Largetst Softbox for Speedlight?

Just the limited range of angels you can use limit its useage considerably. It is common for me to use it with the stand through the front opening with the difuser rather than through the stand hole.

Mark1 wrote in post #11333711
Just the limited range of angels you can use limit its useage considerably. It is common for me to use it with the stand through the front opening with the difuser rather than through the stand hole.

I do the same thing all the time. Actually works very well and gives you a bunch more downward angle.

Ultimately, you need a boom setup to get the most out of the Apollo but ive used them many times by just leaning them against something or having an assistant hold them in place. One of the nice things about them is because they are so quick and easy to setup, you can throw one just about anywhere with some creative thinking with little fuss.

If you have watched ZA's One Light Dvd, there is a great example of this when they are shooting behind a drug store using a big metal cage...quick and easy in and out...before the cops show up...

Mark1 wrote in post #11333711
Just the limited range of angels you can use limit its useage considerably. It is common for me to use it with the stand through the front opening with the difuser rather than through the stand hole.

Well, I can fit one thousand angels on the head of a pin, so I'm thinking I could fit at least a million inside the Westcott softbox

TMR Design wrote in post #11332085
What tests? How did you test? What other modifiers did you test? Let's see the results.

Sir looking at your exstensive gear list, I bow to you, I am a total idiot, I respectfully decline to engae in a pissing match. To the OP sorry if I caused your thread to get out of hand. I was just trying to offer you what IMO is the best modifer I own and have had amazing results with it.

When you as a question like, "Largest softboox for a speedlight?", it is always going to to subject to many variables, Opinons will vary on any topic. The only thing one can do in a forum is ask a question read all of the replys and try and make a decision based on all available information.

I hate responding to threads that I am going to have to defend my every word. So goo luck with your search, The westy 50 is great. You may want to use a boom setup to be able to position it more easily. To correctly answer your question, I would have to say the 7 foot ocatbank and a speedlit speedring.


I hope you have fun with what ever you decide to buy. Happy holidays. You to Gear GURU

Interesting response but ok.

If you're going to make statements as you did then I don't think it's out of line to ask you to back it up. You indicated you did testing.... against what?

I'm not here to engage in pissing matches. All I did was ask you to show me the results of your tests so I could understand your conclusion.

Since you refer to the box as Big Mama I'm assuming you're watching too much Zack Arias before he discovered there were other modifiers that he loved even more than the Westcott.

Enjoy.

No I am great friends with James Schmelzer the creator of all the JS apollo modifers. Also this year when I was assisting in a advanced lighting precon class at Photoshop world, I meet Zack Arias and he signed my 50 westy. I do like Zack, along with a whole bunch of other photogs that are my persoanl friends. Most of all I like ti use the 50 because it takes for ever to set up the 7" octa.

I have nohingg to prove to you. I think so far you are one of those know it all's that I'd rather stay away from. So run your post count up and enjoy your huge inventory of gear. And I will be sure to stay clear of you in the future. You are a waste of my time!

No, you have nothing to prove to me but with that attitude and the kinds of posts you make, you have zero credibility here.

Take care.

akfreak wrote in post #11335557
I have nohingg to prove to you. I think so far you are one of those know it all's that I'd rather stay away from. So run your post count up and enjoy your huge inventory of gear. And I will be sure to stay clear of you in the future. You are a waste of my time!

I think you'd benefit from reading more and posting less.

Robert,

is this what you were recommending on the previous page for use with a speedlite?

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …Octa-36%22-Octabox/Detail

it states no speedring is included. is there a specific speedring that should be used with a flash?

just took another look...looks like the mount/bracket would have to be purchased too.

Thanks

Pward1980 wrote in post #11335679
Robert,

is this what you were recommending on the previous page for use with a speedlite?

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …Octa-36%22-Octabox/Detail

it states no speedring is included. is there a specific speedring that should be used with a flash?

just took another look...looks like the mount/bracket would have to be purchased too.

Thanks

Hi Phillip,

That is the 36" Octa I was referring to, and yes, you still need a speed ring with the Bowens insert to use it with the Speed Pro bracket. If you're on a budget you can get the speed ring right from Cheetah (Edward).

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …the-20/Speed-Rings/Detail

Thanks.

I debated also on the qbox24 since it's basically all-inclusive ( just add flash basically) but it's sizeable smaller than the octa.

akfreak wrote in post #11335557
I have nohingg to prove to you. I think so far you are one of those know it all's that I'd rather stay away from. So run your post count up and enjoy your huge inventory of gear. And I will be sure to stay clear of you in the future. You are a waste of my time!

I think you're missing the point here. When you say "softbox X is the best one out there" I want to know WHY.

You say you've tested it, so I would like to know what other softboxes it was compared against and what the results were. Again, tell me WHY the one you're recommending is better so I can process the info myself. There may be pros and cons that I take into account that are different from your decision making process.

I've been going thru the gamut with lighting modifiers and if I'm spending my $$$ on someone's recommendation I think it's fair that there's some examples to support why something is "the best".

Pward1980 wrote in post #11335765
Thanks.

I debated also on the qbox24 since it's basically all-inclusive ( just add flash basically) but it's sizeable smaller than the octa.

Hi Phillip,

The Qbox 24 is a very nice modifier and with the circle mask and grid it's an excellent value.

The reason why I like the flush front 36" Octa is because it gives me very nice coverage for a modifier of that size and a very pleasing quality of light from a slightly greater distance than with the Qbox24. But of course, that is subjective and a personal preference.

Ok lets start off with a little Q and A, What makes light soft? Is defused light soft?

Soft light comes from the size of the light. Placement is a key factor as well, this deterimes how your final result will look. Everything is situational, as a photographer experience is your main tool. Knowing what modifer to choose from to achieve what you see in your mind only comes from experience. I say get a 60" shoot thru and learn how to feather it. Then get a soft box.

