glow unit because I found it tedious to set up. I found it nothing but a hassle to use outside, especially, even though it's quality-made and is a great deal for the price! It only took an afternoon to sell it, because of it's girth and build. But then, I'm nearly 80, love the simplicity of setting up the Rapid Box Octa~~One little bag, no extra bracket, and all those tabs on the inner baffle of the Glow drove me nuts. You're a guy, and young, so the Glow is for you. I LOVE the Rapid Box Octa not only for its small size/weight/bag, but also because it makes absolutely gorgeous light for women--which is my specialty in Beauty Portraits and Boudoir. Thanks for the video, though...it was a good comparison of gear!
And that's what makes the world go round. Thanks for your sharing your thoughts - and for watching!
You forgot to add that for the "difficulty" of buying the additional glow s-mount bracket, it's still combined 1/3 of the price of the westcott.
i dumped all my westcotts now i m all glow !! love it for half the cost ! goo d video !
I still have a couple of Apollo Orb octaboxes around here somewhere that I couldn't get rid of on the used market (amazing how poorly they hold their value) but all my modifier purchases over the past year or so have been Glow units. It's great stuff and the prices are great!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day.
Matt, Really enjoy your videos. Very thorough and knowledgable!
Thanks B C! Your encouragement is greatly appreciated. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for making this video for us. I really like it
I'm glad you like it. I'm thinking about doing on on the Glow China Ball. If that's of any interest let me know!
I bought the glow 34 inch foldable beauty dish and I really like it. I have their deep parabolic softbox too and they are made of quality material. For the price you can’t beat them
I just got the 38" deep parabolic - can't wait to play around with it. Thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh your going to love it. I was totally shocked on how soft the light looked on my client's faces. It don't even look like your using flash. I bought the 28 inch and I do a lot of head shots for senior portraits. Money well spent. I keep the inner diffusion unsnapped in two spots on the bottom so I don't have to take the inner and outer diffusion off when I am done when I close it. I can have it set up in 10 seconds.
I have the Glow beauty dish with the white interior. Produces lovely quality of light.
I would love to get my hands on one and test to see the differences between the two - especially when using both layers of diffusion.
Thanks for watching!
Great video! I just bought my first light ever, the godox AD200 and have been searching for the right modifier. You sold me on the Ez Glow, thanks!
Glad I could help!. I use the AD200 all the time. I have a pair that I use in the 43" and 60" EZ Lock softboxes. They work great. I recently did a high volume shoot (Over 460 headshots in 3 days!). My AD200s misfired once. ONCE over the course of the entire shoot. They're fantastic.
Helpful, excellent video. Thank you for creating and sharing this contact with us!
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching,
Im sure you have found out by now, that bracket does a lot, great tips thank you :)
I also have the Westcott rapid box AND glow soft boxes (but NOT the beauty dish mentioned here. ). The quality of the Westcott products are better than Glow, but you should expect this seeing that Westcott is MUCH pricier than Glow. I do not like the Wescott shoe bracket, nor the front deflector which blows off in the wind (it is elastic, not Velcro). Also, Westcott makes you pay for the grid, and deflector. A Westcott 26" RapidBox costs $150 plus $20 for the internal deflector and another $140 (!!) for the grid for a grand total of $310.00 for a box you can only use with speed lights. The Glow beauty dish comes complete (with grid) costs $70.00. It has a Bowens mount which is the most popular / universal mount out there. At $70.00 If you run it over with your car by accident or a billy goat eats it, it will not ruin your week.
I agree with you on all points with the exception of the your comment, "The quality of the Westcott products are better than Glow." I've owned a lot of Westcott modifiers including the Apollo Orb and others and I currently own 7 different Glow modifiers. The Glow cases are extremely robust (except on the very large units), the stitching is rugged, and the overall fit and finish is or par with, or better than, any Westcott modifier I've owned.
Granted, the Westcott equipment I've owned was not the top of the line - but neither is the EZ Lock line. In fact, I think the EZ Lock line is pretty close to the bottom of the Glow line.
