This unique lighting modifier outputs quality diffuse light that is evenly spread out.
It’s not too often that you come across a product that really piques your interest enough so that you end up buying it yourself. That’s what happened late last year when I came across a reverse soft box from SMDV. SMDV is a Korean brand making photography accessories.
I saw this modifier first on YouTube and immediately it reminded me of something else I frequently use for my photography: Gary Fong’s Lightsphere. The concept is exactly the same: take the light output from your light, bounce it on the back of the modifier and make it spread out evenly around the room.
Because of the bounce and further diffusion from the soft box, the light coming out is diffuse and oh so soft, creating quality light that is spread all around the source.
It can be used for portraits but I’ve been noticing that it’s quite ideal for product photography too. This soft light creates an ever so subtle glow to the products being photographed, making it really stand out.
Set Up and Tear Down
The uniqueness of this soft box doesn’t stop at its reverse-ness though. The setup and tear down system of this modifier is also unique to SMDV products, speeding up your workflow with its one-handed setup.
To set up the modifier, all you need to do is hold the bracket with your thumb and fingers, and fold it up. This is very similar to Profoto’s Clic soft boxes because SMDV is actually the one who manufactures their soft boxes.
The folded down soft box slides into a handy carrying case.
Changing Mounting Adaptors
This light modifier is available for most of the popular lighting mounts. I bought the Bowens mount version but if you later decide you want to mount it on a different light, all you need to do is buy the adaptor and swap the Bowens mount for the new one of your choice. Changing the adaptor is as easy as the set up and tear down! Just pull the switch toward you to unlock the bracket, take out the mount adaptor and put in the new one.
Accessories
The only available accessory to this modifier is the one I recommend you purchase as it allows you to direct the light to your subject. The reflective curtain has a black back and a silver interior, much like the interior of the Flip Bounce 44, so the light bouncing off the curtain won’t be as soft as the light coming out of the modifier by itself.
The velcro all around the edge of the curtain allows you to attach it to the edge of the Flip Bounce 44, letting you drape it all the way down to the ground.
YouTube Video
You can watch my YouTube video on the SMDV Flip Bounce 44.
Have you seen a modifier like this before? Let me know in the comments what you think of this SMDV Flip Bounce 44.
I purchased this from Spring Distribution in the United States. They are an authorized distributor of SMDV products. As of this publication, I don’t think there is a store in Canada that is authorized to sell SMDV products.