What's the best bang for the buck entry level flash modifier for a speedlight?

Just like the title states. Trying to help a friend out. I used to live in this part of the forum for a few years but have been too busy with the life the past couple years to keep tabs on all the new stuff. What are your recommendations for a cheap, collapsible modifier for a speedlight, as someone's only light source? I'm thinking a convertible umbrella, although I'm sure by now there are some great, affordable small softboxes... maybe?

Stofen or bounce flash.
All those small attachable softboxes I think are mostly gimmicks and are not anywhere near as good as an off-camera solution.

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #18508622
Stofen or bounce flash.
All those small attachable softboxes I think are mostly gimmicks and are not anywhere near as good as an off-camera solution.

I'm referring to OCF... Modifiers for OCF.

So many cheap options now a days vs a few years back.

For OCF a reflective umbrella is so cheap. Even these collapsable softboxes would work if you need more light control.

https://www.amazon.com …ID=51q0V8DNKeL&​ref=plSrch

Aha! I picked up the Westcott RapidBoxes. They are relatively inexpensive and a snap to get going. I think they are perfect for a a single speedlite solution.

Yes, and a cheap umbrella is always a great option.

How about an octabox?

godox 47 inch

ksbal wrote in post #18508793
How about an octabox?

godox 47 inch

This will work also, it all depends on what you are trying to light. For portraits a single speedlight might be pushing it as far as recycling time and killing ambient indoors but it’s doable.

Let us first clarify a few definitions...

• Light (at the subject) can be 'direct' or 'indirect'.
  
• Light (at the subject) can come from a 'small source' or from a 'large source'
  

1. A modifier makes a very small source into a 'insignificantly larger' source, or into a 'appreciably larger' source
   
2. A softbox is a 'somewhat larger direct source'
   
3. A reflective umbrella is a 'somewhat larger indirect source'
   
4. A transmissive umbrella is a 'somewhat larger direct source' and can also serve (via the spill off walls and ceiling) as an 'appreciably larger indirect source'
   
5. Ceiling bounce generally results in 'appreciably larger indirect source'
   
6. A Stoffen is a 'insignificantly larger DIRECT source' which also serves to turn the ceiling into a 'appreciably larger indirect source'.
   
7. A Lumiquest 80/20 is a 'somewhat larger DIRECT source' which also serves to turn the ceiling into a 'appreciably larger indirect source'.
   

Might want to add a reflective umbrella to that list, it is a softbox, but also an umbrella.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18508890
Might want to add a reflective umbrella to that list, it is a softbox, but also an umbrella.

I did list umbrellas as generally indirect reflective (#3), and I have added the transmissive umbrella to the list.

I would consider a reflective umbrella as a direct source, not an indirect source. It acts no differently than a transmissive umbrella or softbox really, the reflective nature just distributes the light better and reduces hot spotting, but all the light emits out the softbox portion of the reflective umbrella..

It is, after all, semantics! After all, the ceiling becomes a 'direct source' by extension of your line of thinking!

But I do tend to agree, that my prior labelling of a reflective as 'indirect', on further pondering even I would tend to call something aiming light directly at the subect as 'direct'.

Osa713 wrote in post #18508865
This will work also, it all depends on what you are trying to light. For portraits a single speedlight might be pushing it as far as recycling time and killing ambient indoors but it’s doable.

It works well outside when you are in the shade. Or a cloudy day. This was with older speedlights, the godox/flashpoint Li-on speedlights recycle in 1 to 2 seconds.

Photo from ksbal's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (756288)

ksbal wrote in post #18508793
How about an octabox?

godox 47 inch

I will 2nd this one.

The problem with umbrellas is that if they're shoot through, a speedlite cannot fill a large umbrella, so reflective surface umbrellas can give you more bang for your light when limited to a speedlite. Having a reflective umbrella with silver just makes it even more efficient to make the most from the low power speedlite and spread it more evenly on a larger modifier where speedlites have trouble spreading out. Adding the diffuser panel makes it a softbox but it's still a fairly efficient softbox for its size relative to a speedlite's output. And taking the diffuser off, one can get different output too. Very versatile and it controls spill. For a one-modifier-approach, the brolly box for a speedlite is easily one of the better tools for a general approach,and at $30, it's crazy good for the money.

I have these in several sizes. They're great.

Very best,

Most bang for the buck? A white wall. White cardboard or foam core. I have 6 studio lights and quite a few different styles of modifiers, but I am amazed how well a single speed light and some white surfaces work when I need them.