As you mention, the nickel-and-dime mentality of Westcott is absurd which makes the Glow line that much more attractive.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it - have a good one!
I got the 34 inch Glow for Christmas and love it!
It's a great modifier. I just got the 38" deep parabolic - it came at a discount with a video light I just bought. It's a dandy too! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Hi Matt. I just came across your channel. I picked up the white interior version about a week ago. I have to agree that it is quite a versatile modifier. I was looking for a review ahead of time but I couldn’t find any until this one showed up in my feed today. It’s good to hear of another photographer enjoying it. Thanks for this video.
Glad you liked the video. Shame it didn't get to you sooner. Since making this video I've purchased both the 38" deep parabolic and the 16x48 rectangle. They're both really great. I may do a comparison between the 43" shallow and the 38" deep at some point. Have a great day!
Matt Spaugh Photography Very nice. I need to diversify my modifier lineup, so I’ll be very interested in hearing more about the rectangle and para whenever you get around to it.
@@davidcolephoto I've always used a small Phottix 40cm x 90cm rectangle with a grid as a rim-light/kicker for headshots and loved the results. They're very inexpensive and versatile. The 16x48 is huge by comparison. I don't see it as a good on-site option but imagine it will get a lot of studio use.
The quality of light and actual results do not even get a mention in this video, and that is THE most important thing to many of us who do this for a living.
It seems to me that the 'actual results' are on the screen for you to see and judge for yourself. And, I clearly make mention of color shifts and softness of falloff between the different light sources. My primary goal was a comparison of sources terms of light output and usability for quick setups. I'm sorry if you feel I've cheated you by not giving a fuller explanation. Either way, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a good one.
That's exactly what I requested
@@MattSpaugh I didn't see any results, just throw up a couple pictures. I have the same Rapidbox and I'm wondering if the light is better from the Glow...
Glow ez lock stuff is so good. Incredible value. I really love my 38" deep parabolic umbrella, but it is very hard to use in smaller spaces because of how incredibly deep it is! The 34" beauty dish is my next purchase. Should work a bit better. Thanks for the good video
I'm with you on the value proposition! I recently bought the 16x48 and love it. The deep parabolic is indeed DEEP! I have the 25", the 42", and the 60". The fact that they come with two layers of diffusion AND the grid just makes them an incredible value to me. I will say, I had a shoot a couple of weeks ago and I really missed the lightweight/small Rapidbox. Never satisfied!
Thanks yes it was, Happy Holidays!
Hi Matt, this video was very informative, educational, and entertaining. Been using the Interfit system for the past 10 years. This wireless system looks awesome, thanks.
Glad you liked the video, thanks for taking the time to comment!
I didn't see the link to the bracket for the speedlight
@@morrphotoworld thanks for catching my oversight. I've added it to the description under "The Goods". Have a great day!
@@MattSpaugh Thanks Matt
Great video
Thx!
Thanks! You saved me a lot of money!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching.
Thank you very informative!
Glad you liked it. I still use my Glow EZ Lock beauty dish modifiers on practically every shoot and like them very much. They've held up really well over time.
Thanks for watching.
Great job! Thanks! Very helpful.
Glad you liked it!
Which speedlights and trigger do you use when you shoot with the Glow EZ beauty dish?
For headshots I actually use the 32" beauty dish and a 12" x 36" strip box. In the beauty dish I use the Flashpoint AD200 (also branded Godox) from Adorama. In the strip box I use the Flashpoint Zoom Li-ion R2 speedlight, also from Adorama. I use an R2 Pro S transmitter on my camera. The "S" is for Sony I think - they make different ones for all brands.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
Hi Matt! Nice comparison! To help with the heat issues generated by the modeling light in the monolight, I wonder if you could use something like an Aputure 60D LED light (which comes with a Bowens adaptor) to act as a temporary modeling light so that you could adjust the leafs etc... then replace it with the monolight. Cumbersome, but maybe helps with the heat?
As you say, a cumbersome but solid solution. Thanks for watching!
