Need suggestions on soft box size and brand

First off I am very, very new to studio lights, so please keep that in mind. I have been scouring the forum and i-net to get some ideas, see below.

I just bought the elinchrom d-lite 4 kit which comes with the portalite 26x26 soft boxes (x2). I will probably just keep these for now. Well I purchased a 3rd d-lite 4 head so I need either an umbrella or a soft box.

I am going to shoot primarily portraits of my young kids, my one that is on the way when he/she is born, nephews and then when I get much, much better maybe do this for money. I would imagine for the most part (besides my wife's maternity photos) I will be doing either small children or 3/4 portrait. I would like to be able to do full length if possible.

So the questions are:

Since I have two small soft boxes all ready, do I go with an umbrella or get another soft box?

If I go with a soft box, what brands can I use? Is it only the elinchrom line?

What size should I get, and I would like to stay as least expensive as possible. I really don't want to spend more than 275 at least at this point?

A little off topic, but I was thinking about getting a grid for lighting backgrounds, what do you recommend?

skater911 wrote in post #14018485
So the questions are:

If I go with a soft box, what brands can I use? Is it only the elinchrom line?

You certainly don't need to stick with Elinchrom modifiers. Most manufacturers have Speedring adapters (look in the accessory section) to suit the different fittings used.
Maybe look at Lastolite or Calumet for an idea of what's out there.
(A small warning on umbrellas.....The shaft on some units is too large in diameter to fit Elinchrom heads)

Bob

the portalite softboxes that come with the kit are pretty small and not very good for anything other then hairlights or product photography.

For someone new to studio photography, i always suggest a 36" or so shoot-through umbrella, making sure it will fit your elinchroms (7mm)

I never unpacked my portalites, i only took out the speedrings to make myself 2 extra wide reflectors out of salad bowls i had lying around ^ ^

Lots of third party softboxes that can come with an elinchrom speedring, Visico is a popular one on ebay.

The actual elinchrom modifiers are very highly regarded albeit on the expensive side.

Csae wrote in post #14018951
the portalite softboxes that come with the kit are pretty small and not very good for anything other then hairlights or product photography.

For someone new to studio photography, i always suggest a 36" or so shoot-through umbrella, making sure it will fit your elinchroms (7mm)

I never unpacked my portalites, i only took out the speedrings to make myself 2 extra wide reflectors out of salad bowls i had lying around ^ ^

Lots of third party softboxes that can come with an elinchrom speedring, Visico is a popular one on ebay.

The actual elinchrom modifiers are very highly regarded albeit on the expensive side.

Just curious, why would you recommend the shoot through umbrellas? Easier to use?

I checked out the visico brand on eBay, what about this one?

http://item.mobileweb.​ebay.com …av=SEARCH&nid=0​7484141354

Thanks

I have become addicted to the ease of opening and closing soft boxes that use an umbrella like mechanism.

PCBuff has some that will work with Elinchrom lights via an adapter available from Adorama or B&H.

There is also a nice collection available from Fotodiox. They are made in China but easy to assemble and have the added benefit of a deflection disk to block the flash tube from sending light directly out, creating a hot spot in the middle of the box.

Third option are the PLMs available from PCBuff. These parabolic umbrellas are great modifiers and they are available with an Elinchrom mount. Versatile, inexpensive, and produce nicely shaped light.

$275 photoflex 5" octa. Personally I don't like ebay modifiers.

bobbyz wrote in post #14021055
$275 photoflex 5" octa. Personally I don't like ebay modifiers.

I'll check that one out. So if I used something like this for my main, the other two would be out for fill and background right?

depends on what and how you shoot. You may not need any other light. Can also use reflector for fill. Cheaper option would be 60" photek softliter.

skater911 wrote in post #14019856
Just curious, why would you recommend the shoot through umbrellas? Easier to use?

I checked out the visico brand on eBay, what about this one?

http://item.mobileweb.​ebay.com …av=SEARCH&nid=0​7484141354

Thanks

They are easier to learn then reflected and you can bring them closer, personally i also prefer the light as its softer. I don't recommend softboxes off the start as they offer but also require more control to get pleasing light, learning to get a proper exposure, and very importantly, to pose the model should take priority before learning to really control and fine tune the light.

I would NOT recommend the 200cm visico, you have no idea how huge that thing is. I've been trying to sell mine for a while as it takes up wayy too much space.

If you do want an octa, i would suggest something around 100cm or 40inches.

Remember that size is relative!!! A 24" square softbox at 48" away will be as soft as a 48" square softbox which is 96" away.

Of course, it is also true that the falloff of light intensity due to distance will be more gradual than the falloff of light intensity from a closely positioned light.

If you have a restricted shooting space, a smaller softbox will often be just as good as using a larger softbox which takes up much more space in all three directions.

I personally found light tends to "equalize" past a certain distance, not sure how to describe but past 12' there won't be any difference between 26" or 46".

I want my lights with attached modifiers as close to my subject as I can get them, considering the image frame and personal space intrusion.
Then I use modifier size as a way to control the gradual transition from highlight to shadow.

Yesterday I had a big PLM about 4 feet from the subject, lots of wrap. Even without a front diffusion panel and the moonlight was set to about 10 Ws for an F8 exposure at ISO 200.