Best softboxes to use on handheld boom?

I've seen a lot of really great stuff done with softboxes simply held on monopods by an assistant. That said, most of them aren't really ideal for the purpose - Elinchrom's octaboxes make beautiful light but they're heavy, expensive, and and a pain to assemble, and the Buff collapsible octas are similarly too expensive for flash brackets. A Photek Softlighter is a reasonable solution, though it's surprisingly slow to assemble (that silver plastic bit can't be stored in it) and the mk1 version I've used is unacceptably fragile for $115.

I purchased a Buff 64" soft silver PLM for use with a diffuser, but there's so much slack between the weak Elinchrom speedring and my cheapo Godox S-bracket that I'd never consider using it outside unless there was zero wind. A big umbrella like the Westcott 7' parabolic reflective white might work, though I'm significantly concerned with bending the shaft in even the slightest breeze and I'd need an even larger umbrella to get similarly soft light.

Any ideas? I have a Godox AD360, and I'd really like to get some use out of it.

The bigger the modifier the more risk it has to wind. I use a 70cm softbox (SMDV btw) with the AD360 maybe 95% of the time. The key is adding weight to the lightstand. DONT USE PRO RATED LIGHTSTANDS that form a triangle shape when platformed to the ground, use the portable ones where the legs can be at a 90/180 degree FLAT against the ground. Then put your backpack or weight or whatever on those legs. The modifier will be blown due to wind but trust me no lightstand has not fallen on me yet using this method.

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …01B_Nano_Black_​Light.html

Things like these where the legs can be FLAT against the ground are fantastic. I put my camera roller on the legs and BAM that is an easy weight that will make my setup reliable against falling. This method does not work with AD600, too top heavy.

Photoflex makes nice softboxes. I prefer them as you can get grids for them also. The grids are not too expensive like lighttool grids but not cheap crap stuff like chinese knockoffs.

Stands wise, I use tripod legs stand. Just need to get a nice steel one which costs close to $300. There is no comparison between nice steel stand and a Nano stand IMHO.

Ricebowl 36".

Derptography wrote in post #18160283
I've seen a lot of really great stuff done with softboxes simply held on monopods by an assistant. That said, most of them aren't really ideal for the purpose - Elinchrom's octaboxes make beautiful light but they're heavy, expensive, and and a pain to assemble, and the Buff collapsible octas are similarly too expensive for flash brackets. A Photek Softlighter is a reasonable solution, though it's surprisingly slow to assemble (that silver plastic bit can't be stored in it) and the mk1 version I've used is unacceptably fragile for $115.

I purchased a Buff 64" soft silver PLM for use with a diffuser, but there's so much slack between the weak Elinchrom speedring and my cheapo Godox S-bracket that I'd never consider using it outside unless there was zero wind. A big umbrella like the Westcott 7' parabolic reflective white might work, though I'm significantly concerned with bending the shaft in even the slightest breeze and I'd need an even larger umbrella to get similarly soft light.

Any ideas? I have a Godox AD360, and I'd really like to get some use out of it.

36" would be fine... I've seen awesome photography done with bare speedlights. To me it's all about placement to control shadows and the knowledge of proper flash fill/ambient balance. You master those two and you can get away with a speedlight on a stick.

arthurbikemad wrote in post #18161026
I use Lastolite softbox as its light (no pun) and has a number of mounting options for speedlights/hotshoe (1,2,4) and others like profoto, elinchrom and so on, they are expensive imo but good quality, easy to pack etc and have grids (option) and internal diffusers

I have a 24" Lastolite knock-off, and it seems to work pretty well. That said, the mount seems awfully flimsy.

bobbyz wrote in post #18165318
Stands wise, I use tripod legs stand. Just need to get a nice steel one which costs close to $300. There is no comparison between nice steel stand and a Nano stand IMHO.

I need something I can fit in my bag.

Talley wrote in post #18165349
Ricebowl 36".

How are those things to set up? My cheap generic softboxes are a pain in the ass - quite a lot of muscle to get the rods into the rings.

Talley wrote in post #18165351
36" would be fine... I've seen awesome photography done with bare speedlights. To me it's all about placement to control shadows and the knowledge of proper flash fill/ambient balance. You master those two and you can get away with a speedlight on a stick.

Maybe - if you're mobile and only have one light, a big light with wrap seems to be a lot harder to get wrong. Apparently, my somewhat abused Jinbei 36" softbox is now available from Godox for under $50, so I won't feel too bad if it dies...

I use one of these

https://www.amazon.com …age_o05_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

Here is one choice for using a hand held boom with the 24" Quikbox attached.
I do like how the Speedlite can be tightened much more securely with the Quikbox than with the Lastolite version.


https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …2424_Quikbox_24​_x_24.html

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …us_telescopic_h​andle.html

Another modifier option that can be used with the Impact Quikstik is the Westcott Rapid Box.

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …_2031_rapid_box​_octa.html

Also comes in a smaller 20" version as well.

I have used both the modifiers with both the Impact QuikStick and Lasolite version as well with the results we were looking for.

You want nice soft light and use 64" PLM and bare bulb flash and folks are recommending 24" qbox? Nothing wrong with Qbox and I have used it a lot but I would say start with 24x36" photoflex softbox. Get the grids for it also. My stand comment was in reply to the other gentleman about nano stand. For your case get painters pole or a monopod if you have assistant. You can make any softbox rods go easier if you use quickring in place of std speedring. Even without a quickring unless I am putting rods in my 5' photoglex octa it is not that hard. But then I haven't used other modifiers. Regarding Elinchrom nice but have issues like no lip, no grids. Deep octa breaks easily, get something different. I use SP System 37" octa but they don't sell it any more.

My bad. Thought the Godex was a Speedlite

bobbyz wrote in post #18166386
You can make any softbox rods go easier if you use quickring in place of std speedring.

I actually have one of those - I didn't realize you could use it on octas.

I wonder if one of them fits the Godox S-Bracket in lieu of a speedring?

Read the old threads, you have to make couple of holes little larger with a drill.

More helpful to know what boom your using to know the weight restrictions

abbadon31 wrote in post #18169539
More helpful to know what boom your using to know the weight restrictions

I was going with a small light stand or monopod hand-held. I'm up for suggestions though.

I use an umbrella type square softbox ($20) from Neewer and its fantastic for use on a hand held boom/light monopod. At 28"x28" it won't match the 60" ones but is perfect for use with flash/small strobes like AD360. I use mine (have several) with regular flash units and AD360. Takes under 2 minutes to set up and start shooting. Presuming you have the remote trigger for your 360, you won't be bothered by the fact that the flash gets completely enclosed, a fact that i find comforting for safety of my flash units incase of minor accidents. I usually have one or two of these sitting in the trunk of my car.

https://www.amazon.com​/gp/product/B008BQ233C