Brolly Boxes vs Soft Box

[Ross McT.]

Does anyone out there have experience with using Brolly boxes?

I imagine that a soft box will provide a softer light, but i'm being drawn into the set up and portability of a brolly box.

edited:
What are the cons of a brolly box?

What I'm really looking for is some comparison shots.

and yes Tim, I did read the sticky :lol:

[brivett]

There are good and bad brolly boxes.

The good ones operate in the same orientation as a standard silver reflective umbrella only with a diffusuion screen over the face. the poor ones operate as a shoot thru brolly and thus splay light everywhere.

The only advantage of brolly boxes is that they can be rigged in 5 seconds...

Baz

[Harry Settle]

I have the 48" Brolly box from Alien Bee. It operates just like an umbrella, easy to attach and take down, easier to direct light than an umbrella. The light effects is soft and creamy. I like it and it is in my traveling bag.

[moore]

Any example shots? I just ordered one from AB as well, the 48".... =]

[barronchung]

There are good and bad brolly boxes.

The good ones operate in the same orientation as a standard silver reflective umbrella only with a diffusuion screen over the face. the poor ones operate as a shoot thru brolly and thus splay light everywhere.

The only advantage of brolly boxes is that they can be rigged in 5 seconds...

Baz

I know this is an old thread, but I had a question about the two types of brollies mentioned here, specifically in relation to using them with Speedlites, and I didn't want people telling me to do a search because I'd find this thread. Anyways as I understand, the Strobist preference is to use a shoot-through umbrella, so wouldn't a shoot-through brolly be even better for efficiency?

Am I correct in assuming the reflective type of brolly gives a similar effect as the Softlighter with the diffusion screen attached? But then because of the umbrella shaft you can't place it up close to your subject and would need a larger brolly to get the same relative size light source, and thus need to output more power from your flash for full coverage of that larger umbrella at that further distance?

One more question-- does anyone add any sort of reflector or diffuser inside a brolly when using a Speedlite to spread the light out more evenly, since the light is more directional than using a strobe? Thank you!!

[Wilt]

APPARENT SIZE is what affects the 'softness' of light. I prefer softboxes over shoot thru brollies because brollies have ribs that are seen in the catchlights, but softboxes do not. As I can assemble a softbox in less than a minute, I do not find that to be a significant enough of a delay...but then I don't shoot exective portraits with only a few minutes allocated in the crazy executive day to get the job done!

[sfaust]

...but then I don't shoot exective portraits with only a few minutes allocated in the crazy executive day to get the job done!

I do, and its not that bad. Usually, there is plenty of time available to setup, tweak lighting, etc. I use my assistant as a stand-in to set the lighting. Then you spend half an hour waiting, they show up, you get 5 minutes, then they are gone.