A speed light is a great tool, however the price one pays for a few modern one's like the 580ex ii, you could get some real decent pack lights and a couple of modifiers. Back to why I suggested the 50 Westscott. It is very portable, opens and closes like an umbrella. Storage is very simple, the surface area of the 50" is huge, this is what will help soften the light. It can be used to light more than a single person. You could light 5 people easily if you had a powerful enough strobe. It can collapse and still function as a modifier, when you are experimenting with lighting, you will try all sorts of things as well as positions and the results can be night and day.

What you are tying to do is recreate soft window light, this take a very large surface area. With a speedlight you are going to have to work real close as falloff is going to be a concern. The 50" is fairly shallow in depth but you will need a fairly large room to gain full control over position, it needs to be on a boom. There is one thing I dont like about the 50, there is no grid-spot for it. If you only have a small space there is a28" Apollo kit for under $200 stand tilter cold shoe and all, also the halo is an option.

@ Mathew, am I really missing the point. The Op question was this "Largetst Softbox for Speedlight?" I told him my opinion, then was confronted by the all knowing guru of all guru's. Now I feel like I have to prove every word I say, simply by offering my opinions. I hate to waste my time like this. There are so many options when it comes to modifiers, I am glad the OP specifically asked for info for the largest softbox for a speedlight so I made the suggestion on the 50.

The reason I got a little peeved was TMR said this "How is it that you've arrived at this ridiculous conclusion?" was my statement in any way mean spirited. Did I cross some sort of invisible line that would invoke such a rude response. As intelligent as TMR seems to think of himself, he doesn't seem to see he was the one who started the ball rolling. Is my statement that ridiculous. The 50 is around $200 bucks, fold up or down in less than 5 seconds. The OP is already very familiar with umbrellas so the use of the 50 is almost identical that is a plus for him. If the Op ever upgrades to pack or mono lights the softbox can still be used. The coverage of the 50" is 3 to 4 people, it allows me to control the amount of light falling into the space I am shooting.It is easier to feather the light on or off the subject or control the light in the space. A softbox is not a substitute for an umbrella, it is a different tool altogether. If I was trying to light my subject plus the space/room I am shooing in I will use the shoot thru umbrella.

The softbox mainly controls spill of light on the environment, If I wanted to keep light falling onto my subject more than the space/environment I use the softbox. The size only determines the coverage (how many people or how much of a person) the light will fall onto, while still producing a soft quality light. Soft beautiful light from a softbox is easier to control in a given environment, this is not a good or a bad thing it is just the nature of that modifier. The OP will not be trading in his umbrellas for a softbox. He needs both, they both serve a purpose. Here is an example, the shaft of a reflective umbrella close to a subjects face is not good, with a softbox this isn't an issue. Believe me with speedlights fall off will be fast and working up close to the subject will be important.

Now Matthew when it comes to modifiers it is all about the money. If you are earing lots of money with your camera and you have tons of high paying clients, Briese Broncolor, Profoto, to name a few, are the best the world has too offer. You get what you pay for. Everyone has an opinion but it all boils down to the money, for lights I use SPEEDOTRON, 202vf and 206vf heads and several blackline packs. They are wonderful workhorses IMO and they always deliver the goods when I press the trigger. Are they Broncolor? NO. However they are mine, I own them and they were paid for using my camera. I really like them so I use them.

About softboxes most any softbox is the same, they all mostly fit on the same speedrings it is the inner adapter that differs from brand to brand. If you pay more you get better materials, ruggedness, but sometimes you are just paying for the name. Alien Bee's sells allot of gear, you get a lot for your money. Is it the best quality? You get what you pay for and everyone starts somewhere. Novatron was where I started, Paul Buff wasn't around, still use it sometimes (I keep the caps formed, monthly) but the speedo is my first choice.

I buy what is on sale when I am in need of something. I still dont own a 7" octa. I rented one but it was huge, took along time to assemble, took up too much room but the shots were amazing. I had quality window light all day long. I am hearing good things from Visco (I have never used them) from a man called OEC on ebay, it's dirt cheap and if it holds together then whats the difference. I have Westscott stripbanks with grids, Photoflex rectangular small, medium and large litedome's with grids. The reason I use them, I got the best deal on them at the time when I needed them. I pay cash for all my gear and only with money I make from my camera. There is a bunch of little stuff you will need and that little stuff all adds up, superclamps, reflectors, stands, cords, gaff tape, battery's, chargers, ND filters, tripods, scrim, gobo's, grids spots, gels, white seamless, sand bags, the list goes on and on. This is just the basic stuff you will need to do studio work, sure you can get by with a few items but as you grow you will buy this stuff.

Next thing you know you will be switching brands of camera's like me (from OLy to Canon)trying to find a new forum to learn about what is going on with your brand, and get treated like you are a worthless nobody. Because there is always someone else who has it all figured out and cant stand anyone new playing in their sandbox uninvited.

Lastly if you are going to make buying decisions based on what some unknown person says in a forum, a word of caution, dont! Research all available information before you spend a dime, make 100% sure you need what it is you are wanting, because besides good lenses, you are going to loose a heck of allot of money if in fact you try to sell anything photography related that you no longer use or didn't work like the way you thought it would.

People can roll eyes, insult my intelligence, say what ever they like it wont stop me from being active in this community, some people will like me, some wont. I just came here to learn about Canon, and I dont mind helping some of the new guys that have questions about things I have already had to learn. To the OP again sorry for disrupting your thread. I just dont like felling like I was punked by some know it all photog guru.

akfreak wrote in post #11335069
I hate responding to threads that I am going to have to defend my every word.

Sounds like you've spent time with my ex-wife.