Orangemonkie Foldio3 review – a portable studio for product photography

Review

Orangemonkie offers three portable studios for product, macro and still-life photography. A cube shape of around 25cm makes the Foldio1 the smallest of the three, while the Foldio3 is the largest at 64cm along its longest dimension.

The Foldio3 is made from lightweight polycarbonate and its design allows it to be folded flat for storage and also set up in under a minute. It’s quick to deploy because it relies on strong magnets in the side walls to hold it together.

Orangemonkie supplies two perfectly sized matt black and white backdrops with Velcro attachments in the package. Conveniently, three rows of LED lights are attached to the underside of the top of the Foldio3, and they come with a dimmer control. However, because of the height of the studio unit, you are also likely to need some extra lighting. 

This can come from Orangemonkie’s optional Halo Bars, which are sold in pairs for $32/ £29 and connect to the dimmer kit. The triangular Halo Bars can either stand on their ends or lie on their sides, or they can be held by magnets on the studio walls. The latter is the neater option but it means they are located in the middle of the studio and that’s often too far back. One solution is to invest in a pack of penny-sized magnets to hold them further forward on the walls.

Specifications

Product Weight: 3 lb 7 oz (1.6 kg)

Material: Plastic

Dimensions: Folded: 23.8 x 15.5 x 2.5 in (60.3 x 39.4 x 6.4 cm), Unfolded: 24 x 23 x 25.8 in (61 x 58.4 x 65.4 cm)

Backdrop: White and black

LED:  Triple LED strips (96 x 0.5W), CRI: 95+, Color temperature: 5600K, Total luminous flux (lm): < 4800

Power Supply: Input: 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz 1.5A, Output: 19V⎓3.4A

Set options

Foldio3 - Studio Only

• Foldio3 Studio
• Studio Backdrops (Black and White)
• Dimming Controller
• AC Cord and Adapter

Foldio3 - Extra Lighting Set

• Foldio3 Studio
• Studio Backdrops (Black and White)
• Halo Bar x 2 EA
• Dimming Controller
• AC Cord and Adapter

Foldio3 - 360 Studio Set

• Foldio3 Studio
• Studio Backdrops (Black and White)
• Halo Bar x 2 EA
• Foldio360 Smart Turntable
• Dimming Controller
• AC Cord and Adapter

 Foldio3 - Extended 360 Studio Set

• Foldio3 Studio
• Studio Backdrops (Black and White)
• Halo Bar x 2 EA
• Foldio360 Smart Turntable
• Extension Plate
• Extension Backdrop x 1 EA
• Extension Reflector
• Dimming Controller
• AC Cord and Adapter

See our guide to the best light tents for photography, and our pick of the best cameras for product photography