Effective light modifiers

So this is, I guess, a three part question. Buying advice as Christmas approaches. I have 2 D'lite RX2s (w/ kit portalites) and a Yongnuo 468ii (with 33" shoot thru). I have a Fotodiox 36x48 5in1 coming. I shoot mostly G&N.

1) For key light (one of my dlites) whats a good budget ($100ish) modifier? I was looking at either

the Fotodiox Pro Octogon Softbox 70" (theres also the 60" & 48" or the 48x36")

the Fotodiox 72" Reflective Umbrella w/ diffuser

the Westcott 7' Parabolic w/ diffuser (then theres the Impact version for $20 less)

I also will probably go with silver if I go with the umbrellas and diffusers, unless going white will have better benefits.

Im not completely sure about the 7' just because of limited space, my ceilings arent to high. Im also more than open to other suggestions.

2) What modifier for my second Dlite that would be the most versatile? Again $100ish budget.

3) What modifier for my speedlight? This one really gets to me. I hear Softlighters and Apollos but then hear that they are to big. And other modifier suggestions are usually specialty ones that Id use here and there or really small softboxes (under a ft). Id prefer to keep this modifier under $50ish really (I see theres some Softlighter and Apollo knock offs in this price range).

Eventually I want to pickup a second speedlight (another 468ii or a 568ex probably) so I could utilize something bigger which is another hesitation I have. Finding something that works with 1 but would still benefit with 2, if possible. I would be able to justify $100 if it can do this.

Itd be nice to be able to use it as a stand alone and a compliment to my dlites. Again I could probably justify $100 if it can do this.

I know Im asking a lot for a little. Especially with my speedlight. My main goal with my speedlight is complimenting my dlites, rather it can be used with 2 speedlights or as a standalone would be a bonus.

At least for the key light (or one of your D'lite modifiers) I'd be thinking more along the lines of the Fotodiox Octo but the "EZ"-Pro edition instead of the plain "Pro" one (got one myself and love it). Reason being, with that modifier it opens more like an umbrella so you don't have to fuss with all the rods and such. But more importantly you can add a grid to it to help control your light if you wish which I don't think you can do with jjust the "Pro" version. I took a look at some of your work and it seems as if you're not concerned with light spill which is cool but it's nice to have that option of controlling it when you do want to.

I think the biggest "EZ" version is only 60" instead of the 70" you were looking at it but you said that you weren't sure of something that big anyway so maybe that wouldn't be problem with your decision.

Just one other option to add to your list

Kevin

A 60 would be large enough for full body? Id be fine with it as long as it works. Especially due to space restrictions

They do make an eggcrate for the regular 70

60 would do full body. But if there's an eggcrate for the 70 and you're still thinking along those lines, go for it. I would just personally want one of my modifiers to be able to accept a grid just in case I wanted to control some of the spill. I mean you do flags and all that but just slapping a grid on is much easier.

How big is the space and what ceiling height?

Roughly 23x13 though there's furniture that would have to be worked around or with. The celeings are 7 10

7' 10"? If so, that's gonna be difficult to deal with.

7' ceiling and you want 7' octa? 23x13 is same size as I had bunch of yrs ago which is really small IMHO but atleast I had 10' celings. Look at the small studio thread in this forum to get nice ideas. I would use auto poles for lot of stuff. Modifier wise, 48" should be more than enough in that small space.

Another way to work around low ceilings and confined spaces is bounce. In the particular case of preserving the light quality as generated at the source, you use a specular surface with a mirror being the theoretical ideal. In effect, you fold the light to get around an obstacle or to lengthen the path. Large sheets of cardboard with a silver finish are widely available across industries—think carry-out food containers with those circular lids. B&H sells the stuff at photographer prices. Just tape a big sheet to the ceiling, and bounce your choice of directional light. A gridded SB will serve perfectly, and the quality of the returning light is identical, just seeming to be from a greater distance. The bounce adds no additional stray photons to the space. I have used this trick with Photoflex silvered fabric stretched on a 2'x3' gel frame.

A giant light modifier + low ceiling = loss of control over your light.

Not much difference in using giant softbox vs. using an open umbella, both with low ceiling, when it comes to uncontrolled light bouncing off adjacent surfaces... ceiling and walls of a small shooting space and going back (undesired) to the subject

bobbyz wrote in post #18209213
7' ceiling and you want 7' octa? 23x13 is same size as I had bunch of yrs ago which is really small IMHO but atleast I had 10' celings. Look at the small studio thread in this forum to get nice ideas. I would use auto poles for lot of stuff. Modifier wise, 48" should be more than enough in that small space.

I was looking at a 70in octa (5' 10"). The 7' Umbrella was suggested by someone else. I do believe it would be to large.

RicoTudor wrote in post #18209284
Another way to work around low ceilings and confined spaces is bounce. In the particular case of preserving the light quality as generated at the source, you use a specular surface with a mirror being the theoretical ideal. In effect, you fold the light to get around an obstacle or to lengthen the path. Large sheets of cardboard with a silver finish are widely available across industries—think carry-out food containers with those circular lids. B&H sells the stuff at photographer prices. Just tape a big sheet to the ceiling, and bounce your choice of directional light. A gridded SB will serve perfectly, and the quality of the returning light is identical, just seeming to be from a greater distance. The bounce adds no additional stray photons to the space. I have used this trick with Photoflex silvered fabric stretched on a 2'x3' gel frame.

Wilt wrote in post #18209296
A giant light modifier + low ceiling = loss of control over your light.

Not much difference in using giant softbox vs. using an open umbella, both with low ceiling, when it comes to uncontrolled light bouncing off adjacent surfaces... ceiling and walls of a small shooting space and going back (undesired) to the subject

As far as bounce, I use it to my advantage as of now. I only have the small portalites so I bounce my bare bulb into an upper room corner for fill. Idk if it would make a difference but remember these are only 200ws strobes, I cant see them being to overpowered.

Would 48in be large enough for full body work? Id be fine with grabbing that. I am thinking the 48 or 60 octo with grid. Or a strip with grid?

With the D-Lite's, you could use a Maxilite as a Key light ; it is much easier to move around with low ceilings and as a plus it doesn't eat up walk around space.. It can be gridded with HoneyGrids in several angles. Use a deflector with a Maxilite as a improv beauty dish.

gmm213 wrote in post #18209453
Would 48in be large enough for full body work? Id be fine with grabbing that. I am thinking the 48 or 60 octo with grid. Or a strip with grid?

Do you currently shoot in that space? Only reason I ask is say model is 5.5, then wearing high heels and now what ever modifier you have, you going to put it little higher and going to bump into those 7' ceilings. You are hung up on the size of the modifier too much IMHO. You can shoot full body with 22" beauty dish or even simple 7" reflector, just depends on the look you going for. For nice soft light, sure, I would like a 5' octa but with 7' ceilings you don't have much options to place it where you want to. I would suggest try first with 60" umbrella and then decide.

Even length wise, I would want bigger space for full length. My current studio space is bigger, like 20x30 something and I have hard time doing full length with 85mm on FF.

room is 9.5 ft wide, 11 ft long
8' 2.5" ceiling
subject is 5' 10" tall
Lighting set to 7' 10" height
36" Fotodiox Ez-pro which as a 1" lip
Center of octa to subject 5'
60" Fotodiox Ez-pro which as a 1" lip
Center of octa to subject 4' 6"
Per light meter, .1 to .2 stop difference between forehead and hands, .4 stop difference between hands and feet.

36" Octa