The LightStick

The Lightstick is a flash unit designed to go where other lights can't. It comes in a 20-pin generator socket version for use with the Hensel Tria series units up to 3000J or, for the same price, a version compatible with Mini and Porty Series battery packs.

I used it with a Porty Premium 1200 pack, plugging it in and screwing it securely into place. The Lightstick features a five-metre cord so it can be placed in difficult-to-reach places, without having to heave around or balance a battery pack nearby. It has a robust plastic handle and a flash tube protected by a glass dome at the end. Its handle also features a screw thread so that it can be attached to a spigot on a light stand or tripod, although I found that a Manfrotto magic arm and super clamp proved ideal to maneouvre it into position. Before getting started I also fitted a cylinder reflector light-shaper that fits around the flashtube and features adjustable doors to control the spill of light.

The slim and compact 24cm length and 6cm diameter of the LightStick's flash tube, handle and cylinder reflector certainly means it can fit into places unavailable to other flash heads. The obvious application for it is to slot it into tight spaces such as car interiors, but it doesn't have to be limited to specialised jobs. I found it was ideal for use in room interiors, where it can be easily hidden from view. In fact, the more I used the LightStick the more lighting opportunities seem to come up. It is great for using outdoors on the ground, for example, to fill in the light on a model backlit from the sun. It can also be used as a side or spot light to give your model lighting a bit more punch or an unusual look.

The price is tempting, as it costs less than a normal flash head for a Mini and Porty Series battery pack. It might not be an everyday light but it is more than likely to prove a good buy.

LightStick £458.85 Inc VAT

Cylinder Reflector £109.25 Inc VAT

TriGrip Bracket

We all need a bit of a helping hand at times and for those who work alone devices like the TripGrip Bracket could prove a godsend. Designed for photographers that regularly use a TripGrip reflector or diffuser, the bracket comes in three parts and fits onto a spigot on a normal light stand. The handle of a TriGrip reflector is slotted into the bracket and held securely into place with a piece of Velcro. It is easy to adjust the angle of the reflector to precisely kick in some ambient light towards a subject or soften harsh illumination using a diffuser. If you're working outside it might be worth weighing down the stand with a sandbag or two to avoid the reflector blowing over. The TriGrip Bracket also has a trick up its sleeve, as it is possible to attach a flashgun to an extendable arm to bounce light or fire it through a diffuser.

I was really impressed with Lastolite's gear as it is lightweight, simple to set-up and straightforward to control for precise results. It works best when using a wireless flash system and is perfect for a wedding, portrait or fashion photographers working on location.

TriGrip Reflector £59.99 Inc VAT

TriGrip Bracket £69.99 Inc VAT

Tilthead with Hotshoe £16.99 Inc VAT

Micro Apollo Softbox

We all know that the light emitted from a hotshoe flashgun can be a little too harsh and fortunately there are a number of devices on the market to alleviate the problem. One such product is the Micro Apollo Softbox designed to work with most hammerhead flashguns and Speedlites. It comes in three sizes but I tried the smallest 20x13cm model, which incidentally appears quite sizable itself. It is very simple to attach to the flashgun in less than 30 seconds.

Inside the device are two plastic arms that fold out to form the shape of the Softbox and attach to the flash using a Velcro pad. It adds very little weight, so when it is used it doesn't put any strain on the flashgun or feel heavy in the hand. The cast of light from it is softer and more directional and it gets rid of red-eye but you'll lose about two f-stops of power. One useful extra function is that it is possible to fit coloured gels (not included) against the plastic frame inside the Micro Apollo Softbox for more creative opportunities.

Once you've finished shooting, it can be folded down and packed away flat so it takes up very little room in a kit bag. Overall, this is a very practical accessory and likely to get plenty of use by photographers wanting to refine their flashgun lighting.

Micro Apollo Softbox £26.99 Inc VAT

Elinchrom Rotalux Softbox

There is a myriad of softboxes on the market but many of them are fiddly to set up and break them down. Elinchrom has confronted this issue with its Rotalux series. Initially you have to line up the speedring with the softbox material and slot the rods into place. Once this is done the Rotalux can be left in its collapsed state so that it can be packed away for transportation or storage, or it can be unfurled and locked to form the shape of the Softbox and be ready for use in less than a minute.

The clever part is the speedring, which features some spring-loaded sockets so that the angle of the rods inside the Softbox can be quickly adjusted without having to take the whole thing apart. This means it is really quick to set-up and pack away. I tested the Rectangular 90x35cm. The first noticeable feature, apart from its strip shape, is its shallow depth making it ideal for working in cramped conditions. Inside the Softbox is a silver lining and it is possible to soften the light with internal and front diffusing layers. One useful aspect of Elinchrom lighting, like the BXRi series, is that it features a slot located directly under the flash tube so that the light can be further bounced and diffused by using a deflector.

I really like using a Strip Softbox as it doesn't spill as much light as a rectangular or octagonal version and it is great for creating a defined highlight on a product or model shot. It is worth noting that the cast of light from the Rotalux softboxes can be further narrowed using a 15x90cm diffuser and that the speedring/softbox can be swiveled around through 360 degrees to get a very precise cast of light.

The Rotalux Softbox ticks all the requirements for a pro photographer, offering straightforward functionality, but the real test of any light-shaper is the quality of light emitted. The Rotalux Rectangular 90x35cm certainly gets full marks.

Elinchrom Rotalux Softbox £181.70 Inc VAT.

Creative Light Umbrella Softbox

The humble umbrella is the mainstay of many studio photographers' lighting armories. It may be the first light-shaper that an aspiring photographer employs and its popularity can be put down to its inexpensive price. Its weight and compact size when folded makes it ideal for transporting. White and silver linings help produce different effects, as does the translucent umbrella, that can produce a more directional cast of light. Now there's another alternative that, although not a new idea, is certainly an underused one.

The Umbrella Softbox from Creative Light looks at first like any other model. But open it out and the difference is a translucent fabric cover on its front. Inside it features a white interior lining and the translucent fabric has a hole in the centre with a zip and pull cord, so that almost any flash head can be snuggly fitted into it without any hard light spilling out.

It feels well made and tough, so it should withstand regular professional use and it produces a very pleasing soft and even cast of light. It is ideal to use as a key light for portraiture and its almost circular shape gives a pleasing catch light. It is also useful as a tool to help spread light evenly on a background without any concerns about unsightly hotspots. It should be compatible with most flash heads with an umbrella holder or slot 8mm or larger, although it is worth checking because the stem is too thick to fit in a flash head like an Elinchrom BXRi.

The Umbrella Softbox certainly combines the advantages of an umbrella with a similar diffused cast of light to a Softbox. It is ideal for photographers who want to travel light and work fast but it is also a useful studio accessory and compares favourably with a Softbox on price.

CL Umbrella Softbox £44 inc VAT