Softbox recomendations

[ruffdog64]

I`ve just got a lencarta 200 smart flash and am looking at getting a softbox ,my budget is £80.00 I`m new to studio flash etc and wondered what the different models do

 

[Phil V]

Softbox considerations:

• Size matters.
• Double baffle softens light better
• You may regret buying the traditional pole type - get an easy up one, whether a popup (lastolite type) or an umbrella type (whether octobox or 4 sided)
• If you're getting one with a grid, make sure it's effective - the cheaper grids are rubbish.

Just about covers it.

 

[the_local_jacko]

On the tutorial area of the Lencarta website there is an excellent page that shows an example of typical lighting results for each of their different modifiers. Sorry i dont have the link to hand but in sure someone will post it if you can't find it. In order for people to assist you then you are probably best giving some indication on what you are trying to achieve. Lighting modifiers are tools to sculpt light and each tend to do a specific job. Some give soft light, some harsh, some large, some concentrated, some directional, some dispersed. Things such as; will you be doing product shots, people, head shots, 2/3, full length, children, 1 person, groups? are all factors that help influence the tools you may use.

One of my requirements when i started out was i needed a large source of soft light to capture a roaming 2 year old that wont stay in one place so I went for the 120cm Octobox that Bessel do for about £90 and its great. Generally a large Octobox will give you many options but could also be pretty useless depending on what you plan to shoot.

 

[ruffdog64]

The I'm looking for something versatile if that's possible as I'm only taking photos of my family ,I've not looked at the lencarta video yet but will

 

[TG.]

On the tutorial area of the Lencarta website there is an excellent page that shows an example of typical lighting results for each of their different modifiers. Sorry i dont have the link to hand but in sure someone will post it if you can't find it.

Probably this one HERE

 

[Sir SR]

Hi.


I recently got a lencarta UP300, and take pics of family etc. I've got two modifiers - 120 cm octa and a beauty dish.

I love the octa but the beauty dish does get food usage too. If I had to pick one I'd get the octa. I've got a few examples on my Flickr.

The other useful thing I got was some silver/white reflectors and eventually a triflector. All very useful

S

 

[the_local_jacko]

The I'm looking for something versatile if that's possible as I'm only taking photos of my family ,I've not looked at the lencarta video yet but will

I would suggest either an umbrella or a large Octobox/Sodtbox is going to cover most bases then. It would allow you to keep things simple and once you've grasped that you can add another light and modifier. In the price range you've got I'd highly recommend the Bessel 120cm Octobox. Its very hard to beat for the price. You will need it in the S-fit option for your strobe and its £80 plus postage.

http://www.bessel.co.uk/info/120cm Octobox Speedbox with Grid.html

To illustrate I shot these images with a single Lencarta SmartFlash 200 on the subject, fitted with the Bessel 120 Octobox so it gives an idea what the combo will give you.


Riley Mr Tumble by the_local_jacko, on Flickr


Riley 2nd Birthday Studio by the_local_jacko, on Flickr

 

[HoppyUK]

Softbox considerations:

• Size matters.
• Double baffle softens light better
• You may regret buying the traditional pole type - get an easy up one, whether a popup (lastolite type) or an umbrella type (whether octobox or 4 sided)
• If you're getting one with a grid, make sure it's effective - the cheaper grids are rubbish.

Just about covers it.

^^^ Seconded

If you have to pack everything away after each session, the easy put-up/down jobbies are well worth getting. If they're out of budget (eg Lencarta ProFold - excellent) then get rectangular rather than an octa with twice the number of rods that will drive you slowly mad.

As mentioned, Bessel are good - easy push-up like an umbrella and really good value value. Grids are a bit windy though.

 

[Phil V]

^^^ Seconded

If you have to pack everything away after each session, the easy put-up/down jobbies are well worth getting. If they're out of budget (eg Lencarta ProFold - excellent) then get rectangular rather than an octa with twice the number of rods that will drive you slowly mad.

As mentioned, Bessel are good - easy push-up like an umbrella and really good value value. Grids are a bit windy though.

Richard
Honest question, is the grid on the Bessel Octa any use at all (I've never had a grid on a softbox) I have one on my wishlist but I'd really like a gridded softbox - seeing as this years buzzword is Chiascuro

 

[HoppyUK]

Richard
Honest question, is the grid on the Bessel Octa any use at all (I've never had a grid on a softbox) I have one on my wishlist but I'd really like a gridded softbox - seeing as this years buzzword is Chiascuro

Minimal The purpose of a grid is a) to control spill and direct the light strictly where it's wanted, and b) to prevent flare in situations where the light is facing, or rather partially facing the camera. For this, a good grid needs to be more tightly spaced and/or deeper. It's easy to see those Bessel grids fail on both counts, though the quality of the softboxes themselves is good enough.

FWIW, I've only started using gridded softboxes fairly recently - Lencarta ProFolders. But I have to say I love them for the extra control and particularly the easy flexibility they give in terms of positioning behind the subject I used to control flare etc with screens and all that faffing about but the grids are better and obviously far easier

 

[Phil V]

Minimal The purpose of a grid is a) to control spill and direct the light strictly where it's wanted, and b) to prevent flare in situations where the light is facing, or rather partially facing the camera. For this, a good grid needs to be more tightly spaced and/or deeper. It's easy to see those Bessel grids fail on both counts, though the quality of the softboxes themselves is good enough.

FWIW, I've only started using gridded softboxes fairly recently - Lencarta ProFolders. But I have to say I love them for the extra control and particularly the easy flexibility they give in terms of positioning behind the subject I used to control flare etc with screens and all that faffing about but the grids are better and obviously far easier

Thanks Richard. I'm not sure I have a use for a massive softbox so a smaller Lencarta one with a grid might be a better bet.

 

[HoppyUK]

Thanks Richard. I'm not sure I have a use for a massive softbox so a smaller Lencarta one with a grid might be a better bet.

My favourite portrait light is the Lencarta 85cm Profold, that now seems to be called 95cm. Depends how you measure it - it's 95 to the outside of the points. Good size, nicely deeper than most, and though it doesn't say so on the web page, mine came with a free 70cm circular mask that I was led to believe is standard equipment

The grid for that is good but a bit small, though better than too big. So I just ease off the Velcro around the points.

Another thing about the ProFold design, and others similar, that I'd be interested to hear Garry's comments on - the internal push-up umbrella mechanism cage. It's perfectly positioned right in front of the flash tube and it's an easy job to attach accessories there - something along the lines of Elinchrom's neat (and unique I think) central deflector idea.

You could easily attach a central deflector there to create a beauty dish with the front diffusers removed. Or add colouring gels, or ND gels to reduce brightness for shallow DoF effects. Quite a few useful possibilities.