I'd love to see a video with the Glow Beauty Dish on the CLAR Illumi Max 120 and other bowens mount modifiers you may have
Most of the content I'm creating now uses the CLAR with the 43" Glow Beauty Dish (or a simple shoot-thru umbrella). I'll try to do a 'behind the scenes' at some point. I'm planning to do a 6 month follow-up review on the Illumi Max, I'll do my best to get some beauty dishes in there (I have the 25", 43" and 60").
Wow, thanks for this video. I already have had the Glow EZ Lock 25” BD in white for three years. Always was happy with it. BUT I just invested $2k in the Westcott FJ400s and FJ80 lights to replace my Godox lights... so I was considering the switch to Westcott soft boxes as well, it it just doesn’t sit right in my gut to spend triple what my Glow cost especially since I use my gear mostly outdoors. Seeing your video helped me decide to keep using Glow for my location shoots, and maybe, when I open my studio, I will invest in the more expensive stuff for studio-use. Thanks so much!
Having used both (and a few other brands over the years) I'd choose the Glow stuff at any price. The ease of set-up and overall build quality just 'sits right in my gut' as you say.
Glad the video was helpful - thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh and I got to thinking after reading a review about the grid on the Glow not lasting the user very long (mine is still in great shape after 3 years)... even if I had to replace the grid on the Glow by buying another full Glow set, the entire Glow set costs less than the Westcott grid by itself.... so it really is the most cost efficient between the two brands.
@@rgrayphotog Westcott (and similar 'premium' brands) TOTALLY rip you off on accessories.
Any grid can be easily trashed if you don't handle it carefully - but I think the glow grids are every bit as robust as the Westcott. I actually have a 43" Westcott octabox with a grid (purchased separately for something like $89 bucks) and the grid is so heavy that it collapses the softbox if you angle it too far up. It's a terrible design.
My favorite modifier right now is the Glow 20" lantern. I did a video on it a few weeks back - small, versatile, nice light.
Have a good one.
@@MattSpaugh you're so right.... oh, that lantern sounds interesting... will watch later. Thanks again!
hello, I have now both. I do'nt advise rapidbox.
ezglow 66cm is really nice and works with godox V1 round head with S2 bracket and ad400pro with bowens mount. it makes pro on site ! what i don't like is the snap of inner diffuser, too hard and i am afraid to damage umbrella so i don't use inner one. velcro would be better. another point is that i paid 60usd for taxes and delivery from adorama to belgium.
i have rapidbox with bowens ring for same flashes. It looks a toy. with ez glow i open it on ground and plug ad400pro on it, same to remove. with rapid box, if you do it on ground to remove it everything distorts and it is better to leave ad400 pro on stand and disassemble rapidbox holding it from internal.
Strange because i see lot of tutos now of photographers using it with FJ400, similar to ad400pro.
also i fogot to order the inner plate so i am still waiting for it for one month. i can't afford the grid at 120 euros.
Thanks for the comments - glad you liked the video!
I use a pair of AD200s in my setup. I feel like the recycle time is faster than the 400 - but just by a bit. Plus, I have some redundancy if one of them fails. Have a great day!
Can you close it up with diffusion still attached?
Nope. But, installing the diffusion panel is really easy.
nice tuto
just purchased a ez glow 25" for my godox V1 and ad200 pro both with new S2 godox bracket for round head.
i was also surprised "mathematically" that dish is reverse while i thought as a parabol it should radiates from focus to silver.
i find the inner diffuser awful to detach and no idea how long it will survive.
I like this set but I am so excited by magbox pro kit with magshoe, focus diffuser, two ad200 pro, gel with magnets to simulate golden hour,...
did you make a comparison between ez glow and magbox ?
I've never used any MagMod products, but so many people keep commenting on them, I think I need to check them out! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Matt-Would you recommend the Glow beauty dish for studio work? All of my modifiers are Glow products and love them
They're all I use these days. I have the 38" parabolic, 25" and 42" beauty dishes, the 16x46, the 10x24, and the 20" lantern. They're all great performers IMHO.
