Product Review: Foldio by Orange Monkie

Since I began making my Steampunk Buddies three years ago taking pictures of them has always been a challenge. I would take pictures outside when I could, but honestly that is not always an option. Taking pictures inside was always a challenge too because of the lighting. The best spot was at the stove and I would set up to white sheets of paper or some black foam core for the background. Such a pain.

Back in November I came across a Kickstarter project by Orange Monkie. They wanted to create a foldable light box that was easy to store and transport and could be used with a smart phone. When I saw their project I had already been looking for a light box option but the reviews on the lights were always crap. 

Here is the video for the project. I decided to take a chance and go in on it. They were successfully funded on Jan 2, 2014. Their goal was $10,000 and they raised over $170,000! 

It took a long time to get the Foldio because first it had to be made and they had some slight kinks during that process. I JUST got it this month (April 2014). 

And you know what? I don't even care how long it took to get mine. The thing is awesome. I upgraded for the two LED lights. They are slim and run on 9 volt batteries. There is no off switch for them you just unhook it from the battery. The LEDs stick to the Foldio. I am a little worried about replacement lights, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. Hopefully by the time I have that problem Orange Monkie will be selling these directly from their site with replacement lights if needed.

Here are some pictures of my set up and the resulting pictures. It came with a white,black,grey and bright green backdrop. For now I have only used the grey. It easily clips in the back. The backdrops are made from a foam like substance so they don't wrinkle like cloth does. I love that I can set it up anywhere. Here it is on the kitchen counter/bar. The box itself is made from a thick plastic and feels very durable. 

The first picture here is of the Foldio in it's bag. It is easy to store anywhere. The backdrops do not fit in the bag unless you want to crease them. The back drops measure 11 x 17 inches. 

I was taking pictures of a small painting I had just finished. I used both my iPhone and my small Cannon camera. The LEDs provided plenty of light. 

Here you can see the 4 x 6 block of my Robo Poe in the Foldio against the grey backdrop. The Foldio is held together by magnets. The batteries for each light are also held in place by the magnet. It's pretty awesome. My lights are placed on the upper lip of the Foldio. 

The final picture of the painting was taken with my point and shoot Cannon camera. The photo set of the yellow Foomi was taken with my iPhone. Both came out great and I am very happy with this. The total cost for me to go in on the Kickstarter was $45. I suggest you keep an eye out for when these things are sold directly to the public.