Soft box or umbrella?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I’m new to flash photography. I’m working with a Canon 600 EXII-RT and the ST-E3-RT transmitter. That’s as far as my flash setup goes. I’m looking to shoot maternity photos and also newborn photos of my child after we get him home.

I’ve been reading on the strobist the 101 article and while it’s suggested on there to buy a flash stand, an umbrella holder/cold shoe and multi use umbrella.

I know softboxes are also an option.

my question is, what way do I go for the gear I currently have? I’ll be shooting both indoors and out. Simple is better for me but I don’t want to outgrow what I buy with technique.

help?

 

[AstroVagabond]

In my experience an umbrella will be a bit more versatile. Both can work.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

In my experience an umbrella will be a bit more versatile. Both can work.

Any suggestions on a setup under $200?

 

[RDKirk]

I’m new to flash photography. I’m working with a Canon 600 EXII-RT and the ST-E3-RT transmitter. That’s as far as my flash setup goes. I’m looking to shoot maternity photos and also newborn photos of my child after we get him home.

I’ve been reading on the strobist the 101 article and while it’s suggested on there to buy a flash stand, an umbrella holder/cold shoe and multi use umbrella.

I know softboxes are also an option.

my question is, what way do I go for the gear I currently have? I’ll be shooting both indoors and out. Simple is better for me but I don’t want to outgrow what I buy with technique.

help?

You probably want what was once quaintly called a "brolly box," that is, an opaque umbrella (usually silver) with a diffusion cover. So it can be used as an umbrella or as a soft box. You'll hear "octobox" frequently, but I believe that's actually a trademarked brand name for "umbrella with a diffusion cover."

They're made by a number of companies with slight design variations and across the range of prices. The big advantages over soft boxes are low relative price, compactness when folded, and easy deployment on the scene.

The disadvantage is somewhat less control of the light.

 

[Ellis Vener]

An umbrella will be easier to start with. Get one that has

-where the umbrella material is made ofwhite translucent material.

- a removable black cover. Using the cover will block any light that passes through the white material while taking it off allows that excess light to bounce off ceilings or walls and create fill light, or conversely let you shine the light through the white material and use it as a hemispheric “softbox”.

- a removable diffuser that fits across the open bowl of the umbrella. Combined with the removable black backing this turns the umbrella into an indirect softbox. By indirect I mean the light from your hotshoe mount flash (or other light) will be reflected off the interior of the umbrella before being diffused by the diffuser. It’s the principle that makes the Elinchrom indirect Octa softboxes very popular with with high-end portrait photographers.

- a two piece shaft. Nobody likes running into a narrow diameter shaft. It’s a safety hazard. Also when you use the multi-purpose umbrella I am describing as a softbox, you can place much closer to who or what you are photographing. Proximity to a large light source creates a very flattering, wrap around light effect which also, when used intelligently, creates a really nice fall off in brightness from the parts of the subject closest to the light to parts that are farther away.

The multi-purpose umbrellas I like best are the Photek Goodlighters like this one: https://www.photekusa.com/product/photek-goodlighter-umbrella-u-1054fg/

They come in three sizes but make sure you get one with the 8mm shaft and not the narrower 7mm shaft version (those are designed for Elinchrom lights.)

 

[AstroVagabond]

In my experience an umbrella will be a bit more versatile. Both can work.

Any suggestions on a setup under $200?

For a light stand I have a few of these that work well and are portable:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ls_ls201_8_6_premium_air_cushioned_light.html

I have a couple of these Wescott umbrellas:

https://www.amazon.com/Westcott-2016-45-Inch-Removable-Umbrella/dp/B00009UTZJ?th=1

Then I have a couple of these which holds the speedlites and umbrella:

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Brack...lder+with+bowens+mount+,electronics,91&sr=1-3

I think you may just need one of each or similar products.

I also have at least one of these which is a small softbox and comes with the bracket mentioned above:

Amazon.com : Neewer Photo Studio Multifunctional 24x24 inches/60x60 centimeters Softbox with S-type Speedlite Flash Bracket Mount and Carrying Case for Portrait or Product Photography : Electronics

Amazon.com : Neewer Photo Studio Multifunctional 24x24 inches/60x60 centimeters Softbox with S-type Speedlite Flash Bracket Mount and Carrying Case for Portrait or Product Photography : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Hope this helps!

 

[Richard Hopkins]

I’m new to flash photography. I’m working with a Canon 600 EXII-RT and the ST-E3-RT transmitter. That’s as far as my flash setup goes. I’m looking to shoot maternity photos and also newborn photos of my child after we get him home.

I’ve been reading on the strobist the 101 article and while it’s suggested on there to buy a flash stand, an umbrella holder/cold shoe and multi use umbrella.

