Softbox for Photogenic 1250 PL's?

[dennykyser]

I have been using umbrellas for my main/fill lights but want to experiment with a softbox (never used one) I am usually only shooting one model at a time but want to be able to do both 3/4 and full shots with it. I understand there is not a perfect softbox size for both but am hoping there is a size that will do ok with both.

What type of Softbox will work with Photogenic 1250 PL's ? What size and other factors should I look for?

Thanks for any sugestions.

[Ken Fong]

I'm no expert, but have you tried those photogenic umbrellas with removable black covers (you flip them around and shoot through them to get a softbox effect.) A 45" umbrella would cover 1-2 people.

[chris.bailey]

I have a pair of Bowens softboxes, one 30" x 30" and the other 36" x 24" but I also have a 54" shoot through white umbrella. I tend to use the latter as a main light (nice round catchlights though you can see the spokes) and the softboxes for fill and rim lighting.

Softboxes tend to give softer light again than brollies, the Bowens Wafers I have give very soft and very even lighting.

My main reason for the softboxes is space, out of choice I would use two big shoot-throughs but only really have space for one of them and even then its a bit dangerous.

Another consideration is that the softboxes are more movable. Unless you have lots of space a 54" brolly is a bit hard to shift around too much and quite hard to get high.

As big brollies are quite cheap, I would try one (I got a lastolite shoot through for £30 ($45) whereas decent big softboxes are in the hundreds.