Three Lines, New Designs

If you’re a photographer who works with artificial lights on location, you’ll completely understand the dilemma that comes with it. You want that consistent quality of light, but it comes with a cost: Soft boxes tend to take time to set up onsite, or, if you transport them assembled, take up a lot of room. Light stands are necessary but tend to be bulky and heavy. And LED lights are another story. But thanks to Geekoto’s innovative designs, we have new options.

Geekoto’s product line includes soft boxes, light stands, and lights. Depending on your photographic gear requirements, Geekoto might be a one-stop shop. And, if not, that’s OK too. Gear requirements vary by photographer, so you can pick what works for you.

Geekoto’s soft boxes fold flat for storage in a slim rectangular bag only about 2 inches thick. This sets them apart from other folding soft boxes, which typically fit into a cylindrical travel bag with a 10-inch diameter. The secret is in Geekoto’s design. The mounting ring (Bowens, in these photos) detaches from a plate that can fold in half. It has a patented quick-release tab as well as two screws to hold the mounting ring in place when assembled. So, at the flip of a switch, their soft boxes can be set up or collapsed quickly and easily.

Sadly, this isn’t always the case with soft boxes. I have a few in my studio that, while great to use, would not hold up well if I were to frequently assemble and disassemble them for travel. Geekoto has constructed their soft boxes to withstand actual use; each one I used was well constructed and held up to numerous setups and teardowns. It’s especially nice that the mounting rings are swappable on the fly, so you can use these soft boxes with Bowens-mount lights, speedlights, and other types of lights without needing to break out your toolbox. Each Geekoto soft box comes with two sets of diffusion material and a honeycomb grid. The outer diffusion panel hooks over the edge of the soft box or attaches with Velcro depending on the type of modifier.

Geekoto has also raised the bar when it comes to portable and compact light stands. Their carbon fiber light stands come in two sizes, but both take up very little room when folded for storage. The LS-25C extends from 18 to 82 inches, with a load capacity of 3.3 pounds, while the LS-28C extends from 27 to 96 inches, with a load capacity of 8 pounds. Their sturdiness depends on what you want to use them for. If you’re using speedlights, these light stands will be great, indoors or out. If you’re using heavier portable studio strobes, you’ll need to be sure the load capacity can handle the weight of the strobe plus modifier.  Indoors, the Geekoto light stands can handle a larger strobe and a soft box. Outdoors, you’ll need to consider the impact wind will have on your load. Carbon fiber can flex more than a standard light stand, and in windy conditions, you don’t want your light bouncing around. It’s not a design flaw but rather a factor in the intended function. These light stands are for situations where you need something more lightweight and portable such as when you want to add a pop of light with a speedlight at a remote outdoor wedding location, or when you have to pack in your gear and lighter compact lights are the way to go.

In addition to light modifiers and stands, Geekoto offers several lighting options for various needs. I tested out two of their LED bi-color COB continuous light units, and the only complaint was from a client who exclaimed, “They’re so bright!”  The Geekoto NC660 Valhalla has maximum illuminance of 65,200 lux (at 1 meter), while the NC350 Apollo maxes out at 47,800 lux (at 1 meter). Both units have adjustable intensity, a color temperature range from 2,700K to 6,500K, and the capacity to set channels and groups. There’s even a Bluetooth connectivity option with their app. The Valhalla has a V-mount battery for on-location use, and a control box for manipulating the lamp head. The Apollo is compatible with the V-mount battery, but it’s not included. The Apollo weighs 6.8 pounds, and the Valhalla weighs more than that, but the specific weight isn’t on the website.

I could see these lights being good for working with animals, like horses who might be startled by flash photography, or for adding additional light into a larger enclosed space. The two units I evaluated have quiet but audible internal cooling fans that could affect audio if used for video work. I had no complaints when working with the lights for still photography. They were easy enough to use and set up, and I was able to take photos in a dimly lit room without issue.

Geekoto’s trifecta of lighting products is well-rounded and works well for their intended design. Photographers who need lightweight, compact-storing, well-constructed modifiers and stands will be pleased, and the COB continuous lights show you what you’re going to get. Geekoto’s soft boxes are the most versatile of the product lines. They present an innovative, practical, and durable solution to common problems that arise when transporting and storing soft boxes.

The Geekoto soft boxes I tested retail between $99 (Geek Mod S26) and $149.99 (Geek Mod Y36 Lantern), their light stands start at $115, and the LED studio lights mentioned range from $699 (NC350 Apollo) to $1,399 (NC660 Valhalla). 

Betsy Finn is a portrait artist in Dexter, Michigan.