Soft Box to use with Speedlites off camera

picturegirl

Anyone have an idea where to get a nice softbox that I can use with my Speedlites off camera? I have flash stands that I mount my speedlites to, right underneath them is a spot to attach an umbrella, I am wondering if anyone knows of a softbox that mounts the same way as the umbrella so that I can point my flash into the box. The flash must be exposed so that my transmitters will work.

aktse

Have you checked out the Lastolite Hot Shoe EZYBOX Softbox Kit
It's not cheap, but people seem to like it and you can do interesting stuff with it.

The LongArm and MetalHead

dangin

for light-duty use, you may want to give the alzo alternative a try:

http://alzodigital.com/online_store/alzo_porta_flash_soft_box.htm

i emphasize the LIGHT-DUTY usage as my experience with their products go, they're thoughtful and do what they're supposed to do but they don't hold up to the rigors of heavy usage (i.e. pro wedding photographer).

Art Scott

I have been using for over 25+ years LUMIQUEST Homepage products.......I have what was the original softbox.....now designated now as just the SOFTBOX.....there are many choices and my reason for staying with them is the products are tough and last for years.....also my softbox folds completely flat for storage..............

All of the Lumiquest products I have used attach by way of a rubber-backed velcro strip about 1/2 - 3/4 inch wide....no extra brackets or weight......

If one goes the DIY route you are not guaranteed that the products your lick up at a hobby store are the best quality......

Ken Lapp

picturegirl wrote:

Anyone have an idea where to get a nice softbox that I can use with my Speedlites off camera? I have flash stands that I mount my speedlites to, right underneath them is a spot to attach an umbrella, I am wondering if anyone knows of a softbox that mounts the same way as the umbrella so that I can point my flash into the box. The flash must be exposed so that my transmitters will work.

Here is an example of the ring and bracket you need to attach a lightbox to a lightstand for use with a speedlight. This kit includes the softbox, stand, and brackets.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/419377-REG/Photoflex__LiteDome_XTC_Extra_Small.html

picturegirl

Wow, thanks to everyone who has already responded!! I was just lost trying to find what I needed online. Great ideas, this will definitly help me out a ton

ziggy53

I keep threatening to purchase a Photec SoftLighter. They have a version that allows you to remove the stem to allow very close use near the subject.

http://www.photekusa.com/Softlighter.html

mrcoons

I'm with Ziggy. I just got a Photek Softlighter II and it is great.

divamum

A DIY solution to play around with (make sure you read to the end, especially from post 23 onwards because I made some modifications to it)

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=114921

I use mine a lot. It's small, but does a good job for a specific kind of lighting!

jeffreaux2

Have you considered a white umbrella mounted in reverse for a shoot through capability.....?

Darren Troy C

Jk...or anyone that wants to add....does the shoot-through umbrella either beat or "is pretty much equal to"....a softbox type set-up? I too am in the market for any of the aformentioned products. The shoot-through with a stand-mounted flash is my starting place. Yall point me in the right direction and I'll do the running. Thanks!

...thanks to you Picturegirl as well for getting this started.....exactly the questions I was having!

ziggy53

Idlewild wrote:

Jk...or anyone that wants to add....does the shoot-through umbrella either beat or "is pretty much equal to"....a softbox type set-up? I too am in the market for any of the aformentioned products. The shoot-through with a stand-mounted flash is my starting place. Yall point me in the right direction and I'll do the running. Thanks!

...thanks to you Picturegirl as well for getting this started.....exactly the questions I was having!

A shoot-through umbrella has a couple of very different qualities that make it a different kind of light versus a softbox of similar size:

1) The umbrella has a curve which, at very close proximity to the subject, tends to light the closest parts more than the farthest parts of the subject.

2) The umbrella lacks rearward light control. This makes light spill a potential problem.

I do use a shoot-through umbrella more often for remote shoots just because it is much more portable and faster to set up.

I use a large softbox for a studio style set up when I have the luxury of time because the light is much more window-like and if you align the softbox to be parallel to the subject the light is more even.

picturegirl

Thanks for all the responses, this is awesome!! I love all the advice and tips from everyone!

