Softboxes quality

Hi again,

I posted a thread here before asked about which softbox i should get and i think i asked about which fold-able softbox i can find to use with my lights.

A good lately news, i bought a softbox from Lastolite locally that is fold-able, and i bought a grid to use with it, i didn't use this softbox yet but first impression is i am happy i found a fold-able softbox locally finally.

My question here is: Will different softboxes give different quality to the light if let's say same size? Are the material and and design of different softboxes give different effect on the light used with? the material i mean the diffuse fabrics front external and internal ones.

Later when i will buy a speed ring for this softbox to use with my lights then i will test it and see if i like it or not, i have Lastolite 2 softboxes [60x60cms/24x24"] for speedlight and i like them.

As long as they have the same degree of diffusion softboxes of a similar size should be reasonably close in terms of light quality. You might find minor differences but probably nothing to worry about if you later decide to mix and match.

gonzogolf wrote in post #14991765
As long as they have the same degree of diffusion softboxes of a similar size should be reasonably close in terms of light quality. You might find minor differences but probably nothing to worry about if you later decide to mix and match.

Good to know that, i will give that a try later and see, but really how can i be sure to check the light quality differences?

Tareq wrote in post #14991789
Good to know that, i will give that a try later and see, but really how can i be sure to check the light quality differences?

Swap them out while shooting the same scene I suppose. Look for specularity in the highlights, and the edge transitions. But honestly all things being equal I doubt you notice much difference.

Tareq wrote in post #14991740
Hi again,

I posted a thread here before asked about which softbox i should get and i think i asked about which fold-able softbox i can find to use with my lights.

A good lately news, i bought a softbox from Lastolite locally that is fold-able, and i bought a grid to use with it, i didn't use this softbox yet but first impression is i am happy i found a fold-able softbox locally finally.

My question here is: Will different softboxes give different quality to the light if let's say same size? Are the material and and design of different softboxes give different effect on the light used with? the material i mean the diffuse fabrics front external and internal ones.

Later when i will buy a speed ring for this softbox to use with my lights then i will test it and see if i like it or not, i have Lastolite 2 softboxes [60x60cms/24x24"] for speedlight and i like them.

I have noticed different color casts, some will be a bit warmer than others. Also on umbrellas I have noticed that if its a rough silver material (like on a softbox) its punchier than white.

its annoying but doesnt ruin an image.

gonzogolf wrote in post #14991801
Swap them out while shooting the same scene I suppose. Look for specularity in the highlights, and the edge transitions. But honestly all things being equal I doubt you notice much difference.

Thanks for pointing me on those, i will keep that in mind when shooting something, in fact i bought this softbox to use it mostly for upcoming products or closeups shots, i don't really care much for portraits as i have great results with different modifiers even umbrellas, so i don't worry to use this softbox on portraits, but i will care much about the still life, i will use Macro lens and i may go with crops and doing larger pixel peeping, so i may find some light quality differences using different modifiers, or do you think that products will have less issues with lights comparing to portraits?

sigma pi wrote in post #14991859
I have noticed different color casts, some will be a bit warmer than others. Also on umbrellas I have noticed that if its a rough silver material (like on a softbox) its punchier than white.

its annoying but doesnt ruin an image.

Well, this is what i am worry about when i will shot products, sometimes i don't care much about color cast on portraits, but that will give me hard work with still life maybe if i want more accurate colors.

I'm with Sigma Pi. The other thing to consider is getting an XRite Passport and make custom camera profiles for each time you shoot. It's easy and gives you WB options also.

windpig wrote in post #14992527
I'm with Sigma Pi. The other thing to consider is getting an XRite Passport and make custom camera profiles for each time you shoot. It's easy and gives you WB options also.

Sure, i will do that, i don't want to end up ignoring this color passport, i bought it for this purpose, but if i will not use that Xrite colorchecker passport, will the light quality will be seen or noticeable in some shots from different modifiers let's say softboxes?

I'd use the Adobe Standard profile, shoot a WB target and set it in post. Be sure your profile is set before you set the WB.

Just aside question: Is there a big loss in light between 90x90cm softbox and 100x100cm one? Only 10cm less from both sides will have big effect?

Something rarely mentioned but quite important concerns maintainence of the diffuser(s) of softboxes. Inevitably, these will get soiled and the obvious thing to do is to wash them. It's a no-brainer.

However, if you wash them in a normal washing powder ("Persil washes whiter" is a common UK strapline) then you are probably introducing UV fluorescing agents (it is these which make the wash appear "whiter" rather than a superior cleansing power) which may alter your colour rendering. To maintain the neutrality of rendition through the (usually) nylon diffusers, you need to wash in pure soap flakes (again, UK version would be "Lux Pure Soap Flakes").

One instance where technology may actually be detrimental to the product!

Whortleberry wrote in post #14994143
Something rarely mentioned but quite important concerns maintainence of the diffuser(s) of softboxes. Inevitably, these will get soiled and the obvious thing to do is to wash them. It's a no-brainer.

However, if you wash them in a normal washing powder ("Persil washes whiter" is a common UK strapline) then you are probably introducing UV fluorescing agents (it is these which make the wash appear "whiter" rather than a superior cleansing power) which may alter your colour rendering. To maintain the neutrality of rendition through the (usually) nylon diffusers, you need to wash in pure soap flakes (again, UK version would be "Lux Pure Soap Flakes").

One instance where technology may actually be detrimental to the product!

Cool, thanks!