Brolly box anyone used one

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paulminus273

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I Have seen a 43in brolly box at a good price I am thinking that it would be similar to an octibox , anyone has used one will you please tell me how well it preformed
Thank you
 
It's basically the same as a short through umbrella, but you don't lose all the extra light out the back. It's also a littke better outdoors. Doesn't blow away quite as easily.
They can usually be had pretty cheap. I got a pair for under $50usd
 
I have been using a pair of them for about 4 yrs now.
Gleaming bits of kit, set up in seconds, 'softbox like' light, and no spill out of the back.
round (ish) catchlights in the eyes, which I think looks nicer than squares!
 
paulminus273 said:
I Have seen a 43in brolly box at a good price I am thinking that it would be similar to an octibox , anyone has used one will you please tell me how well it preformed
Thank you
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Hey Paul. I've used one, you saw me using it a couple of months ago. ;)

I got mine from Flash in the Pan on here.
 
Te Amo said:
It's basically the same as a short through umbrella, but you don't lose all the extra light out the back. It's also a littke better outdoors. Doesn't blow away quite as easily.
They can usually be had pretty cheap. I got a pair for under $50usd
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They come in two types. The best ones are reflective and very much like a cheapo octa.
 
I got a 43" from the bay for 18 quid. Love it.
 
The23rdman said:
They come in two types. The best ones are reflective and very much like a cheapo octa.
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The diffusion panels are what I was referring to, as well as the falloff. It's much closer to a shoot through umbrella in these respects. Reflective insides and direct/bounce mounting have nothing to do with it.
 
Te Amo said:
The diffusion panels are what I was referring to, as well as the falloff. It's much closer to a shoot through umbrella in these respects. Reflective insides and direct/bounce mounting have nothing to do with it.
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You're wrong, I'm afraid. The reflective umbrella has a completely flat diffusion panel on the front and acts just like a softbox or octy.
 
hmm, mine is basically a shoot through brolly with a black panel on the back to seal it up.
Never had a problem in 4 yrs, Got mine from a german ebay company called foto-walser, they also post to UK, if you ring them the owner speaks very good English
 
Yeah, that's an actual brolly box.
The other thing is similar, but not as good. The flash placement doesn't allow you to get very close to your subject. Basically its a bounce umbrella that eats an extra stop of light with a diffusion panel you don't need. Then it has to traverse your flash head before hitting your subject, potentially causing darker spots if you're too close.

But to each their own.
 
Thank you everyone for your help.
Yes John now I remember it looked like the way to go and it will come in handy for some location shoots too. With the my big hammer and things I bet I can get 2 guns in there.
 
AliB said:
anyone care to recommend some? :)
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Kaouthia said:
Hey Paul. I've used one, you saw me using it a couple of months ago. ;)

I got mine from Flash in the Pan on here.
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:agree:

Graham (FiTP) is the person to get one from... I think we got ours about the same time didn't we John?

I'll post an example shot if anyone wants to see the effect.
Si
 
I think so...

Both of these were shot using it as the key, and two side lights behind the subject

24" softboxes in the wings on this one - you can see by the sun spots on the ground and trees that with an SB-900 in it, it still has plenty of power there, and you can get it close enough to utilise it. Brolly box was above left of the subject - this is one I got that day you and I were shooting Paul.
4603631116_37c843f02a.jpg


43" bounce brollies on this one (didn't have a pair of softboxes at the time, wish I did, it would've controlled the spill better). Brolly box was on axis above the camera as you can see in the image below, with a silver reflector below to bounce a bit of fill back up.
4560270328_4f8d2d44d3.jpg


Lighting setup for the above.
4498295558_07426415a9.jpg
 
Thanks guys. I want one for the rare occasion I have room to shoot boudoir with one :)
 
Te Amo said:
Yeah, that's an actual brolly box.
The other thing is similar, but not as good. The flash placement doesn't allow you to get very close to your subject. Basically its a bounce umbrella that eats an extra stop of light with a diffusion panel you don't need. Then it has to traverse your flash head before hitting your subject, potentially causing darker spots if you're too close.