Thanks for watching.
How do you feel about the GLOW vs. a more traditional metal beauty dish? I’m in the market but unsure if this achieves the same look. Help!
Side by side you might be able to tell a difference - specular highlights being the main way - but if you saw one photo OR the other, I seriously doubt you could say with confidence which modifier it had been taken with. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
I have and use a few Glow umbrellas but I don't use their EZ lock stuff because I've never found a truly suitable Profoto-to-Bowens adapter. There are many out there that say they do the trick but it's all talk and no action. I'd love to use them but without a decent adapter, what's the point?
Yep... well.. there's that. Thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh perhaps I'll find one one day. Hope so.
Thank you for this video , I would like to get strip boxes, octabox and beauty dish , looking at Westcott Rapid Box and Glow Ez Lock. Some people says Glow Ez Lock products has got a disadvantage about opening and closing. ( hard to open and close , need to force a lot ) is it true ? Which brand do you recommend ? Thanks
I've owned both Westcott and Glow modifiers and IMHO, the Glow products are better and cheaper. I've never had issues opening or closing any of my Glow EZ Lock modifiers. I use them almost every day and have had no issues at all.
Personally, I find the Westcott products to be overpriced for what they are. Plus they change you for all the accessories that Glow includes.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
I'm looking at the glow ez lock 48 inch octabox. Thus was helpful. Have you tried that unit. Will use it with ad600
HIlarious... I have the 25", the 34", the 38" Deep Parabolic, the 42" and the 60"... but not the 48". They're all great performers (I could do without the deep parabolic if I'm completely honest). I'm sure that 48" is a winner.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Hey Bud. I currently have a westcott beauty dish 26” Joel grimes addition. Wondering if the Grid for the EZ Lock 26” will fit on it. Trying to save more then a hundred dollars. Thank you
Ahhh yes, old JG. I hear he.... CRACKED.... THE.... CODE... ON... LIGHTING. Sorry man, those ads are just so over the top.
I have no idea if those are compatible. My guess would be no. The Rapid-box I had had 8 ribs, but the Glow has 16 so even if the diameter is right, I'd guess that the edges wouldn't line up and would allow for light leaks.
Nice video! I’m seeking clarification on the purpose of the reflector plate. Do you always insert it and is it a major difference without
The plate helps to bounce light into the softbox for a more even distribution of light. I've found on the Glow EZ Lock boxes - in some cases - it can create a small dead spot in the center of the diffusion.
Nicely done!
Thanks for the video. It was very helpful. I am looking at different alternatives for portable softboxes and both of these are on my radar screen. Can you give us a general idea of build quality? Do they look rugged? Is there any significant difference in terms of build quality between the two? Also, a general question about softboxes.... What is the difference between the collapsable beauty dish and a deep parabolic softbox of similar diameter? Again, thanks for the video.
They're both very well built. I'd say if portability is your main concern, the Rapid Box is lighter and packs down smaller. IMHO opinion though the Glow EZ Lock is a better modifier - and includes a grid which, for me anyway, was a huge plus.
Deep parabolic softboxes are going to narrow the light spread more than a beauty dish. I prefer the beauty dish + grid because it gives the greatest flexibility.
Good luck with it, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Would the Glow work with a Profoto A1x?
They are a Bowens "S" mount, so not without an adapter I'm afraid.
Should you put the silver disc the opposite way
You can't. The ribs of the softbox are in the way.
Hi Matt, nice tuto
I have just ordered a round head godox V1 flash for my D750, which is incompatible with rapidbox (it seems however a solution exists in BH : Raya reflector adapter for speedlight).
So i am very interested with the GLOW EZ beauty dish you are mentioning. There is a new godox S2 adapter for V1 with bowens system.
Some questions :
- Are you happy with this EZ box LIGHT compared to westcott ?
- is 65cm enough on field (street...) ?
- which typical distance do you recommend with subject while keeping enough power from flash ?
- do you use high sync for darkening background ?
- isn't silver too hard light ?
