Getting new lights - poll

[Mum2J&M]

Please tell me which set up you'd get as a first lighting set up and why. Also please explain if neither would be good and why. I am planning to make a purchase from AlienBees tomorrow, but obviously want to feel confident I'm making the right choice. Thank you.

[PacAce]

A brolly box is a poor man's softbox. So, if price is not an issue, then the softbox would be the better option assuming portability is not a consideration.

Not to make your decision making even harder but I just found out about this modifier from another thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=387729) in this forum that might be worth considering, too.

http://www.adorama.com/PTSL60.html

More infor about it here:

http://www.photekusa.com/Softlighter.html

If I had known about this product before I bought the brolly box, I would have gotten this instead of the brolly and not have upgraded to a softbox later.

[Mum2J&M]

Wow. Nice light and looks very transportable. Any other comments? Pros and cons compared to a softbox or octabox? Thanks.

[Mum2J&M]

Ok, if anyone is listening... one more question. Should the size of your main light be the same as the size of your fill light, or should the fill light be a bit smaller? I plan to use a soft box or the new item mentioned above with an umbrella for fill. Should this be in reverse? Also, should they be the same size, or should my main light be larger? Thanks so much!

[fotodan]

Not familiar with AB's, but my white lightening main and fill are the same (ultra zap 1600) and can be adjusted with a slider for power. I would think the AB's would be the same being they are made by same company. My other 3 strobes are WL's only different sizes with the smallest being used for hair and backdrop lighting. I use softboxes in studio on main and fill and barndoors on remaining 3 strobes. Location I use umbrellas and brolley, depending on what I am shooting. Hope this helps.

[Mum2J&M]

Thanks for that info. Interesting that you choose a brolly for location jobs. That's what my son's photographer used for his school pics. They came out very good IMHO. I think more of what I was asking, though, was what size the actual umbrellas/softboxes are - do they need to be the same size for main and fill? I plan to have a B800 for main and fill and a B400 for background. Thanks again! I appreciate all the info. guys. ;)

[fotodan]

For studio, my softboxes are 24 X 36 on both main and fill. They are suspended on a rail system for easy placement. On location when using umbrellas, I use 36" white or gold. For commerical I use some older 48" with removeable cloth which is white on one side, and silver on the other. Works very well in a plant shooting huge equipment.

[Mum2J&M]

Great. Thank you so much for that!

[fotodan]

I would also suggest to get barndoors for the background strobe. You can control the light for both backdrop and hair. Then in time you could get some gels, and add a little color to your images.

[Mum2J&M]

What about a honeycomb grid? Would that be better than barndoors?

[fotodan]

The grid depending on what degree you get still will NOT give you the control you will achieve with barndoors. You will really love using the barndoors. ;)

[Mum2J&M]

Oh, that is interesting.