The Godox CS-85T Slim Lantern Softbox turns a single light into a soft, wrapping source that fills a room. It spreads light across 270 degrees from an 85cm lantern, which suits live streaming, video, and portraits, especially where space is tight. A slim expanded depth of 54.9cm keeps it easy to place and easy to travel with.
It fits the widely used Bowens S mount, sets up and packs down quickly, and accepts an optional skirt to control the spread. Cape Town photographer Chantel Micallef of Studio C put it to work in her studio. Here is what it does well, how it compares to the CS85D lantern, and who it suits.
Godox CS-85T Slim Lantern Softbox. A collapsible 85cm lantern with a 270 degree spread, a slim 54.9cm depth, and a Bowens S mount. Pair it with the CS-85T-S skirt when you want more control.
Shop the CS-85TTL;DR
A big, soft source that packs down small. The Godox CS-85T spreads light across 270 degrees from an 85cm lantern, ideal for streaming, video, and portraits in tight rooms. Its slim 54.9cm depth makes it easy to place, and the Bowens S mount fits a wide range of lights. Add the CS-85T-S skirt for a more directional beam. Prefer a full spherical globe? The CS85D is the round alternative.
Watch: The CS-85T at Studio C
Video: Studio C Photography on Instagram.
Chantel set up the CS-85T in her Woodstock studio and used it to create video content. Here is her take:
"The setup of the lantern is super straightforward, so I can get shooting without wasting any time."Chantel Micallef, Studio C Photography
The Problem: Hard, Uneven Light in Small Rooms
Small studios and home setups are tricky to light. A bare bulb or a small modifier throws hard light that falls off fast, so one side of the frame is bright while the other drops into shadow. In a tight room, you cannot always move the light far enough back to even that out.
Relying on window light rarely helps either. It shifts through the day and rarely sits where you want it, which for video means inconsistent skin tones from one clip to the next. What you want is a large, soft source that wraps light around the subject and stays even across the frame, without needing a big room.
Why light falls off with distance, per Inverse-square law, Wikipedia.
How the CS-85T Solves It
A lantern is a softbox that lights in almost every direction at once. The CS-85T spreads light across 270 degrees from an 85cm shape, so it fills a small room with soft, even light and gives a gentle wrap that flatters faces. That makes it a natural key or ambient light for portraits, video, and streaming.
Practicality is the point. It collapses for storage, opens quickly, and its slim 54.9cm depth tucks into spaces a deeper modifier cannot. The Bowens S mount fits a wide range of strobes and COB lights, so it works with gear you may already own.
Conrad's Advice: these use a Bowens accessory mount, so they are widely compatible with a range of strobes and COB lights. Still not sure yours fits? Give us a call and we will double-check compatibility.
When you want less spill, the CS-85T-S skirt wraps the sides to tighten the beam into a more directional shape. That one accessory turns a broad ambient source into a more controlled key light without changing modifiers.
Conrad's Advice: we love the nuclear bomb effect of the lantern, but if you want to control the spread, add a skirt to stop light spilling all over the show.
How a softbox diffuses light, per Softbox, Wikipedia.
Slim Lantern vs Round Lantern: CS-85T vs CS85D
Godox makes two 85cm lanterns that we stock. They share more than you might expect: both spread light across 270 degrees, both use a Bowens mount, and both have a matching skirt sold separately. The real difference is the shape.
| Feature | CS-85T Slim Lantern | CS85D Folding Lantern |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Slim, rounded lantern | Full spherical globe |
| Diameter | 85cm | 85cm |
| Depth | 54.9cm | Not specified (deeper, spherical) |
| Beam spread | 270 degrees | 270 degrees |
| Setup | Collapsible, quick to open and close | Folding, pops open in seconds |
| Mount | Bowens S | Bowens |
| Skirt | CS-85T-S, sold separately | SS-85, sold separately |
| Best for | Tight spaces, streaming, video, travel | A fuller globe of ambient light |
From our product listings and Godox. "Not specified" means the figure is not published for that model.