- isn't it a problem to turn dish that way ? it is in conflict with "parabolic geometry" to spread light everywhere inside umbrella, isn't it ?
Yes, I'm very happy with all of my EZ Lock modifiers and have sold most all of my Westcott modifiers.
65cm will work great. Keep in mind that the closer your light source is, the bigger it is and the softer the light will be.
Distance depends on the look I'm going for. I like soft light so I tend to get my modifiers as close to my subject as possible - keeping them out of frame of course.
I've never had an issue with silver being too hard. I always use at least one layer of diffusion - two if I can.
As far as light direction, you'll just have to experiment. If you can get a subject that will sit still for you, take a wide range of shots and write down your set ups. I actually have a mannequin that I use for this purpose. It's really helpful.
Good luck with your new modifier and thanks for watching!
Really great job! Do you think an AD200 with a magmod gel on it would fit through the head of the Flash bracket's clamp? Thank you
It should but if I remember correctly, it would be a tight fit. I don't know the exact dimensions of the MagMod gel head.
If you end up trying it, please post here in case other people have the same question. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review - I was originally going to buy the Aputure Lightdome II with a Godox S2 bracket. But this looks like it'll take the S2. Im hoping to get a Godox AD200 Pro to go with it.
I think you'll be very pleased with the GLOW modifiers. I have a pair of AD200 strobes - they're fantastic. I did a private school shoot - 500 headshots IN TWO DAYS - and never had a mis-fire. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@MattSpaugh I've just taken a look - I think they are only available in the US, but thanks for the advice. I've subbed.
Great video, planning to buy ez glow but cant decide 25 inch or 34, which one would be enough for multi purpose shootings, like portraits, products, food
Thanks Nickk! I own both (and the 60") and I'd say the one that I go for most is the 34". It's a really versatile size. However, if portability is a concern, go with the 25. The 25" is great for location portraiture and low-key video interviews. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@MattSpaugh when it comes to soft boxes 😂there is no place for portability, ill go for 34 for more use thanks
Thanks
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Are the Glows durable, wellmade? Thinking of buying one.
I would say definitely yes, they're well made. Better quality than either of the Westcott modifiers I've owned (apollo orb/rapid box).
@@MattSpaugh cool.Thank you
@@badhabit714 Rave on! I actually just ordered the small 10x24 Glow EZ Lock rectangle to use as a hair/rim light. I've been using a 40cm x 90cm Phottix box for years but I wanted something with the Bowens-S mount for video use. If it's as great as the others, I'll definitely do a review of it. Stay tuned!
Great job,
Thanks!
I have a couple of the RapidBox Switches. I just put the plate screw back in the threads after removing the plate, so that's not an issue for me. I do find it to be a strike against the Westcott that the grids are an additional purchase AND they are expensive.
I wonder if a rotolight neo 2 will fit in that EZ Glow 🤔
I didn't think the Neo 2 had a mount of any kind. Is that right? The EZ Glow softboxes all have an integrated Bowens S Mount.
@@MattSpaugh I've seen an S mount taken out and replaced by simply using friction to squeeze the neo 2 inside the opening. Supposedly it works and I've seen it used by an assistant that way (with the assistant holding the entire unit as opposed to a stand). The softbox that rotolight designed for the neo 2, is very small and requires me having to first purchase the barn doors as well. I'm just trying to think outside the box. I've seen this Glow EZ for sale in combination with their Arclight that's almost too good to pass up. But I have yet to see the Wescott Eyelighter, Glow EZ Arclight, and Cheetah BowFlector compared in a video. I have no clue how they compare and contrast.
@@brentsealy9623 I'm with you on thinking outside the box. There's usually many ways to get any job done. With regard to your comment, two things come to mind: One, the EZ Glow is not exactly heavy, but it's not light by any means. I would have concerns about a friction fit. Second, the diffusion material is pretty stout. I'm not sure about how much power the Neo 2 has, but lots of it might get lost, especially if you're using two layers of diffusion. Even my Clar Illumimax 120 suffers in that respect and it's a really bright light for it's size.
