Advice for first softbox

Carlo · 25 Sep 2014

I'm looking to buy a softbox and would like some advice.
I took a few portraits of my daughter the other night using what lighting kit i have (2 speedlights, umbrella, stand, wireless triggers and a circular diffuser) and was quite surprised how well they turned out!.
I dont want to spend huge amounts as i don't do much portrait stuff, but would like to do much more in the future, the problem is finding people to model!
So...i figured i'll need a softbox, stand and speedlight bracket.
I've seen some chinese makes on ebay that include the softbox (80cm) and bracket for around £40, to brand new from Wex for £145 (Lastolite ezybox II 60cm, bracket and wexpro stand)
I have the money for the expensive option and don't mind paying that much if the quality difference justifies it.
Also am i missing anything else out i will need, and what size softbox would suit me best? (head + shoulders, poss full body)

sep9001 · 25 Sep 2014

Hi Carl,

I bought this one as I did not want to spend alot of money as I did not know if I would use it much:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flash-Sof..._Diffusers&hash=item23408767ea#ht_2824wt_1399

It is a good box and works well, it comes with the speedlight mount. If you can, try and look for an Umbrella style one, as it is a lot easier to put away as opposed to the one I have bought. Looking at your post you already have a stand so you can use that one.

Phil V · 26 Sep 2014

This is what I'd recommend, cheap, well made, easy to put up and gives you an accessory mount that will help you get other modifiers that'll still be useful once you move up to studio lights

Carlo · 26 Sep 2014

Thanks Kev, Phil

HoppyUK · 26 Sep 2014

Phil V said:
This is what I'd recommend, cheap, well made, easy to put up and gives you an accessory mount that will help you get other modifiers that'll still be useful once you move up to studio lights

That looks like a very good buy Phil

Phil V · 26 Sep 2014

HoppyUK said:
That looks like a very good buy Phil

Cheaper than I paid for it

Ben6 · 26 Sep 2014

Phil V said:
This is what I'd recommend, cheap, well made, easy to put up and gives you an accessory mount that will help you get other modifiers that'll still be useful once you move up to studio lights

Thanks for that too Phil, looked so tempting I've just bought one for myself.
I've been looking for something a bit better quality than the cheap neewer one I've got at home for a while and this looks like it'll be perfect for my needs.

Phil V · 26 Sep 2014

Ben6 said:
Thanks for that too Phil, looked so tempting I've just bought one for myself.
I've been looking for something a bit better quality than the cheap neewer one I've got at home for a while and this looks like it'll be perfect for my needs.

It's great for the flashgun. However it needs a speedring sorting to make it useful for a studio head. I'm still working on a suitable method.

Carlo · 26 Sep 2014

Ben6 said:
Thanks for that too Phil, looked so tempting I've just bought one for myself.
I've been looking for something a bit better quality than the cheap neewer one I've got at home for a while and this looks like it'll be perfect for my needs.

Went and bought one too, thanks for the tip again Phil

Ozei · 26 Sep 2014

Phil - does the clamp that grips the speedlight have any padding or is it just bare metal?

brucegill · 26 Sep 2014

not seen these before! Always sort of assumed (mother of all....) that soft boxes were only available for studio lights. Not a bad price either

Thanks again Phil

Ben6 · 26 Sep 2014

I hope your getting commission for selling all these soft boxes Phil

Jim Dunne · 26 Sep 2014

Ozei said:
Phil - does the clamp that grips the speedlight have any padding or is it just bare metal?

The clamp is plastic, the bottom part that the flash rests on has a non-slip rubber pad. These are very good, I have a couple.

Ozei · 26 Sep 2014

Jim Dunne said:
The clamp is plastic, the bottom part that the flash rests on has a non-slip rubber pad. These are very good, I have a couple.

Ah ok, thanks Jim.

They look pretty well made. Good price too - I might have to buy a couple.

mike weeks · 26 Sep 2014

Phil V said:
This is what I'd recommend, cheap, well made, easy to put up and gives you an accessory mount that will help you get other modifiers that'll still be useful once you move up to studio lights

If you look on ebay you will see that they come in a variety of sizes from about 40cm to 80cm

Mike

Phil V · 26 Sep 2014

Ben6 said:
I hope your getting commission for selling all these soft boxes Phil

Wish I was!

JennyGW · 29 Sep 2014

Always buy a softbox that takes a grid and try to buy them together. A grid is your friend. (Avoid cheap 8cm grids and get 5cm, 8cm don't work nearly as well)

If you didn't get a grid, here is one that will work with a 60cm softbox.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honeycomb...579?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c833d6f93

I have one of these and it works fine.

gary996 · 29 Sep 2014

I have 2 of them clamps and find them very very good

minnnt · 30 Sep 2014

Thanks Phil, just ordered one

sep9001 · 30 Sep 2014

Hi Phil,

How easy are these to put away? Are they the ones where you hold the sides and try and fold ones?

