Lastolite HiLite Illuminated White Background

The Lastolite HiLite Illuminated White Background is an affordable and easy way to achieve hi key photographs. This system collapses to one-third of the original size and comes with a handy bag.

Setup & portability

The setup itself is easy once you get the hang of it, as it folds and unfolds in the same way as throw pop-up tents do. That just leaves you to insert the steel rims, and you have a self-supporting white illuminable background. It is compatible with flashguns and studio heads, and I even found that adding a bright photography portable LED inside the Lastolite HiLite filled it with white light. No more worrying about ‘spill’ or having to test to see if the background light is positioned correctly since the background will be evenly lit. And as the background itself is illuminated, the subject can stand virtually right in front of it without casting a shadow. Note: There is some heavy vignetting apparent on these pictures. That is due to the ZY Optics 50mm F/0.95 used.

Craftsmanship and Cleaning

Craftsmanship is excellent, with over 30 stitches per inch on the sides where the removable steel rims support the frame. The manufacturer claims the Lastolite HiLite is easy to clean, and I found it is easy to clean off smudges and dirt with just water and a magic sponge. These individual sponges you see advertised on tell-sell and are now available everywhere. I would not advise any other form of cleaning that involves solvents though, as this would probably make things worse. One disadvantage I found is that this background itself creases easily, especially when you frequently fold and unfold it for transport. It’s easy to clean this up in editing, but still something you might want to be aware of. And I do wonder what it will look like after a year of intensive use. You’d probably have just to buy a new lastolite hilite.