Lighting for product photography - a review of a LED lightbox [ESDDI 20" cube]

For small product photography often all you need is a basic light box, with internal lighting...
The ESDDI box has dimmable LEDs and a selection of background sheets. It folds up flat and takes a few minutes to open into the full 20" [50cm] cube.
It's one part of the range of kit Keith uses when teaching product photography to companies in the UK.
Keith also looks at how using a basic colorchecker card allows you to create custom DNG camera profiles - giving a much more accurate colour rendition.
There are lots more details about the ESDDI box, including how to accurately check CRI with a spectrophotometer at:
www.northlight...
In the UK, Keith offers bespoke on-site product photography training for businesses of all sizes
www.northlight...

[@robinjones6999]

Excellent review Keith

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@messylaura]

yep, interested in other stuff too, your vids are well presented and to the point.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@doen.8724]

Thank you Keith! I would love to see more videos on product photography. Small scale. Interested in potentially moving to LED lighting, from very hot tungsten bulbs. Love your videos!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - we're looking at what we can do in this area

[@eponymousable]

Definitely interested in how to control light for product photography, in particular dealing with shiny metal objects at macro scale. Thanks for all you do!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - will add that to the planning process

[@marcphotos]

Great Keith !!!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@lawrencebuttigieg4856]

thanks; extremely interesting

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - Glad you enjoyed it
Just exploring how to make better use of my newly emptied office ;-)

[@waxweavers5993]

Great video, thank you! As a newcomer to both photography and product photography this was a wonderful video. I'm considering the use of a lightbox tent so will be looking out for any future videos you may create regarding further for tips and tricks to consider.

[@KeithCooper]

Glad it was helpful!
In general such tents work really well for some products and styles of photography, but not well for others.
Where they do help is for small objects when you are short of space.

[@waxweavers5993]

@@KeithCooper My products are very colourful and quite small in size, also my usable space is currently limited so i do believe this is the right way forward for sure, many thanks again :)

[@magmiksch987]

reflections of shadows^^

[@KeithCooper]

Yes one of the secrets of photographing shiny objects ;-)

[@LOTUSARTSTUDIO-gx8yf]

Superb 👌, Thank you 😊

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@PatrickFelstead]

Thanks Keith. Would like to see some product photography tips and techniques. This box looks great by the way.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - it's the portability I like. I'll look at some more stuff in this area.
When I do the training, I often take along 'extra' kit just for people to see. Quite a lot of people don't buy much kit until after they've had a go with what they've got. It's part of my photo work I really enjoy.

[@notdisclosed7053]

I have had one of these for a couple of years now. Can thoroughly recommend.

[@KeithCooper]

It always impresses me just how solidly the box fits together with the Velcro!

[@taketwo7757]

Hey, I'm new to photography and I just bought my first DSLR camera. I've been interested in getting a light box to shoot small - large flowers. I'm all over DIY and I've noticed a lot of the do it yourself models use side lighting but most amzon and yours are top lit and you yourself here talked about shadows. The Camera guy I bought from said side lighting helps eliminate shadows. These boxes could be made with side lights. Whats up with that? Do you prefer side or top and would you use incandescent or led if you had the choice when using a box?.....

[@KeithCooper]

You've hit on one of the key elements of product shots. I only use the top lit light box for a few specific types of shots.
I normally use two side lights in softboxes in a larger setup
See some of the example shots at
www.northlight-images.co.uk/commercial-photography/training/product-photography-training/
Especially the one with the artist's brushes

[@crocato]

hi Mr Keith
I need some advice
I want to buy my first Tse lens
I have 11_24 L for architecture situations
and now I can't decide which one is best for me
24 samyang +45 old tilt shift lenses
or buy 50mm tse new

[@KeithCooper]

Depends entirely on what it is you want to do?
The 11-24 is a good lens but for architectural use suffers from not being a shift lens!
I had one but ended up using the TS-E17 vastly more often.
Both the Sy24 and TS-E45 are oldish lenses - the TS-E 50 is one of the sharpest I've reviewed, but at a price... ;-)

[@crocato]

@@KeithCooper thank you 🌹 🙏 🙏 so much

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I suggest buying lenses that are good enough. If you're an amateur, that should mean you don't always chase the latest and greatest.
Years ago now, I looked at the Samyang 24mm and the original Canon 24mm. I bought the Canon used for about the same price. I think the original TS-E lenses date back to '89, if they have been good enough for professionals until Canon announced the new 50mm, 90mm and 135mm lenses until a couple of years ago, probably they are good enough for most amateurs still. Those date back to the EOS 1n, it's mentioned in the manuals.
I think 24mm is a good starting point.
The TS-E 17 is a newer design, I bought one for those times when the 24mm doesn't handle the confined spaces. It's downside is the filters. You need a special lens adaptor and a whole new set of filters. Canon has am EF to RF adaptor that accommodates internal filters, but that's not cheap.
I bought all my TS-E lenses on eBay for much less than new prices.
Today, I use them adapted to a Lumix S1R camera where they behave better than on Canon DSLRs. The are my preferred lenses for all of my landscape photography.