Soft Box vs. Umbrellas

I'm wondering if there are major reasons to using either softboxes or umbrellas (either shoot through or bounce) with HOTSHOE flashes. They both create nice, soft light but is their any difference between the two? Does one use power better than another? Share your advise!

More even light distribution from softbox, more controllable and directional light from softbox, usually similar or better efficiency with softbox, usually softbox is a softer, more diffuse light source.

Control is wonderful, especially for pro photographers. There's a photographer named Stephen Eastwood ( http://www.stepheneast​wood.com ) that uses grids on just about everything, and I have a lot of respect for his knowledge and skill. If I could afford to, I'd buy several strobes, gridded beauty dishes, flags with stands, and softboxes with grids.

Maybe someday.

So why would someone buy an umbrella if all of the above is true?

MikeZip007 wrote in post #5488852
So why would someone buy an umbrella if all of the above is true?

Soft light is not always what you want and umbrella can be larger or smaller, whiter or more silver, even mixed with black and white.

They both have purpose and while I use a sofbox for soft even light at close range, I generally use an umbrella to make my light source larger for more even coverage and as a fill opposite the main flash.

I also picked up umbrella's for cheaper than a softbox and the setup is quicker.

MikeZip007 wrote in post #5487694
is their any difference between the two?

Light shaper comparison

For hotshoe flashes used off camera, an umbrella makes more sense IMO. More portable. Easier to set up.

It all just depends on the quality of light you are after. I've never used a softbox with anything but studio lights (umbrellas either for that matter) but I would think the what Rene' said is probably about right.

Shotgun vs rifle.

Do you want to blast light out or control it's area of influence? Umbrellas are great for group shots, fill lights, flat lighting couples (dances, proms, etc) and so on.

Soft boxes require more finesse and care in setup and usually have a specific purpose. I use a soft box with grid for hair lights, a soft box for rim lighting, Rembrandt patterns, split and double split lighting, etc...

And cost is a big difference. A 43" umbrella is $20. A 30"-46" softbox can run you from a little over $100 to a little over $300.

Setup and convenience too. Umbrella goes from closed to open in about a second...

rabidcow wrote in post #5490373
Shotgun vs rifle.

Very broad (over)generalisation IMO.
Quite a difference between reflective or shoot through umbrella.

Then there are "mix" products like an (Lastolight?) umbrella-box or the Photek Softlighter.

There are lots of opinions on this....as many or more than the offerings we have to separate us from our $$$s.....and I have participated in this with "Fongs", umbrellas, etc....

Since this thread started about hotshoe falshes, I figured I would add my view.

I like hotshoe flashes for portability and ease of setup. As Rene mentioned above, umbrellas are often a good match for that.

However, over the last year or so I have found that I can get just as good...often better...results using the 9"x12" diffusers that Chuck Gardner talks about here: http://super.nova.org/​DPR/DIY01/

I cannot describe it better than Chuck in his tutorial, but the key is that the perception of softness is provided by the proper placement and ratios of the key, fill, and, if used, rim/background lights.

So...I am not proposing this for all, but it works for me.....is EXTREMELY portable...and provides great, soft, controlable lighting.....and you can try it for VERY little $$$s.

Every light modifier has its own personality and character. Typically when we talk about isolation and controlling directionality and spread it's in the studio. Sure, these things do and can come in to play outdoors but not to the same extent. So the spill from an umbrella that we normally don't want in the studio is just fine outside. The same is true with using grids on softboxes. Generally speaking you don't see softboxes and octaboxes being used outside with grids.

If you look at the equipment used by professionals every day of the week you find out very quickly that umbrellas are still the modifier of choice for many people. They are not choosing umbrellas because you can get them for $20, and some use umbrellas with prices that soar up into the hundreds of dollars. The bottom line is that they are light, portable, cost effective and produce a very nice quality of light when used correctly.

The shape of the catch light is often a topic of conversation because of the ribs and spokes visible from the umbrella and if it really bothers you there are umbrellas such as the Photogenic Eclipse that have a reflective covering for the spokes.

Unfortunately too many people seem to look at umbrellas as inferior or see it as a last resort or "It will do until I can afford better" when they could be taking beautiful photographs with umbrellas and learning a ton about lighting and technique.

Here are some recent images from a shoot I did using only a Speedlight firing into a 42" bounce umbrella, with a 52" white reflector as a fill source. Judge for yourself whether umbrellas do the job or not. I think I would invest in other gear before I ramped up to larger more expensive modifiers.

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I bought umbrellas because they were inexpensive, and sufficient (I thought) for my purposes. Little did I know that I would quickly develop a craving for more control over light because I have seen what controlled light can do that widely dispersed light can't. Sometimes it's the difference between acceptable quality and great photos.

TMR Design: I hope you don't take offense to this, but it looks like you're doing about the same level of photos that I do, and am not satisfied with. Feel free to disagree if you like, but here are a few samples of a recent shoot:

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Depends on what and where you're shooting.

The modifier does not and should not be the difference between acceptable quality and great photos.

Nice images Robert. Have you always shot Noink?

Thank you Martin.

I was a Canon shooter until about 3 or 4 months ago.