Sorry to respond so late, my work blocked this site, so no more DGRIN from work :banned

I actually did a shoot for a friend on Tuesday evening with 1 flash (580ex) off camera with shoot through umbrella, I think it turned out good, but still leaning towards a soft box.


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Art Scott

VERY WELL DONE!!

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Have you considered a white umbrella mounted in reverse for a shoot through capability.....?

Idlewild wrote:

Jk...or anyone that wants to add....does the shoot-through umbrella either beat or "is pretty much equal to"....a softbox type set-up? I too am in the market for any of the aformentioned products. The shoot-through with a stand-mounted flash is my starting place. Yall point me in the right direction and I'll do the running. Thanks!

...thanks to you Picturegirl as well for getting this started.....exactly the questions I was having!

for shoot thru used as softbox i have went to Paul C Buff (of ALIEN BEE FAME:D) and puchased his brolly boxes.....used as a shoot thur but with reflective backing and a drawstring to keep light spillage to a minimum.....aside from my Lumiquest Softbox this is my mainlight source for strobes of any sort...............excepting when I pull out the GOLD umbrella................................

Tim Kamppinen

The biggest differences between a shoot through and softbox will be seen when shooting indoors where there's all sorts of spill out of the back of the shoot through. This light doesn't just disappear; it bounces all around off the walls and ceilings and finds its way back to your subject (can be good or bad) and your background (likewise). This can provide fill if that's what you want, but if you don't want fill, well, too bad. The bigger problem is when you want the background to go black or stay dark so you can light it seperately, such as with a gelled flash. If you get spill back there you end up with washed out ugly colors on your background instead of the rich, vibrant background light you probably want. In addition to controlling spill, a softbox is better for this because the light coming out of it is more directional than the umbrella with it's curved surface. This means you can more effectively feather it away from the background and still light your subject. If you need even more control, you can put a grid on a softbox, but not an umbrella.

As Art pointed out, there are "brolly boxes" which solve some of these problems. When shooting outdoors all the extra spill just dissipates because there's usually nothing to bounce it back towards the subject. In situations like these you often may not need the specialized qualities of the softbox and so you can save some time and energy by using an umbrella.

Darren Troy C

Picturegirl....what a beautiful little ray of sunshine you have there! This thread is one of the best I've ever read on here. Sounds like for a "best all-around" choice the softbox would be the way to go along with the attachments mentioned earlier to get it mounted directly in front.

photogreen

Art Scott wrote:

I have been using for over 25+ years LUMIQUEST Homepage products.......I have what was the original softbox.....now designated now as just the SOFTBOX.....there are many choices and my reason for staying with them is the products are tough and last for years.....also my softbox folds completely flat for storage..............

All of the Lumiquest products I have used attach by way of a rubber-backed velcro strip about 1/2 - 3/4 inch wide....no extra brackets or weight......

If one goes the DIY route you are not guaranteed that the products your lick up at a hobby store are the best quality......

I agree. If you need a portable solution the LumiQuest might be the way to go.
Their bigger softbox is LumiQuest Softbox III.
Because of the size it may block infrared receiver. To get around that simply rotate the flash head.

jeffreaux2

photogreen wrote:

I agree. If you need a portable solution the LumiQuest might be the way to go.
Their bigger softbox is LumiQuest Softbox III.
Because of the size it may block infrared receiver. To get around that simply rotate the flash head.

This appears to be too small in my opinion and is little more than an over sized diffuser. The shoot through umbrellas I use are 45 inch and 60 inch convertables. Outdoors I use them with the black convertable cover removed in a shoot through fashion. Indoors to prevent the spillage mentioned I put the black cover on and use them configured to bounce light onto my subject. The IR transmitters (I use an STE2) bounce well enough to use them indoors with the umbrella reversed...flash out of sight from the transmitter... indoors.

No...an umbrella is NOt a softbox, but they are plenty versitile.

All of these examples used a single Canon speedlight.

Outdoors...in a shoot through configuration-



Indoors....bounced out of the umbrella...

jhelms

I use the Lumiquest SBIII and it's a good portable solution, but you may be looking for something larger.

Lots of great info in this thread already though!