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DoPchoice

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dopchoice rabbit ears dopchoice snapbag dopchoice snapgrid

German manufacturer of lighting modifiers for film and photography, renowned for collapsible SNAPBAG softboxes and SNAPGRID honeycombs.

Overview

DoPchoice is a Munich-based manufacturer of light shaping tools for film, television, and photography production. The company was founded by cinematographer Stefan Karle; the brand name is derived from the abbreviation "DoP". The product range consists of collapsible softboxes, grids, diffusers, and bounces that can be mounted directly onto common LED panel lights and spotlights. The two best-known product lines are SNAPBAG (softbox) and SNAPGRID (honeycomb grid for spill light control).

SNAPBAG and SNAPGRID

The SNAPBAG is a collapsible softbox that is placed directly in front of the light without separate mounting hardware. It can be set up tool-free and folded flat for transport and storage. The SNAPBAG produces soft light with a controlled beam angle, thus reducing spill light.

The SNAPGRID is a textile honeycomb grid that is attached via hook-and-loop fastener to the front opening of a SNAPBAG or to a diffusion frame. It bundles the soft light and limits the amount of spill light. The honeycomb structure maintains its shape even on large softboxes without sagging.

Beam Angle

SNAPGRIDs are offered in several fixed opening angles that determine the light's beam spread: the smaller the angle, the tighter and more controlled the light cone.

AngleCharacteristic
20°very narrow, strong beam
30°narrow, high control
40°medium spread (frequently for interviews/portraits)
50°wide, soft fall-off
30°/50°combo variant

On-Set Use

DoPchoice light shapers are custom-made for specific manufacturers and fit lights from ARRI (e.g., SkyPanel series S30/S60/S120), Aputure, Astera, Kelvin, ETC, and Profoto, among others. On set, SNAPBAGs and SNAPGRIDs replace the previously common, bulky fabric grids and softbox constructions: they are quick to set up and take down, and pack small. The typical workflow is to first soften the light with the SNAPBAG and then, if necessary, attach a SNAPGRID to avoid spill onto the background or set.

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Aus DoP-Perspektive ist dieses Element essentiell für die visuelle Gestaltung. Es ermöglicht mir die gewünschte Farbstimmung und das ästhetische Bild konsistent umzusetzen.

Producer

Diese professionelle Lösung erhöht die Produktionseffizienz und reduziert Post-Production-Anforderungen. Sie ermöglicht flexible, schnelle Anpassungen während des Drehs.

Gaffer

Als Gaffer ist dies ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug meines täglichen Handwerkszeugs. Es ermöglicht mir professionelle Lichtkontrolle und schnelle Anpassungen auf Set, was Zeit spart und Qualität sichert.

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