Basically a 16" x 22" softbox that will allow me to mount a 580 EX to.
Could someone with more experience using softboxes explain the differences I would see vs. using a 42" shoot through white umbrella as far as the quality and coverage of light.
Of the top of my head, I would think the umbrella would give a larger area of soft light but the softbox would be much more efficient because all of the light really only has one direction it can go.
I was thinking for 1/2 body to headshots this would be quite a nice option because if it is indeed more efficient I would be using a bit less power from the flash, allowing me to shoot a bit more quickly.
I'm not so sure I want to purchase another item when the umbrellas are so cheap and worked so well for me.
For example, Lastolite's EzyBox -- used with the optional handle -- is quite mobile.
The EzyBox was recently used by Moose Peterson, the reasonably well-known Nikon shooter, to shoot a quick indoor holiday portrait (see the second photo; Moose compresses his images significantly so the resulting *.jpeg quality is very poor, in my opinion).
And a photographer for ESPN Magazine -- Mark J. Rebilas -- recently used a softbox -- Photoflex? -- tied to a monoblock light here [in the alternate, the box is shown in the eleventh photo from the top here.
edit: the Photoflex product -- seen via your link above -- looks well-priced.
Actaually Phillip uses the 12x16 ... but he is continuing to consider the 16x22.
Where the softbox really shines as compared to an umbrella, is control .... less spill especially with the 16x22 has a recessed front diffusion panel and will also accept masks, louvres and grids ... although these items are expensive from the manufacturer, due to the smaller size, fashioning your own is quite easy.
Best thing about the Photoflex 16x22 is it works equally well with studio mono lights, just need the proper speed ring for your lights. For use with a speedlight, the kit has everything you need.
Now that I know I can use it with mono lights, I'm going to get it! If I prefer the umbrella, I'll always have a smaller softbox for future studio use.
Another reason I was considering it is that when using the umbrella for an outdoor senior portrait session, even the slightest breeze grabs the umbrella. This seems a lot let less likely to pick up small breezes.
Usually, my daughter assists me so it's not that big of a deal, but not always.
I have that identical softbox and use it quite a bit. I got bored one evening and decided to shoot some tests with it compared to my large umbrella. Here are the results.
softbox 15' away
umbrella 15' away in reflective mode (not shoot thru)
Test seems to show the difference pretty well, the umbrella will wrap the light around much more, softbox is more directional. If you use a shoot thru brolly then you also have to consider the light hitting the ceiling and providing bounced fill. I actually use it like that on purpose for a very soft main light using softboxes for the more directional kicker lights.
The samples are nice ... but I can't recall the last time I worked with a light source 15' from my subject, especially for an individual. Where you will see the biggest difference between the use of a softbox or an umbrella is when you have the source as close to the subject as possible and keep the modifier out of frame. That is when you see the difference between them and when the "wrap" of the softbox will be more pronounce.
Here is a link to a test shot I did when I first purchased the kit referenced by the OP the softbox is just a fraction of an inch out of frame camera left.... Oh Adorama often has the kit on sale with free shipping.
butchM wrote:
The samples are nice ... but I can't recall the last time I worked with a light source 15' from my subject, especially for an individual.
Agreed. Especially with a small softbox, at that kind of distance you might as well just be stacking diffusion gels over a bare head, since spill control is no longer an issue.
I've got the little Photoflex LightDome XS around here somewhere...it is a great little tool for portraiture on the run, whether with hotshoe flash or real strobes. But it's definitely meant to be gotten up-close and personal with. I think it works especially well when used outdoors with daylight knocked down a stop under camera exposure - you get a nice richness from it with really appealing shadow depth. Just put it 2-3' away from your subject and let 'er rip.
That was pretty much my "go-to" technique this fall with seniors outdoors. Put the umbrella as close as I could and drop the ambient 1-2 stops.
It will be interesting to see what the Photoflex does differently using this technique. However, I think I'm going to purchase the small rather than the XS.
butchM wrote:
The samples are nice ... but I can't recall the last time I worked with a light source 15' from my subject, especially for an individual. Where you will see the biggest difference between the use of a softbox or an umbrella is when you have the source as close to the subject as possible and keep the modifier out of frame. That is when you see the difference between them and when the "wrap" of the softbox will be more pronounce.
good point and I should have posted the close in shots that I also shot.
These were shot with the light source about 3' from the handsome gentleman.
Shoot thru umbrella
umbrella reversed
Softbox
As you can see, the biggest difference between 15' away and 3' away is in the shadow side of the face.