Thank you

Carlo · 30 Sep 2014

Perhaps the forum should have a new section titled..."Ask Phil"
:0)

minnnt · 30 Sep 2014

Lols.

What's the deal with postage? Got an email saying it's been dispatched with an expected delivery date of the 9th-29th of October... is that just to cover their backs or is it coming from China etc?

Carlo · 30 Sep 2014

minnnt said:
Lols.

What's the deal with postage? Got an email saying it's been dispatched with an expected delivery date of the 9th-29th of October... is that just to cover their backs or is it coming from China etc?

Coming from China David.

minnnt · 30 Sep 2014

Booger. Hope it's not a slow boat.

Ben6 · 30 Sep 2014

Here was me thinking mine would be here today but I hadn't seen the delivery from China but. Hopefully won't be too long.

minnnt · 30 Sep 2014

Same as me Ben.

I never seem to look at bits like that. :LOL:

Nevermind, wil give me something to do later on in a MONTHS time.

Carlo · 30 Sep 2014

minnnt said:
Same as me Ben. I never seem to look at bits like that. Nevermind, wil give me something to do later on in a MONTHS time.

I always check on Amazon now, as there's loads of sellers on there from China/HK now!:meh: :indifferent:

minnnt · 30 Sep 2014

Yeah I should too, really. Worth the wait though by the sounds of it.

Phil V · 30 Sep 2014

'S probably why mine was more expensive, it came from the UK.

Yes, it is the fold away type (think Lastolite reflector).

sep9001 · 2 Oct 2014

Phil V said:
'S probably why mine was more expensive, it came from the UK.

Yes, it is the fold away type (think Lastolite reflector).

Thanks, I want an umbrella type one.

minnnt · 6 Oct 2014

Has anyone recieved theirs yet?

Ben6 · 6 Oct 2014

minnnt said:
Has anyone recieved theirs yet?

Mines estimated for delivery tomorrow.

Carlo · 14 Oct 2014

minnnt said:
Has anyone recieved theirs yet?

Still waiting...

Faldrax · 14 Oct 2014

For those that have one of the softboxes / clamps that Phil recommended, it appears the flash is held by the head, rather than the body.

Is that likely to be an issue in the longer term, as the tilt / swivel joint in the flash is now supporting the weight of the flash body + trigger, rather than the head (so more stress on the joint)?

Ben6 · 14 Oct 2014

Carlo said:
Still waiting...

Me too. Estimated delivery is between 2nd-27th for me.

Phil V · 14 Oct 2014

Faldrax said:
For those that have one of the softboxes / clamps that Phil recommended, it appears the flash is held by the head, rather than the body.

Is that likely to be an issue in the longer term, as the tilt / swivel joint in the flash is now supporting the weight of the flash body + trigger, rather than the head (so more stress on the joint)?

I wouldn't think so, depending on your flashgun though, you might find some positions more suitable than others.

I'd guess the strain on the joint would be no more than a Rogue Flashbender.

sk66 · 14 Oct 2014

I would have suggested something like this for use w/ speedlights. It's a 48" silver parabolic bounce, or parabolic box w/ diffusion & grid. It costs 2x what the 30" box costs, but it's at least 2x as useful as well.

DekHog · 15 Oct 2014

After my woes in this thead, I like Phil's idea, and having S-mount is very useful indeed. The thing I can't get my head around is, how can a hotshoe flash firing directly into the diffusion material of a softbox from the back give light anything like as soft as one firing from the front into the back of it, bouncing off all the reflective material then going through the diffuser(s)? Don't you really need bare-bulb flash to be firing from the back?

sk66 · 15 Oct 2014

DekHog said:
After my woes in this thead, I like Phil's idea, and having S-mount is very useful indeed. The thing I can't get my head around is, how can a hotshoe flash firing directly into the diffusion material of a softbox from the back give light anything like as soft as one firing from the front into the back of it, bouncing off all the reflective material then going through the diffuser(s)? Don't you really need bare-bulb flash to be firing from the back?

Just put the diffusion dome (stoffen) on it...

Phil V · 15 Oct 2014

DekHog said:
After my woes in this thead, I like Phil's idea, and having S-mount is very useful indeed. The thing I can't get my head around is, how can a hotshoe flash firing directly into the diffusion material of a softbox from the back give light anything like as soft as one firing from the front into the back of it, bouncing off all the reflective material then going through the diffuser(s)? Don't you really need bare-bulb flash to be firing from the back?

This helps

sk66 said:
Just put the diffusion dome (stoffen) on it...

which makes the speedlight behave a bit more like a bare bulb. And bare bulb flashes have been used in softboxes like that since forever. Make sure you get a softbox with an inner diffusion panel - it makes a difference.