There are any number of products – and some inventive do-it-your-self solutions – to soften the light from a hotshoe flash. But when a snap-on plastic diffuser or a stretched piece of cheesecloth held on with a rubber band doesn’t give you the coverage or type of light you want, it’s probably time to use a hotshoe softbox. Designed to work with hotshoe flashes (but capable of working with flashheads via a special adapter ring), the Lastolite Ezybox Hotshoe kit is easy to use, requires only a few minutes to set up and is ultra portable.

Available in two sizes: 24” x 24” and 15” x 15”, the Ezybox – which folds flat – comes in one of Lastolite’s signature blue, pancake-flat carrying bag. In addition to the “box,” which is lined with silver reflective material, the kit comes with an adapter ring, flash bracket and two diffuser panels.

The Ezybox not only folds flat, but twists (much like Lastolite’s reflectors) into a smaller circular form so it fits easily into the carrying bag. But, beware, the box tends to spring out like one of those gag snakes-in-a-can or Jack-in-the-Boxes when you open the bag. From there, just unfold the box and it will quickly take the shape of a standard softbox. The nylon fabric feels sturdy, as does the stitching that holds the panels together around its steel-rimmed frame.

Set-Up Takes Practice
Attaching the diffusion panels takes a little practice the first couple of times. The smaller panel attaches closest to the apex of the Ezybox via small Velcro tabs at each corner. The larger, second panel is secured with long strips of Velcro along the top edges. Initially, I had some problems with catching the larger panel’s Velcro at the wrong places but after the first few set-ups, I decided to take Lastolite’s advice when breaking down the box: leave the two panels attached and just fold them over from corner-to-corner. After that, re-attaching the panels took mere seconds.

Once the panels are in place, the box gets flipped over and the bundled adaptor ring is attached. The directions recommend attaching the hotshoe flash bracket to the ring before fitting the ring underneath the four steel rims at the top of the box. I found that, even though it was a little awkward, attaching the bracket after placing the ring in place provided a more secure fit.

The bracket hooks up to the ring with a thumbscrew and can then be mounted on a lightstand or other support system. Lastolite offers an extendable handle, so you can avoid the lightstand altogether. You’d have to be pretty agile and strong to shoot and hold the Ezybox at the same time, but if you have an assistant, the handle (which I didn’t test) seems to be a convenient option. An even more useful accessory is the 3-panel diffuser set. With circle, rectangle and strip masks, it’s easy to expand your creative lighting techniques.

Well-Built But Some Concerns
Using various Nikon set-ups, I first attached the Nikon SB-800 to the hotshoe bracket with no problem. Flash position can be adjusted vertically, as well as forward/back. There was little need for adjustment with the SB-800. But when I switched to the SB-900, I ran into a problem.

The foot of the SB-900—which does adhere to ISO standards, by the way—doesn’t fit into the hotshoe attachment on the bracket since the shoe is a hair thicker so we had to use the AS-21 foot that comes with the SB-900 in order to mount the strobe on the bracket. As many of you know, the AS-21 is plastic, which is not the best option but sometimes you have to live with less than ideal solutions and, in the end, I had no problems. I do, however, imagine that continuous use might put undue stress on the foot.

I also have some concerns about the construction of the bracket’s hotshoe. The thin, lightweight plate on the surface of the shoe, which helps snug up the flash to the bracket, is very flimsy and that worries me. But if you’re aware of this and are careful when attaching the strobe, it probably won’t be an issue. Otherwise, the entire kit is sturdy and well-built.

Even Light and Good Diffusion
The first time I used the Ezybox it was immediately clear that the unit lived up to Lastolite’s promises of ease of use, quick set-up and breakdown and ultra-portability. One camera bag, one camera, a couple of lenses, two strobes, a lightstand and the Ezybox bag was all I needed to have studio-like lighting regardless of location. I like to travel light and this set-up certainly allowed me to do that.

Check the weather before heading outdoors, though. Like any softbox – or large, lightweight object – a gust of wind can take down the Ezybox and lightstand. But if you’re used to shooting with this type of equipment outdoors, you’re probably already prepared with sandbags or other means of securing lighting gear.

I was pleasantly surprised at the evenness of the light and the amount of diffusion provided, even with just the two white panels. Even with the hassle of using the AS-21 foot for the Nikon SB-900, I found that it was much easier to make adjustments thanks to the flash’s revamped interface so I tended to relegate the SB-800 to on-camera and left the newer flash hooked up to the Ezybox.

Using a hotshoe flash/softbox set-up may not be the ideal for every shoot, but the Ezybox is so convenient and effective, that it has quickly become my lighting gear of choice.

The Bottom Line
Lastolite’s Ezybox Hotshoe kit is a little pricey but it’s well constructed and, more importantly, it's an easy to use, ultra-portable method of transforming hotshoe flashes into pleasing, diffused light. And, since it packs down into a pancake-flat bag, you don’t need to worry about storage.

Pros: Portable, easy to use, quick set-up; little storage necessary; ability to produce soft, flattering light

Cons: Flimsy plate on hotshoe bracket; need to use AS-21 foot for Nikon SB-900; pricey

Price: Lastolite Ezybox Hotshoe Kit: $239 (24 x 24 inch); $180 (15 x 15 inch)

Further information: www.lastolite.com