Whats the difference?

[mindchatter]

Is there a big difference between a softbox and a shoot through umbrella?

[PacAce]

Take a look at this thread and the embedded links in some of the posts in that thread.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=612603

[D_CeLiRaToR]

softbox=softer light....shoot through umbrella=harder light...bouce umbrella=even harder light

[MD Steelerfan]

The biggest difference is is that a softbox is more directional than an umbrella and you can control the light spill better. I don't actually find the light to be much softer from a softbox than a shoot through umbrella.

[mindchatter]

So would a smaller softbox act like a snoot and stop spill from hitting a background?

[MD Steelerfan]

Yes. You could use a smaller softbox to just light a face, for example. You can add grids to really contain it.