But to each their own.
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Again you're talking nonsense. I've tested it against a bounce brolly and the light is much softer and much more directional. Yes, it eats light and you have to make a small mod by chopping off 6" of the shaft to get in close, but for less than 20 quid it works really well.
 
i think you have much to learn about the difference between "nonsense" and fact.

"The flash placement doesn't allow you to get very close to your subject" - FACT

"Basically its a bounce umbrella that eats an extra stop of light with a diffusion panel you don't need" - FACT

"Then it has to traverse your flash head before hitting your subject, potentially causing darker spots if you're too close" - FACT

sure you CAN modify it to do all kinds of things. you could cut holes in it, for more light. you can paint it for color or GOBO effects, you can even add velcro strips to act as a grid.
you CAN do all kinds of things to it. but that doesnt change any of the current FACTS.

you CAN drive a car with your feet if you want. doesnt make it a good idea. ;)
 
This is all getting David Brent!

Oh, and I need the diffusion panel on mine!
 
AliB said:
anyone care to recommend some? :)
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I use a 40in Lastolite Umbrellabox and I like it a lot. Cheap and very easy, plus they do a 7mm shaft for Elinchrom http://www.lastolite.com/umbrellabox.php

This thing about the flash head casting a shadow and you can't use them close. Well, that's theory rather than practise.

It's not very pleasant if you stick the thing right in a model's face, but in terms of the light that is presented it makes very little odds. At normal distances, anything over two feet (which is very close) the difference between an umbrellabox and a pukka softbox is zero. There is no shadow. Nil.

I've compared it, measured it, taken pictures with it and my Elinchrom softbox, no difference. The only thing is the catchlights in the eyes where you can see the flash head. Catchlights are important and I don't like that, but you can post process them out in two ticks.

Edit: Differences between umbrellas -
Shoot-throughs give nice light but the shape means it's projected over almost 180 degrees, and half of it goes straight out of the back. Tons of uncontolled spill and wasted light :gag:
White brollies are very good IMHO, but you do get a hot-spot/darker edges. Silver is similar, but more so and the light is distinctly harder, stronger shadows give more 'character'. I like silver as it's distinctly different to an umbrellabox/softbox.
Umbrellabox - like a regular white jobbie, but the diffusion panel spreads the light much more evenly across the front of the brolly. Soft, even, good control, nice :thumbs:
 
John I remember that shot well a great day with good peaple to be with and that shot of megaan says it all.





"you CAN drive a car with your feet if you want. doesnt make it a good idea."
If you have no hand it makes a very good idea
 
Okay, I apologise for saying you're speaking nonsense. I should have said some of what you say is nonsense. Maybe the dummy spit will be less pronounced. ;)

Te Amo said:
i think you have much to learn about the difference between "nonsense" and fact.

"The flash placement doesn't allow you to get very close to your subject" - FACT

Yes, this is quite true, but if you use the mod I mentioned - cutting the extraneous 6" from the shaft - you can get quite close.

"Basically its a bounce umbrella that eats an extra stop of light with a diffusion panel you don't need" - FACT

You need to understand the difference between FACT and OPINION. I've use bounce brollies and the umbrella box and the diffusion panel DOES make a difference. It provides an EVEN light across the panel and allows much more control of fall-off.

"Then it has to traverse your flash head before hitting your subject, potentially causing darker spots if you're too close" - FACT

Yes, this is true, but it's a £20 softbox so there will be trade-offs.

sure you CAN modify it to do all kinds of things. you could cut holes in it, for more light. you can paint it for color or GOBO effects, you can even add velcro strips to act as a grid.
you CAN do all kinds of things to it. but that doesnt change any of the current FACTS.

you CAN drive a car with your feet if you want. doesnt make it a good idea.
;)
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