Softbox vs. Octabox vs. Shoot through umbrella

[thebeginning]

What are some of the traits of each of these light modifiers? I was planning on getting a large softbox after I purchase my alien bees, but now I cant decide which would be better for my intended purpose. I'll be using them for studio and possibly outdoor lighting for portraits. I'm leaning towards the Octabox So I can get round catchlights and a softer light than a shoot through umbrella (how true is that?). Does anyone prefer rectangular catchlights? Thanks for any tips or insight.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Don't forget bouncing off of an umbrella also.

[Abel]

great question Daniel...

im in the same boat and often wondered that as well.... im even leaning towards the octobox as well

[srwatters]

I'll chime in here since I have some of all the equipment mentioned.

Octobox - Creates nice soft wrap around light. When I first started, I used my 48" LightGear USA octobox for all my portraits. What I don't like about it is exactly that, the light wraps almost too much unless you back it away from the subject by 5-10 feet. By doing that you lose some of the softness. I like to use mine for fill now.

Rectangular softbox - Gives you very similar soft light but less wrap due to the straight edges of the modifier. Allows you to use the edge of the box more effectively to create shadows on the fill side. Can use grids, masks, and louvers to change the directionality and shape of the beam. A must have modifier in my opinion. I also have strip boxes which are much taller than they are wide. My favorite is the 16x48" model. Works great as a BG, hair, or kicker light.

Umbrella - Both shoot through and bounce are simple, fast, and provide a good, controllable light source. Watch out for scatter and spill. Depending on the size of the scene you need to light, can be very effecient. I have 45" and 60" models and use them to light backgrounds and for fill.

7" standard, 11" cone, & 22" pan reflectors. I'm starting to favor some of these modifiers on my Bees as key sources. With that said I'm not just using them out of the box. I have 10-40 degree grids, barn doors, diffusion socks and bounce them into reflectors to get the source I want. These are more advanced techniques and require time to get them right, but the control you have is far better than some other modifiers.

After all that, I would suggest both the umbrella and the rectangular softbox as "must have" modifiers. For every situation there are many ways to light the scene. The more precise you need to be, the larger the quantity of modifiers and light that you have to have in your arsenal.

[jchooper12]

Hey, I am going to order the Photoflex MultiDome Q39 Softbox to go wityh my Alien Bees but am not sure which speed ring to buy for it. What ring do you use?

[srwatters]

For standard rectangular (non-strip) boxes, I would buy the ring from Alien Bee. If you need to buy one from the same vendor as the box, I suggest using the Balcar compatible ring unless they specifically call for one for Alien Bee. I ordered a Patterson speed ring from B&H that was supposed to fit White Lightning lights (Paul Buff's other company) and it DID NOT work. I had to return it and bought a Balcar version.

Again the AB speedring works best for octoboxes and regular rectangular softboxes.

[jchooper12]

Photoflex MultiDome Q39 Softbox, all I need is the AB Ring and I should be fine. It says it does not come with a ring so I want to make sure I get it right the first time.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by jchooper12

Photoflex MultiDome Q39 Softbox, all I need is the AB Ring and I should be fine. It says it does not come with a ring so I want to make sure I get it right the first time.

I own one of those in Large size (36x48). It's been my favorite up to now. The grid is insanely expensive (~$200), but it really gives some awesome directional soft light.



This was shot with my multi-dome and the grid.

[JohnRushing]

The multidome has the gold and silver lining right? Does anyone know of a way to modify a silver lined softbox to a gold one? Not that I'm advanced enough to know what to do with it if I could change it but one day I hope to know what I'm doing. Also is louvers and egg crates worth the money for softboxes?

[jchooper12]

Ok, for the last time, if I buy the Photoflex MultiDome Q39 Softbox it does not come with a speed ring.

Question:
What speed ring do I need to buy in order to connect the Photoflex MultiDome Q39 Softbox the an Alien Bee 800 Flash unit?


Scott, what ring do you use with the Photoflex MultiDome Q39 Softbox? Can you post a link to B&H or Alien Bee where I can just add the ring I need to my order? hahaha, this is driving me crazy tring to figure it out, aghhhhhhh :O)

[srwatters]

http://www.alienbees.com/softboxes.html You need the LGSR (Light Gear Speed Ring).

OR

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Should also work, but I have not personally tried one. The reason the Photoflex is nicer is because it supports octobox, rectangular softbox, AND strip box while the LGSR model does NOT support strip boxes.

[arich]

Originally Posted by thebeginning

What are some of the traits of each of these light modifiers? I was planning on getting a large softbox after I purchase my alien bees, but now I cant decide which would be better for my intended purpose. I'll be using them for studio and possibly outdoor lighting for portraits. I'm leaning towards the Octabox So I can get round catchlights and a softer light than a shoot through umbrella (how true is that?). Does anyone prefer rectangular catchlights? Thanks for any tips or insight.

What are you using for light Daniel? I just looked at your website and I love it, did you have it designed for you or did you make it yourself? Great photos too. Also, I actually know like 3 or 4 of the kids in your "Seniors" portfolio! Random but cool

[David Whatley]

Andrew and Ana, if you will notice, this thread is iver 5 years old. Just pointing that out

[arich]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

Andrew and Ana, if you will notice, this thread is iver 5 years old. Just pointing that out

hahahaha wow it just showed up in my "New Posts" and I jumped on it thanks for the heads up David

[zebulus]

None of the above, Beauty dish is my modifier of choice