I know softboxes are also an option.

my question is, what way do I go for the gear I currently have? I’ll be shooting both indoors and out. Simple is better for me but I don’t want to outgrow what I buy with technique.

help?

You probably want what was once quaintly called a "brolly box," that is, an opaque umbrella (usually silver) with a diffusion cover. So it can be used as an umbrella or as a soft box. You'll hear "octobox" frequently, but I believe that's actually a trademarked brand name for "umbrella with a diffusion cover."

They're made by a number of companies with slight design variations and across the range of prices. The big advantages over soft boxes are low relative price, compactness when folded, and easy deployment on the scene.
The disadvantage is somewhat less control of the light.

eg Walimex Umbrella Softbox (also sold under various other brand names). I have several and often use them in preference to my way more expensive softboxes. They're so quick and easy (especially handy on location), cheap as chips and produce great light that's effectively indistinguishable to a similar-size softbox.

The reverse-firing design spreads the light from a speedlight well, and I get about a third of a stop more light out of mine, compared a double-diffuser softbox. I use the original Godox S-type adapter for stand mounting as it positions the umbrella shaft close to the speedlight which is important, and of course it's also a very useful S-type mount for attaching any other modifiers.

If you're concerned about the umbrella shaft poking an eye out - and it's a theoretical possibility if you're working very close and unlucky/stoopid - then cut off the last couple of inches that aren't needed and put something protective over it, like a piece of expanded polystyrene with BluTack.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walimex-Pro-Umbrella-Softbox-Reflector/dp/B006MQXI0U/ref=sr_1_19?crid=Y88XA82DGU4L&keywords=umbrella%2Bsoftbox&qid=1642368389&s=electronics&sprefix=umbrella%2Bsoftbox%2Celectronics%2C61&sr=1-19&th=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godox-Bowens-S-Type-Bracket-Windows/dp/B00QUK0BDA/ref=asc_df_B00QUK0BDA/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310171959482&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6385035394071565154&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046212&hvtargid=pla-563086913928&psc=1

 

[Gato Amarillo]

Here's the one I use --

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1110969-REG/savage_usb43b_umbrella_softbox_bounce_43.html

From the B&H site

Nice light, quick and easy setup, and very affordable.

As someone said, with this or any umbrella it is good to add some protection to the end of the shaft -- maybe poke a hole in a tennis ball.

Gato

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[Klaus dk]

In my experience an umbrella will be a bit more versatile. Both can work.

Any suggestions on a setup under $200?

Anwenk bracket - there are several products of similar construction.

The biggest advantage of softboxes is that they can be gridded. A grid will prevent spill and make your light more concentrated.

Good luck and good light.

 

[Ellis Vener]

As for umbrella to stand bracket, my recommendation is the Godox S2 bracket. The one sold by Newer looks like older original S bracket.. The S2 is better in several aspects. The S2 is the best way I have tried to mount a small flash and modifier whether umbrella, softbox, or reflector, on a stand or other support

you don’t have to buy a new stand either. You can find deals on higher quality, sturdy stands on the online auction web sites. Brand names to look for are Lowel, Manfrotto, Matthews Studio Equipment, , Avenger, and maybe (but I’m not convinced of it) Kupo. Last November I purchased a very heavy duty 13 ft. Matthews Studio Equipment Double riser Combo stand for well less than half the new price (from an individual on my local craigslist site. I needed to clean it up a little bit, but it functions just like a new one https://www.msegrip.com/products/ho...3&_sid=1c76dd636&_ss=r&variant=14940446556226

Even a well used but not abused high quality lightstand is basically a lifetime purchase. Even if you stop using it for photography they are useful for tasks and chores.

 

[calson]

You can also bounce the light off a wall or the ceiling indoors to spread the light. It is when have the flash directly at a subject that a means to diffuse the light is helpful. Outdoors a reflector works well as it is going to be matched to the WB of the sunlight.

Be aware that even a 36" disc reflector can be difficult to manage if there is the slightest amount of wind and with a light stand the leverage of a disc or reflector is magnified and the stand is easily tipped over.

I like the reflectors from Manfrotto and others that have a handle area and this makes it much easier to hold in place while shooting with a camera and easier for an assistant to hold as well.

Decide as much as possible what you want for your ultimate kit and then buy it piece by piece. There are times when it is better to buy used studio level gear than new consumer or hobbyist gear.

Some of the best baby photos I have seen were taken in a bedroom with light coming in from a window and the photographer seeing how it wrapped around the round body of the baby. No flash at all and great results by learning to see the light. This is also where a reflector can help as you can see the effect in real time.

 

[Michael Fryd]

A white umbrella will have more "spill" than a softbox. It will leak more light, which can provide fill light for your images. As you only have one flash, this might be of benefit to you.