On flash mini softbox, advice please

  • Thread starter Thread starter stratocaster72
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stratocaster72

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Hi

Ok..... im normally using studio stuff, big softboxes and things, and for portable flash i prefer a softbox or brolly, but there are times when i dont have the time/space/opportunity to setup off camera flash and have to use my 580 exII on the camera.
I have an omni bounce, which is not bad, but bought a fairly big on flash softbox to try and get something a bit better from my flash.

Only question is how best to use it???

Ive messed around with it and cant really decide if they work best pointing directly at the subject or using it to bounce off a wall or even pointing up towards the ceiling.

Im thinking that by bouncing it im sort of losing the point of having it, after all its going to spread and soften off what im bouncing off anyway so not sure if there is a huge benefit.
Pointing it straight at the subject looks ok but loses a lot of light i think (compared to the bounced flash), and doesnt really look that much better than the omni bounce, or maybe im missing a trick somewhere.

Help please :)
 
It's the same principle as with your studio softboxes - it's really all about size, or at least the size of the softbox relative to the size of the subject. Used on camera, these really small softboxes don't really do a lot if you're more than about a metre away.

If you're just trying to create sufficient quantity of soft light, the best option is normally to bounce the flash off of the ceiling, if you can. There is little point in bouncing it with the softbox attached.

Using it as a direct light, the results are generally a lot better if you get it off camera, although I appreciate that this isn't always practicable.
 
Thanks

That's more or less what i thought, if im going to use i might as well point it at the subject... no point bouncing.
I know someone who swears by them as his "on camera" modifier of choice....

Sometimes i just cant get to hold the flash off camera for a number of reasons, so its possibly the best of a bad situation.

Generally i set up a brolly if i need flash outside, though mostly i do studio stuff so its not a problem, but i just wanted an option of using on camera flash with the best available modifier to help it out a little.

Should add the one i bought is a beast, about 30cm by 20cm lol.... though it holds up fairly well.
 
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