The Westcott company is known for designing high-quality, innovative products. After 120 years, 19 patents, and over 600 products, the company is still manufacturing durable, high-end lighting equipment for professional filmmakers and photographers around the globe. As part of Westcott’s commitment to innovation, the company has announced the Apollo Strip Speedlite Softbox and FJ80 Creative Pack.
The amount of space you have on location might be limited. With a narrow strip modifier, light is more concentrated over the scene. It lets you shoot in most situations without the physical limitations of a large studio umbrella or full-size softbox. Let’s take a moment to discuss what we know so far about these new products from Westcott.
Apollo Strip Speedlite
Designed with a narrow profile and recessed edge, the Apollo Strip helps you focus your light source on a specific area. Modifiers like this rectangular one produce soft light and are perfect for accents, rims, and hair lighting. The strip can be mounted either vertically or horizontally with its built-in zippered entry points. It includes a 12” x 36” Apollo Strip softbox, full-stop diffusion panel, and 40-degree egg crate grid. This speedlite is easy to set up and use anywhere.
Key Features:
- Narrow profile makes it an ideal hair, rim, or accent light
- Lighting is even and directional due to the recess on the front edge
- Vertical or horizontal mounting options
- Built on an umbrella frame
- Quick set up and teardown
- Fits virtually any studio light
- Pairs perfectly with speedlites
Apollo Strip Softbox w/ Grid, 40-Degree Egg Crate Grid
In the world of product photography, strip softboxes are well-known for placing highlights, but they are also handy for creating dramatic portraits and videos. In contrast to traditional softboxes, strips are narrow, and rectangular — much like the strip lights used in theater productions. They give off intense (yet soft) light, and are excellent for light shaping.
Westcott FJ80 Creative Pack
When it comes to adjusting your images’ color temperature, there are a few options available. You can use the Kelvin setting in your camera, your photo editor’s color temperature slider, or you can gel your lighting before capturing the photo.
With the FJ80 Speedlight Creative Pack, Westcott has taken the idea of stacking modifiers to a whole new level. Using this collection of 17 modifiers and gels, you can cut, color, direct, diffuse, and spread light. With powerful built-in magnets, the modifiers stay in place so you can focus on capturing creative images with endless possibilities.
In case you’re not familiar with the FJ80, here’s a quick recap: the FJ80 is Westcott’s version of a speedlight. It can be used on-camera or off-camera in “Client Mode.” The FJ80 can act as a remote control for other FJ80s, FJ200s, or FJ400s. Controlling the flash of the FJ80 is extremely intuitive thanks to the large color touchscreen on the back of the device. In manual mode, the FJ80 Speedlight can be used with any camera that has a hot shoe mount.
Wrapping Up
The Apollo Strip Speedlite is a great way to turn your studio strobe or hot light into the perfect light source for portraiture or product work. Use it as a fill, highlight, rim light, and as the main light (with grid) for some low-key lighting with your speedlights. The ease of setup and portability of the Apollo series as a whole is brilliant. You’ll be very pleased with the results.
Both the Apollo Speedlite and FJ80 Speedlite Creative Pack (sold separately) is available for purchase at Adorama.
