Cons of large modifier? (Other than size)

Hi POTN,

I purchased and received a Fotodiox 60" octabox tonight. It's freaking huge. Really freaking huge. The size I don't care about if it produces good light, which it seems it does. But are there any cons to using large light modifiers other than size/weight/etc.?

Sometimes you actually do want some light fall-off and more control over the light than you can get with a really big modifier. I tend to use my big modifiers for fill and my smaller ones as key lights most of the time.

sdipirro wrote in post #17269862
Sometimes you actually do want some light fall-off and more control over the light than you can get with a really big modifier. I tend to use my big modifiers for fill and my smaller ones as key lights most of the time.

I also find controlling those huge ass specular highlights is sometimes an issue too. More so when the light is very close.

sdipirro wrote in post #17269862
Sometimes you actually do want some light fall-off and more control over the light than you can get with a really big modifier. I tend to use my big modifiers for fill and my smaller ones as key lights most of the time.

Same here. I find that really big modifiers can be too big for single subject portraits. The light is so soft it becomes flat. You'll start questioning whether or not the image is sharp.

I wish I had made this thread when I started working with modifiers. I was always thinking bigger is better but its certainly not true.

Yeah, I consider that lesson well paid for. I have a 7ft octabox that I haven't used in years.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #17270323
Yeah, I consider that lesson well paid for. I have a 7ft octabox that I haven't used in years.

I have a 5 foot hah.

Anyway, I'm not really understanding what light falloff is. I just know when light looks good. Could someone guide me to a resource (with image examples) of light falloff?

I honestly bought it larger so that I could get more distance between the subject and light and still have good light. I'm not sure that quite works though.

quadwing wrote in post #17270564
I have a 5 foot hah.

Anyway, I'm not really understanding what light falloff is. I just know when light looks good. Could someone guide me to a resource (with image examples) of light falloff?

I honestly bought it larger so that I could get more distance between the subject and light and still have good light. I'm not sure that quite works though.

this may help a bit

http://www.profoto.com …ed-look-at-light-shapers/

Scatterbrained wrote in post #17270323
Yeah, I consider that lesson well paid for. I have a 7ft octabox that I haven't used in years.

i bought a grid for mine, improved things tremendously

FJ LOVE wrote in post #17270585
i bought a grid for mine, improved things tremendously

Mine came with a grid. Still too darn big for portraits in my tiny loft.

quadwing wrote in post #17270564
I honestly bought it larger so that I could get more distance between the subject and light and still have good light. I'm not sure that quite works though.

This is exactly how it works. The only bad thing would be if you want more light fall off. Essentially, the further you light is from the subject, the more evenly lit the area is, even the background. Ify ou have the light really close to the subject, the background may not show up at all in your image.