Whats the best verstile softbox

GR3Z

GR3Z

Suspended / Banned
Messages
706
Name
Graeme
Edit My Images
Yes
I've recently purchased the smartflash starter kit with reflective brollies, but I want to be more creative with my shots and feel I need to use a softboxes to achieve this, with the brollies the light is going everywhere as all my walls in the lounge are white and the ceilings are relatively low. I'm shooting againts a artic white Bg (2.7m wide) and like the idea of turning it grey by feathering the light using softboxes, What the best softboxes to go for that is versatile and have the ability to use grids and other modifiers and would that is easy to collapse as they can't stay up?

I would like the ability to do full length portraits as well as close up's

Seen these in the other thread and wondered what the quality is like as there a fair bit cheaper that others I've been looking at
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=371590

All advice and experience welcome

Edit:

can you get pop up Flags to stop light spilling from the bg flashes, or are barn door modifiers the way to go?
 
Last edited:
Well, if you need something that's quick and easy then you need to go for a folding softbox.
There's no such thing as a perfect all-rounder, but I feel that the 70 x 100cm probably comes closer than most for a home studio, it's small enough to to be a problem in most homes, can be used both horizontally and vertically, can take a honeycomb and can be used for full length too.

You can use literally and black surface as a flag. My favourite tool for this is cinefoil
 
Garry Edwards said:
Well, if you need something that's quick and easy then you need to go for a folding softbox.
There's no such thing as a perfect all-rounder, but I feel that the 70 x 100cm probably comes closer than most for a home studio, it's small enough to to be a problem in most homes, can be used both horizontally and vertically, can take a honeycomb and can be used for full length too.

You can use literally and black surface as a flag. My favourite tool for this is cinefoil
Click to expand...

From what the OP has said, that sounds pretty close to perfect to me. Was using it myself yesterday. Get it with the grid, bargain £20 extra :thumbs:
 
Yeah...my thread at the start...

Speedbox 120cm x 80cm with grid...... £50 reviews well...and owners seem to like...the fact it can pop up quickly is selling me on it...plus the grid id included...!!!

Quite a few owners here...all good comments...
http://www.net-model.com/Forums/PFPost.asp?TID=1855517&p=1

Im also going to pick up an Octagonal Speedbox 120cm with grid and sell on my 150cm that requires assembly...dont think Ill have it on time to help with user comments though...

Hope this helps...it certainly made my mind up...

PS...I also have their beauty dish... £55 comes a with a grid and diffuser...SUPERB...
http://www.bessel.co.uk/acatalog/Beauty_Dishes.html

STEVIER
 
I'm finding difficult to decide on weather to go for the large Octobox or the rectangle large softbox. What are the pros and cons of each, and what situations would you use either of them, I'm swaying towards the Octobox as im thinking it will have nicer catch lights?
 
Last edited:
Personal preference, all things being equal.

Do you like the octagonal catchlights or the rectangular or square ones?

If you go for either the 120cm or 150cm folding octaboxes you will also get a perfectly round removable mask that will produce perfectly round catchlights.

If you go for a rectangular softbox then you'll get catchlights that mimic the shape of a window. And if you have a roll of electrician's tape you can put temporary glazing bars on the front, making it even more realistic.

All of the current Lencarta softboxes have a deeply recessed front diffuser, this not only allows a honeycomb grid to be fitted, it also helps to prevent lens flare and also allows the softbox to be feathered - and the square and rectangular softboxes can be feathered to create a graduated light on the background too.

And of course, all softboxes can be masked to a different shape using cinefoil or any other masking material.
 
Is it as easy to feather with a rectangle softbox as it is with the octobox or are the they as good as each other, I thought it would be easier with rectangle softbox for full length portraits as it can be turned vertical, what would your choice be? And what do you use most, I'm finding it hard to decide.
 
GR3Z said:
Is it as easy to feather with a rectangle softbox as it is with the octobox or are the they as good as each other, I thought it would be easier with rectangle softbox for full length portraits as it can be turned vertical, what would your choice be? And what do you use most, I'm finding it hard to decide.
Click to expand...
You can feather the subject with either, but if you want to feather the background then it pretty well has to be a square or rectangular softbox - otherwise you'll get a pretty weird lighting shape on the background:) - except of course that sometimes, that might be exactly what you want...

My choice?
Well, I've said it before. I spend about 4 times as much on lighting than I do on cameras and lenses, because (for me at any rate) it's money well spent - money spent on lighting has a much greater effect on my images than money spent on things like lenses. So, I have a lot of different light shapers.
 
Garry Edwards said:
My choice?
Well, I've said it before. I spend about 4 times as much on lighting than I do on cameras and lenses, because (for me at any rate) it's money well spent - money spent on lighting has a much greater effect on my images than money spent on things like lenses. So, I have a lot of different light shapers.
Click to expand...

I appreciate what your saying and I understand where your coming from, but as I'm starting out and have limited funds and space, it's key that I make the right choice, I already have a 60x60 folding softbox that can been used with a hot shoe flash, but unfortunately it cant be used with the smart flashes as it won't fit? So I'm racking my brain on which type to go for still?
 
I understand, and don't expect you (or anyone else) to buy a vast range of different tools.
If you're just going get the one, then I stick with my original suggestion, the 100 x 70
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top