Comparison between umbrella and soft box

[Amorous]

I'm planning to purchase a basic lighting package and I read a lot of people recommended AB Beginner Package that includes an umbrella. From toddb's thread, I kind of like the soft box too.

Can expertes chime in the comparison between the two, advantages, disadvantages, etc?

TIA.

[tim]

As soon as I work out how to get my damned soft box together I can probably post impressions. I just have to sit down with the instructions and work it out.

[cyclone]

As soon as I work out how to get my damned soft box together I can probably post impressions. I just have to sit down with the instructions and work it out.

Ouch! Is it really that hard?

[tim]

Ouch! Is it really that hard?

It's not too bad, but i'm both very busy and lazy, so i'll get to it when I need to use it.

[Longwatcher]

I may not qualify as an expert, but I do have two years experience with both.
Advantages:
Softbox:
- More diffuse light so it looks softer (this is good)
-- Because more diffuse can place closer to subject and still get diffuse light.
- Less to almost no spill over (because a softbox completely encloses the strobe the light goes basically where you want it to and no where else. This is real important if you have lights close to in the scene as you can easily get lens flare or other undesired light if you have spill over.

[rectangular versus octagonal softboxes really only affect the look of the light in a reflection (such as in someone's eye) - either can work]

Umbrellas:
- usually cheaper
- Takes up less room, especially when setup in small room.
- Umbrellas tend to be lighter
- quicker to set up (like 1 minute versus about 12 minutes for softbox (with practice))
- Umbrellas reduce the light more (this can be an advantage sometimes)
- Umbrellas usually have multiple options for color choices (like two side umbrellas) which gives a bit more flexibility
- In an emergency, some umbrellas can keep the rain off.

Brolly Box:
- tend to be slightly more expensive the umbrellas, however does a slightly better job of diffusing the light, but does a very good job of preventing spill over.
- They also tend to take about twice as long as an umbrella to set up, which is still quicker then a softbox.
- A shoot-thru umbrella will give the same kind of light, however you still get spill-over.

So
- Softboxes give you that little bit extra better/softer light, in return for more cost in money , time, weight,and space.
- Brollyboxes are kind of in between
- And Umbrellas cost less and are more convienent. When travelinglight, umbrellas are the way to go.

and I personally have all sorts of types
Giant Softbox
Octobox
Brolly Box
Shoot thru umbrella with black/silver reflector
one 2-color (silver/white) umbrella
and one large white umbrella
And a couple of reflectors, one 5ft Soft Gold/Silver and one 5-in-1
They all serve their purpose.

Just my experience

[Amorous]

- In an emergency, some umbrellas can keep the rain off.


LOL.....

Thank you very much for a thorough input.

The Beginner Bee package (with the umbrella) is $359. Since they don't have a package with soft box, I added the individual items and I got a total of $443 for the soft box set up. Assuming the space is not a problem do you think it's worthwhile to purchase the soft box for extra $84?

[Sam]

LOL.....

Thank you very much for a thorough input.

The Beginner Bee package (with the umbrella) is $359. Since they don't have a package with soft box, I added the individual items and I got a total of $443 for the soft box set up. Assuming the space is not a problem do you think it's worthwhile to purchase the soft box for extra $84?

I rarely use my softbox in a one light set up. Mostly because I am setting up quick when I use one or two lights and the unbrellas are faster.

I think you'd be pretty happy with a shoot through umbrella. If $84 isn't that much for you then I'd say buy both. I find my umbrellas handy...

[redbutt]

I have both also. The quality of the light from the two is totally different. A softbox is a large, rectangluar/square, completely even light source. While an umbrella is a small/large (size of umbrella), reflected/shoot through, round, uneven light source. Both are diffused, but in different ways. It depends on what you are trying to do and what kind of light you are trying to create for your end result.

The only way to really figure out which one is for you is to try them and see what you get. BTW...you can get the same kind of close, diffuse, lighting that Longwatcher mentioned with a stock flash (just the flash and basic reflector) and a cheap diffusion pannel on a stand...much easier to set up than a softbox.

[toddb]

I'll add a couple more benefits to the softbox. I used it as a background. Catch lights in the eye are definitely a cool thing with them. Actually, after now having my first umbrella, I don't like it. I'm shooting through the umbrella but it's got a reflective coating in the inside as well. As the photographer, I'm being blinded, lol. So for the particular umbrella I have, I'd say my softbox is well worth the extra money and time spent setting up, IMHO. Seems like I can control the light much better.

[mjordan]

While an umbrella can be smaller than a softbox in the closed position, it can actually take up more room if you have the larger ones. I have a 60" umbrella that takes up a lot of vertical space when open. So with low ceilings I can't put it up all that high.

Besides the 60" umbrella, I have 45" and 30" umbrellas. both shoot through and bounce out of types. I also have a 24x32" softbox and a 24" Octogon Ez-Up softbox. Although I use the softboxes the most (they provide more control over the direction of the light and focus most of the flash output in the direction they are pointing), I do like the umbrellas at times. The umbrellas will spread light out more, which is good when you have a larger subject area or group of people to cover. You can feather the umbrellas to get the much softer side light and you can control how much of your flash output hits the subject by shooting through or refecting out of them. I have also controlled light from an umbrella by closing it down partially so it's not reflecting all the light as it normally would. I've also moved it closer and further away from my flash tube by sliding the rod in and out of the holder.

All of my umbrellas are Photoflex. I use the SP line of softboxes because they are as good as some of the major brands but a lot cheaper.

Mike

[Amorous]

BTW...you can get the same kind of close, diffuse, lighting that Longwatcher mentioned with a stock flash (just the flash and basic reflector) and a cheap diffusion pannel on a stand...much easier to set up than a softbox.
Can you explain more detail how to do this? I have a 580EX.

Thank you.

[tim]

Diffusion panel info: http://www.lightingmagic.com/equipumb.htm