In short: choose the CS-85T when space and portability matter, thanks to its slim 54.9cm depth. Choose the CS85D if you prefer a full spherical globe of light and have the room for it.
Studio C in the Studio
About the Reviewer
Chantel Micallef is the owner of Studio C, a female-owned boudoir and lingerie photography studio in Woodstock, Cape Town. A qualified photographer, she has worked on cruise ships and in Manchester, UK, and has run her own creative space in Cape Town since 2021. Her focus is helping clients feel comfortable, confident, and see their own beauty. Studio C is also available for studio hire.
Visit Studio C PhotographyIs the CS-85T Right for You?
If you shoot video, stream, or take portraits in a smaller space, the CS-85T is an easy win: a large, soft, wrapping source that sets up fast and travels well, with the skirt adding control when you need it. If your priority is the fullest, roundest globe of ambient light and space is not a concern, the CS85D may suit you better.
Godox CS-85T Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Item type | Lantern softbox, rounded slim shape |
| Beam spread | 270 degrees |
| Mount | Bowens S |
| Interior colour | White |
| Quick open | Collapsible |
| Removable front face | No |
| Material | Fabric |
| Diameter | 85cm |
| Expanded depth | 54.9cm |
| Skirt | Optional CS-85T-S, sold separately |
| In the box | 1 x CS-85T slim lantern softbox |
As specified by the manufacturer, Godox.
Complete Your Kit
The skirt, a Bowens light to fit inside, and a stand to hang it from.
Control the spill
Godox CS-85T-S Skirt
The matching skirt for the CS-85T, to cut spill and direct the light.
View
Bowens COB light
amaran Halo 100x
A compact 100W bi-colour COB with a Bowens mount, a good match for the lantern.
View
Hang it overhead
Neewer 300cm C-Stand
A stainless steel C-stand with a 120cm arm for placing the lantern overhead.
ViewRelated Guides
About Godox
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, Godox is an integrated company combining R&D, manufacturing, and sales. It provides one-stop imaging lighting solutions with a comprehensive product ecosystem for photography, videography, cinematic production, broadcasting, and other sectors within the imaging industry.
Its portfolio covers professional flashes, studio and portable lighting, LED lighting, audio equipment, cameras, photo printers, wireless control systems, and lighting accessories, supporting a wide range of creative and production needs worldwide.
Guided by its core values of innovation, integrity, rigor, pragmatism, and inclusiveness, Godox is committed to providing outstanding imaging, cinematic lighting, and audio solutions. The company continuously pursues technological breakthroughs with the goal of becoming a leading force in the industry.
CameraStuff has been an authorised Godox distributor in South Africa since 2018, backed by an official Letter of Authorization from Godox Global.
See All GodoxGodox CS-85T FAQs
What is the CS-85T best for?
Live streaming, video content, and portraits, especially in small studios and tight rooms. The 270 degree spread fills a space with soft, even light, and the slim 54.9cm depth makes it easy to place.
How is the CS-85T different from the CS85D?
Both are 85cm Bowens-mount lanterns with a 270 degree spread and a matching skirt sold separately. The CS-85T has a slimmer, flatter shape with a 54.9cm depth, while the CS85D is a full spherical globe.
Will it fit my light?
The CS-85T uses a Bowens S mount, which fits a wide range of strobes and COB lights. If you are unsure about your light, contact CameraStuff and we will check compatibility before you buy.
Do I need the skirt?
Not to get started. Without it, the lantern gives a broad, all-round wrap of light. Add the CS-85T-S skirt when you want to cut spill and shape a more directional beam.
Where can I buy the Godox CS-85T in South Africa?
CameraStuff stocks the CS-85T and its skirt online and in our Randburg showroom, with free delivery on orders over R1000 and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Conrad Knuist
Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist
Conrad Knuist is Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist at CameraStuff, South Africa's specialist camera and lighting retailer. With over 18 years of hands-on experience across portrait, event, and commercial photography, Conrad helps South African creators get soft, flattering light in any space.
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!