Are their build qualities similar?
They are both well built but the GLOW EZ Lock is heavier duty in my opinion.
Thank you, nice little review
Thanks John. It's interesting - after I sold the Rapid Box, I actually had two jobs where it would've really come in handy. The Glow is awesome, but its bulk can be a drawback in certain situations.
I own the Rapid Box as well (smaller version). I've really liked it but frankly am tired of the breakdown on it particularly when it comes to the shoe mount which I don't think is a very elegant or modern design. I'm trying to decide to either go Glow Box or the new Mag Mod Kit's.
@@jmanjr I don't have much experience with the Mag Mod stuff but I know folks who like it. I have the 25", 42", and 60" Glow EZ Lock soft boxes and they're all fantastic. I like the build quality especially -I feel like they'll last me a good long time. I'm using them with the Clar Illumi-max 120 right now for video and couldn't be happier with the set up.
Matt Spaugh Photography seriously I think I’m going to buy them both. Lol.
Before u sell the westcott u should do a video comparison regarding the quality of light they both produce.
Excellent suggestion! I should've included some side by side shots in this video. I felt like my videos were getting a bit long and wanted to keep this one short and simple. My two cents is that I found the Glow to be fore focused and felt I had better control with being able to use the extra layer of diffusion to get softer light (and the grid, which you cannot use on the Rapid Box 26). That said, the Westcott always produced a very pleasing light for headshots, portraiture and product photography IMHO. For quick jobs, the Wescott is hard to beat - no extra bracket, super quick set up, etc.
@@MattSpaugh if they're informative and helpful, you shouldn't worry about the length of the vid.
Edit: oh nice. A bunch of us photographers had a shoot meetup and mostly all of us had the EZ Glow and a few had the Westcott. those who had the Westcott said it produced softer light. But I dont know, man. I'm very happy with my EZ Glow.
@@joes2828 I'm wrapping up production right now on an unboxing and review of the new Clar Illumi Max 120 LED bi-color monolight. In the new video, I do a side by side comparison with two other lighting set-ups. New vid should be up by Thursday.
Two friends told! :)
Right on!
definitely entertaining
Ha - thx!
Need to see real world shoot comparison
I'm keeping my workhorse Westcott.
You gotta go with whatever works best for you! I will say that since I sold my Rapid box, there have been a couple of times when a lighter weight option would've been nice. I still love the Glow through - having the grid option and being able to add the additional layer of diffusion gives a lot of flexibility. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment Travis - have a good one.
"and it has a diffusion panel to help the HOT SPOT in the center". ....????? WHAT HOT SPOT in the center in a beauty dish are you talking about?
When used with COB LED lights, if you don't use the small reflector you can get a hot spot in the center of the single diffusion panel. The additional panel can help reduce it.
Hi Matt, nice tuto
I have just ordered a round head godox V1 flash for my D750, which is incompatible with rapidbox (it seems however a solution exists in BH : Raya reflector adapter for speedlight).
So i am very interested with the GLOW EZ beauty dish you are mentioning. There is a new godox S2 adapter for V1 with bowens system.
Some questions :
- Are you happy with this EZ box LIGHT compared to westcott ?
- is 65cm enough on field (street...) ?
- which typical distance do you recommend with subject while keeping enough power from flash ?
- do you use high sync for darkening background ?
- isn't silver too hard light ?
- isn't it a problem to turn dish that way ? it is in conflict with "parabolic geometry" to spread light everywhere inside umbrella, isn't it ?
You can use the Godox S2 bracket
Thanks for your comment - I apologize that I'm jsut now seeing it. I usually try to respond quickly to all comments. To answer your questions:
Yes, I love all of my EZ Lock softboxes (I have 5 of them currently).
I think the 65cm (25") would work fine, but it's going to need to be close to your subject.
Yes, I use HSS.
I've always been happy with the softness, but that's just my opinion. You can always add the second layer of diffusion if you want to soften the light further.
The light spread seems very even to me even with the dish in that position.