Help choosing softbox? (hair light)

photobug

I have two studio strobes (Flashpoint II 620s) I plan to shoot through two 40" white umbrellas for portrait key light and fill light. I've used a remote-triggered shoe-mount Canon 420ex in manual mode as a hair light (with an OmniBounce on it and cards awkwardly attached to control the spill), but I would like to create a better hair-light setup. (I also have a 580ex I could use). I'd like to be able to shoot a grouping of up to 3, maybe 4 people.

I was thinking about using a Photoflex Q39 X-Small LiteDome (12"x16") with the 420ex, but according to B&H that will only cover 1, maybe 2 subjects. Even with the larger "Small" LiteDome (16"x22"), they gave pretty much the same story. Nowhere do I see documentation of the angle-of-light-output coverage of these softboxes, so I can't prove or disprove their claim.

So my interpretation of B&H's comments is that I need to go to a larger softbox and/or strip softbox (e.g. Photoflex HalfDome2, 9"x35" or larger) to cover 3-4 people. And they say that the 420ex won't work with them, so I need to buy another studio strobe to power it. (and I wonder if a full monolight is going to get too heavy for my boom arm, but that's a separate issue.)

Here are my questions:

1. based on your experience, is this info from B&H accurate? (are the X-small or small LiteDomes too small for a portrait of more than one or two subjects? And is the 420ex or my 580ex too underpowered for a larger softbox than those?)
2. if B&H's advice is good, then would I be better off getting a long, narrow softbox for use as a hair light (e.g. HalfDome2 Small or Med), or to get a larger more "general-purpose" softbox such as a 24"x24" one or a 24"x36" one?

Thanks!

Shay Stephens

Two things, if this is indeed for a hair light, you don't really have to worry too much about it providing the main illumination and coverage. Hair lights are generally dimmer than main. But even if not dimmer...

Secondly, a softbox, while directional, still uses a diffusion panel that will throw light in a wide fan. If you have the light far enough away, it will likely cover what you need. I use a small softbox all the time and have never had a problem with it being able to handle a group. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up regardless of what you plan to do with it.

TristanP

I have a Q39 X-small that I use with my Sunpak 383s. It should be fine as a hairlight for your needs.

photobug

Shay & Tristan, thanks very much for sharing your experience on this! I was just struggling again today with the hair light -- this time trying to shoot through an umby, using black cloth to control the spill.

Based on your advice, I think I'll spring for a Small (instead of X-Small) Q39 16x22 softbox ... or maybe a 24x24 softbox and another strobe (but the latter route is definteily more $!)

= Dave