Brolly box vs. softbox? but is it cool?

Okay just got my AB800 with brolly box... set it all up and works great... and maybe this is just me but it just doesn't look as COOL as a softbox... okay I know it shape and softens light like a softbox (doesn't it?) but it just doesn't look as sexy... guess I'm techo vain :P

Also is the rod supposed to stick out that far? I keep thinking I'm going to poke my eye out every time I go behind the light

Moon

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They're out of focus - you need more light there

If the rod annoys you cut it off... be careful not to leave sharp edges.

looks like a great way to take out an eyeball.

I'd be interested to see if it works as well as a softbox.

Because they radiate like a dome rather than transmit like a difuser with a near parabola behand it, the effect is very different. There is little (no) control of spilled light in front of the bulb.. It's a shoot thru brolly with a back cloth.

Their only real benefit it that they are FAR simpler to put up than a softbox and can be throw up quickly in someones house.

You also need to be very careful of not overheating this design... am I right that the black back cloth is just that, i.e. no relector coating to help it stay cool ?

in my opinion the rod should actually be pointing upward, as the light should be higher and pointed downward, thus eliminating any chance of eye-poken-outus. I rarely shoot mine straight on like that. if it makes you nervous, just tape something on the tip to cover it like an old sock or something.

The silver reflector the came with the AB800 is attached... then the brolly goes over it...

loosen the nut and push the rod in so that is even with the back of the bee. and then tighten up the nut again. you will notice that it will help puff out the brolly and make it tighter...

Having the same thing for several months now (AB's for 3 years, but brolly since August 2005) I don't remember the rod sticking out quite so much and I remember the black shroud/umbrella interface being in front of the reflector, so my guess is you need to extend the rod a few inches forward of where it is now.

Also while close and far better at diffusion then an umbrella, it is not quite as good as a softbox.

As to heating up, I don't use my modeling lights continuously so based on my use I don't anticipate any problems, but if using 150 watt modeling lights on all the time, you may indeed need to watch the temperature. Of course your first indication is likely to be smoke followed by the foomp of a flame or the droplets of synthetic material melting. However given the metal reflector and as long as the opening is on the top, the odds are very good that you will never have a problem with excessive heating.

Lastly as to cool,
I agree they are not as cool looking as softboxes or umbrellas, but if setup right they work very well at taking nice looking pictures and that is way better then looking cool.

Just my experience and opinion,

thanks Long... good tips... I'll try all those this weekend when i shoot 5 models in one days - YIKES!! Should be a wild wild day...

I'd put a cork on the end of that brolly.

or maybe even a tennis ball