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A hot-shoe Speedlite has far less output than a studio monolight, so the best beauty-dish-style modifiers keep the dish relatively small and offer grids or diffusion for control. These nine real modifiers mount to a Speedlite or work through a Speedlite-compatible bracket.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MagMod MagBox Pro 24 Octa Starter Kit | $250–$350 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | MagMod MagBox Pro 42 Octa | $300–$400 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Rogue FlashBender 2 XL Pro Lighting System | $50–$70 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Rogue FlashBender 2 Large Reflector | $35–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Godox AK-R1 Round Head Accessory Kit | $35–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Godox AK-R21 Projection Attachment | $70–$100 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Westcott Rapid Box Switch 26 Mini Octa | $150–$190 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Glow EZ Lock 25-inch Beauty Dish Softbox | $70–$100 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | SMDV Speedbox-60 | $120–$160 | Amazon |
The picks, in detail
MagMod MagBox Pro 24 Octa Starter Kit
Magnetic 24-inch softbox system that accepts a Speedlite with the MagGrip mount.
- 24-inch octa
- magnetic accessories
- Fast modifier changes
- More expensive than a fold-flat dish
MagMod MagBox Pro 42 Octa
Large magnetic octa for a Speedlite setup when working close to the subject.
- 42-inch octa
- MagGrip compatible
- Softer wrap than a small dish
- Speedlite output limits working distance
Rogue FlashBender 2 XL Pro Lighting System
Bendable reflective panel and diffuser system for on-camera Speedlites.
- shapeable reflector
- diffusion panel
- Packs flat
- Not a true parabolic dish
Rogue FlashBender 2 Large Reflector
Large shapeable reflector that can be curved into a beauty-style bounce source.
- bendable panel
- strap mount
- Very portable
- Needs practice to shape consistently
Godox AK-R1 Round Head Accessory Kit
Accessory kit for Godox round-head Speedlites, including grid and diffusion pieces.
- magnetic grid
- color filters
- Compact portrait-light control
- Requires compatible Godox round head
Godox AK-R21 Projection Attachment
Small projection attachment for Godox round-head flashes with optical modifiers.
- projection lens
- gobo capability
- Creates controlled portrait accents
- Not a broad beauty dish
Westcott Rapid Box Switch 26 Mini Octa
Compact octagonal softbox that can be fitted with a Speedlite bracket.
- 26-inch octa
- quick-collapse frame
- Beauty-dish-like catchlights
- Bracket sold separately
Glow EZ Lock 25-inch Beauty Dish Softbox
Fold-flat 25-inch dish-style softbox usable with a Speedlite bracket.
- 25-inch dish shape
- EZ Lock frame
- More portable than a metal dish
- Needs a separate Speedlite adapter
SMDV Speedbox-60
Quick-open 24-inch softbox designed for compact flash use with a Speedlite bracket.
- quick-open frame
- 60 cm size
- Fast location setup
- Softbox rather than hard beauty dish
Buying tips
- Keep the modifier close to the face; a Speedlite cannot fill a large dish from far away.
- Use a grid when you want to keep spill off the background.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.