Speedlight Softbox

Ok, I want to get a 24x36 softbox to use with my speedlights. I'm finding that even though my umbrellas give great soft light there's too much spill and I'm wanting to control the light more. My question to you all is which would you suggest I get; a speeding mount softbox (with a speedlight attachment of course) or an umbrella style where the light stand actually goes into the box?

What is your triggering system? The umbrella style boxes are handy and you get a nice even spread of light, but you need to be using RF triggering of some sort.

I personally don't recommend the umbrella style softboxes where the light source is inside the softbox bouncing backwards towards the silver element before going through the white diffuser. #1 you're losing mobility meaning you can't tilt up & down too much with it. And, #2 if you don't have remote ettl control or any type of remote control, you're going to have to rip open the white diffuser every time you want to make a setting change.

How about a parabolic umbrella?

I've currently got YN-603 triggers, and the Canon 540EZ and YN-560II (both manual) but I'm getting some YN-622's and a YN-568EX or 2 so I can have the E-TTL capabilities, HSS, and be able to manually control the flash from the camera menu. I've got them in my cart on Amazon and only waiting to decide on a softbox to press the checout button.

frugivore wrote in post #16414380
How about a parabolic umbrella?

Never considered a parabolic umbrella to be honest. Seems kind of....big.

rivas8409 wrote in post #16414388
I've currently got YN-603 triggers, and the Canon 540EZ and YN-560II (both manual) but I'm getting some YN-622's and a YN-568EX or 2 so I can have the E-TTL capabilities, HSS, and be able to manually control the flash from the camera menu. I've got them in my cart on Amazon and only waiting to decide on a softbox to press the checout button.

Speedlites + 622c + umbrella style softbox (westcott and phottix both make them) + phottix multiboom = Amazing set up!!

I use two 568ex's mounted on a phottix multi boom (allows multiple lights to be mounted and allows tilting of the box) inside a westcott Apollo.

HERE is a link to the multi boom if you're interested. I think it was Elv (from flash havoc and here) that designed it for phottix. You can buy it from amazon or Adorama

protege wrote in post #16414322
I personally don't recommend the umbrella style softboxes where the light source is inside the softbox bouncing backwards towards the silver element before going through the white diffuser. #1 you're losing mobility meaning you can't tilt up & down too much with it. And, #2 if you don't have remote ettl control or any type of remote control, you're going to have to rip open the white diffuser every time you want to make a setting change.

This completely solves the tilt issue: http://flashhavoc.com/​phottix-multi-boom/

Also with something like the Westcott Apollo the zippers on the bottom easily open enough to give full access to the flash units without touching the front diffuser. A pair of $78 YN622C ETTL radio triggers makes even that easy task unnecessary. I don't disagree that this is slightly more involved than using a shoot through softbox with the flash mounted on the rear but you generally get one stop more light out of the reflective type like the Appollo since you are only shooting through one layer of diffusion material instead of the two layer diffusion necessary with shoot through softboxes to avoid a hot spot in the center.

gremlin75 wrote in post #16414621
Speedlites + 622c + umbrella style softbox (westcott and phottix both make them) + phottix multiboom = Amazing set up!!

I use two 568ex's mounted on a phottix multi boom (allows multiple lights to be mounted and allows tilting of the box) inside a westcott Apollo.

HERE is a link to the multi boom if you're interested. I think it was Elv (from flash havoc and here) that designed it for phottix. You can buy it from amazon or Adorama

Sorry Gremlin. Looks like I virtually duplicated your post. I started my reply before you posted then went upstairs to check my facts in person before hitting submit.

For control of spill I would go with gridded softbox rather than parabolic umbrella.

I have 90x90cm softbox with Y560II (1 or 2 depending on power needs) and Y603.

I have to open up the diffusion panel to adjust the flash, still a good setup.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1335133

rivas8409 wrote in post #16414403
Never considered a parabolic umbrella to be honest. Seems kind of....big.

That's the 86", but I have the 51" ones which are a better fit for speedlights. Without the diffuser panel, the light is similar to a gridded soft box, and doesn't eat up as much light as one. With the diffuser, you get the soft box look. Here is a sample of two speed lights in the 51" PLM with diffuser:

No denying it's nice light from that PLM but what I'm wanting to use this for (on location) a huge parabolic is nothing more than a huge sail. Can't tell you how many times a small breeze has caught my umbrella and sent it hurling towards the ground. I have since added some weighted bags to minimize that but still...51" of open umbrella can produce a lot of lift with a breeze! Hahaha!