Soft boxes - what to buy?

[srwatters]

After attending the workshop last weekend, it's painfully obvious to me that I need some additional light modifiers for my studio. High on the list right away is a rectangular softbox with a grid. My octobox is great for wrap-around even lighting, but I really liked the more directional lighting that the soft box with the grid put out. At the workshop RG was using Larson products. Man that stuff is pricey. A single 3x4 box with grill and speed ring runs about $850! Compare that to Photoflex at B&H for about $450.

Does anyone have direct experience with Photoflex? I've seen many behind the scenes shots where the Photoflex logo looms large. That and the Photoflex has both gold and silver inserts to change the temperature of the output.

http://www.larson-ent.com/products_list.php?cat_id=278
http://www.photoflex.com/photoflex/i...ultidome&1

Thanks!

[Chief]

try this site out they tell you how to build one.


http://www.vidpro.org/tricks.htm


Gordon

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by Chief

try this site out they tell you how to build one.


http://www.vidpro.org/tricks.htm


Gordon

"Sorry about that Chief" :lol: I always wanted to say that!

I'm not the DIY kind of guy, and I'd spend twice as much messing it up 10 times and then never getting it right. It's worth doing right, if it's worth doing it at all. (My fathers favorite saying)

[labguy]

don't know if you currently have umbrellas or not. if so, using them as a "shoot thru" instead of bounce will get you the directional light you're looking for and pretty much the same effect as the softbox for a lot less price. the disadvantage is that you will lose a little more light than the softbox since the softbox is enclosed and the bouncing light is directed to the front, whereas the umbrella will bounce the light back that is not going thru.
you can also get gold, silver and white umbrellas.

[Chief]

I really doubt if I have the patience to build one or ability to build one either.

Thanks for the reply.

This is Max signing Off

Gordon

[LoungeLizard]

Originally Posted by Chief

This is Max signing Off

Oh, sure, so now you want to be "Max Chief"!

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by labguy

don't know if you currently have umbrellas or not. if so, using them as a "shoot thru" instead of bounce will get you the directional light you're looking for and pretty much the same effect as the softbox for a lot less price. the disadvantage is that you will lose a little more light than the softbox since the softbox is enclosed and the bouncing light is directed to the front, whereas the umbrella will bounce the light back that is not going thru.
you can also get gold, silver and white umbrellas.

I have a couple of Wescott shoot through satin umbrellas with black covers in 42" and 60". I also have a 42" silver. The 60" is big enough for a full body shot, but the 42" guys fall short about mid thigh. I don't have to worry about power. I have two AB-800's and an AB-1600. With the octobox, I never get the 800 above 1/4 power. Even if I have to move up to the 1600, I think I'll have plenty of key power.

Now I'm wondering if the 3x4 box is going to be big enough. I have plenty of ceiling height, maybe I should consider the 4x6? Darn! Decisions, decisions.