Parabolic Softbox vs Octabox / Normal Softboxes (corporate and commercial)

[Off The Mark]

Is there any real reason to get a Parabolic / Deep Parabolic type softbox as opposed to a shallower (but larger front face) octabox / round softbox for corporate or interview work???

It seems to me the main benefit of the parabolic is that you can achieve a more specular / more contrasty light IF you want to. (I am thinking of the parabolics where the light is in the front of the softbox pointing toward the back, and can slide closer and further away from the back interior to "focus" the beam.)

Am I missing something???

 

[Andrew S10]

Take a look at this DVXUser thread.

 

[msstudio]

Some ideas and insights I'd like to share: the Paras, as made famous by Briese, used by Bron and others today, allow you to "focus" the light, as the interior is very reflective depending where your light head is. Deep inside the reflections appear closer together, or further out, the they become further spread out, therefor giving you a specular/glamorous wider wrap around. This stays the same if you have a diffusion in front, just softening things up. And note, the heads are mounted facing away from the opening.

A regular Octa/softbox has usually the head facing forward, toward the opening, therefor these are often used with diffusion, then there are various deflectors to get the front illumination even, with varying success. Then there's the solution to mount the head in reverse (Elinchrom), like inside the Paras, but fixed in distance, giving you a nice spread, much less of a hot spot and in the shallowness of the Octa, which can be used with and without diffusion, depending on look.

Then theres the quality of the light head, theres a clear difference between frosted and clear domes over the light source.

Depending where you are in light application, appreciation and sensitivity none of that might matter much, but when you start feathering these reverse mounted Octas you'll find a sweet spot, this can be also achieved with the Photek soft lighter umbrellas (or similar).

Looking at corporate headshots and the like, on location, do consider the diameter of the light source, Umbrellas are usually best and easiest, for strobe I love Elinchrom, in various sizes and depending on spread needs, the deeper the box, the narrower the light path. My goto is the Elinchrom Octa 74" if I can...

 

[Off The Mark]

Thank you for the input.

I am mostly interested in video use, but they will see limited use with my various bare bulb Godox / flashpoint strobes.

Right now I am probably going to stick with octa softboxes instead of deep para primarily because the actual space requirements are less (for a similar size light surface).

 

[Joe Lynch]

Off the Mark--You might try aiming a new light or light + new modifier at an otherwise dark light colored wall and see what pattern they provide and how hot the hot spot is. I was surprised at how wide the pattern was using just a 32" para instead of a square box on a new small Godox ML-60 video light that I got for Christmas.

Joe

 

[Off The Mark]

Off the Mark--You might try aiming a new light or light + new modifier at an otherwise dark light colored wall and see what pattern they provide and how hot the hot spot is. I was surprised at how wide the pattern was using just a 32" para instead of a square box on a new small Godox ML-60 video light that I got for Christmas.

Joe

Thanks for the note.

Are you firing the light INTO the para? (i.e., using it as a bounce instead of shoot through?) Also are you using diffusion material on the para?

My main interest is big, soft light.

I did just pick up a Glox XXL Octabox (not a Para) and it is 60 inches and massive. But the ribs are very fragile, and I don't think they are going to be replaceable.

I am returning a 50-nch neewer with beefier steel ribs that was fine but I need something for on-location corporate and that thing is a pain to assemble and disassemble. If I were just going to keep it set up in a studio than it would be great. But my wrists just can't deal with the assembly process. And struggling to put it together in front of a client is probably not a good look.

 

[Joe Lynch]

No, light facing subject, through some diffusion material, without a grid. I haven't tried it with an umbrella shooting light in to the umbrella away from subject.

I am afraid the ease of assembly goes up with price, near as I can tell. I think the light spread is greater with the round parabolic than it is with the square or rectangular. Also the intensity at the subject decreases as you spread the light wider and taller.

Joe

 

[Off The Mark]

No, light facing subject, through some diffusion material, without a grid. I haven't tried it with an umbrella shooting light in to the umbrella away from subject.

I am afraid the ease of assembly goes up with price, near as I can tell. I think the light spread is greater with the round parabolic than it is with the square or rectangular. Also the intensity at the subject decreases as you spread the light wider and taller.

Joe

Thank you.