umbrella vs. softbox

[gzamira]

Does shooting through a translucent umbrella give you the same effect as a soft box?

[highbarger]

I'm not sure if I should reply just yet... my first softbox is in transit at this moment. I can't speak from experience, but I can respond with the reasons that I ordered a softbox when I have been using umbrellas. One of the biggest reasons that I am trying out softbox lighting is being able to move the light source in closer to the subject. With my umbrellas, I can only get so close before the shaft of the umbrella starts to be a concern. Same story with the light stand. The softbox will get much closer and give a better wrap around light. I'm also looking forward to achieving the softbox catchlight instead of an umbrella reflection. In a nutshell, that's my reasoning behind spending a few more dollars, maybe I'll have some samples to share in a few days.
Craig

[tomrock]

It's not quite the same because shooting through an umbrella still lets lots of light bounce around your room. Boxes are more directional.

[gzamira]

What about an umbrella reflected on the inside with a black cover on the outside?

[kgphoto]

OK, if I answer this you gotta give me some Karma.

The answer is: No.

OK, to elaborate. An umbrella, either shoot through or not, bounces a wider spread of light, so more hits the back ground, etc. Also, some power is lost due to it not going toward the subject matter. Also, some scatter hits walls and ceilings and then hits subject oft times fill the shadows some. If none of that affects your image in a negative way to you, then no problem.

Soft boxes contain light in a, um, well, a box. IF the front is recessed it even cuts the light more off, reducing the spread. IF fitted with grids or louvers, even more so. Also, since there is not a rod or light unit or light stand between the light and the subject, you get cleaner high lights. You can get covers that change the shape from rectangular to round, if you feel you must have round catch lights to mimic the Sun.

A more important question might be what do the different sizes do to the image? Search these forums for the answer.

[Nikonfreak]

I was waiting for someone to ask about the shape of an umbrella vs the flat front panel of a softbox.

Gzamira - you are referring to a brolly box. It more closely approximates a softbox but a softbox it 'taint.

Larger light sources are softer light sources

Karma boost for kg...

[kgphoto]

Nikonfreak,

Thank you for the Karma. I am going to break a hundred sometime this week if it kills me.

Just to be picky, your comment, " Larger light sources are softer light sources" is only true if the distance to the subject remains constant. A six foot soft-box 40 feet a way is almost a point source.

[Uncle Frank]

Softboxes give you more control over the direction of the light and are more efficient than umbrellas, but I'm put off by their cost and the extra gizmos needed to attach them to a flash.

I haven't bought one yet, but from everything I've heard, the Softliter II is a great alternative... kind of a cross-over product. It attaches to a flash just like an umbrella, keeps light from spilling out of the back, and is pretty efficient in terms of light loss. Here's the picture and link with description from Adorama.




http://www.adorama.com/PTSL54.html?searchinfo=photek%20softliter%20ii&ite m_no=4

[pellepiano]

I use only umbrellas. I like the spread of light as my apartment "studio" is very small.

I miss the nice rectangular catchlight for portraits though.

[TimAndrea]

i like the softbox light better, i have an octogon softbox. the catchlight looks better than an umbrella, there are no lines and it is even, a shoot thru is even worse, i tried it one time and did not like it at all. to create a softbox effect i have however shot through a white sheet with decent results.

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by kgphoto

Nikonfreak,

Thank you for the Karma. I am going to break a hundred sometime this week if it kills me.

Just to be picky, your comment, " Larger light sources are softer light sources" is only true if the distance to the subject remains constant. A six foot soft-box 40 feet a way is almost a point source.

Yes, I left out the obvious.

May have Karma'd too soon.

As folks are noticing, the difference in use between softbox and umbrellas are another one of those personal taste issues.

I use both and I've thought about getting a brolly box.

Julio

[highbarger]

Uncle Frank, I have a couple of the Softliters and personally don't like using them. Like you, I thought it would be an inexpensive way to achieve softbox lighting, and maybe I didn't give them a fair trial period but they were a pain to set up. Also, I thought they looked a little goofy with this big ol' tube sock stretched over the body of my monolights, besides still having the housing of the light in the middle of the catchlight. Other people are probably very happy with the results from these modifiers, not trying to slam the product, it just didn't work for me. Craig

[Uncle Frank]

Thanks for the feedback, Craig. The guys who recommended the Softliter to me are using speedlights, not monolights. Maybe that's the difference. But based on your comments, I'll think twice before I buy one.

[tomrock]

I don't think it really matters what lighting equipment looks like -- I've never had a customer mention that I'm using Dynalites with my softbox and an ALien Bee for a background light. Isn't it just the results that matter?

I use a brolly box when I'm on location since they're easier to set up. In the studio I leave my soft box setup all the time.

[kgphoto]

Woo hoo I did it! Thanks for all the help.

NikonFreak,

You may think it is obvious, but I can't tell you how many times I have had photogs wonder why when they changed to bigger boxes and had to pull them back to have room to work, the light wasn't any softer than when they used the smaller boxes.

I use umbrellas all the time. Quick and easy to set up and I know how they respond. I also, use hard and soft boxes, strip lights, light panels and bounce flash and grids. It just depends what effect I am after.

Since I retouch all large prints(11x14 and up) I am going to work on the catch lights as part of the eye work. On smaller prints, you can't really even see it, so it doesn't matter to me what shape they are.

[brian.austin]

I'm a lighting whore. I'll do it all and in lots of different....positions.

[deluco]

Originally Posted by gzamira

Does shooting through a translucent umbrella give you the same effect as a soft box?

The effect will be pretty much identical as shooting thru an octagonal softbox, like a Wescott Halo, although it won't be as efficient. But it's different than a rectangular softbox because it's not as directional.

However if you don't want to spend the money on a softbox, I believe it's the next best thing. The downside is that you need more power because so much light is lost.

[LLoyd]

Originally Posted by Uncle Frank

Thanks for the feedback, Craig. The guys who recommended the Softliter to me are using speedlights, not monolights. Maybe that's the difference. But based on your comments, I'll think twice before I buy one.

Hi Uncle Buck,i have a pair of the Photek Softlighters,and really like them,~more options than the softboxs~The Softlighter II SL-4000&5000 model comes with a gold & silver reflector disks that you can use inside the umbrella ! order the 8mmShaft not the 7mm.
the 8mm shaft will remove after you place it on the strobe ! the 7mm wil not so you wont be running into them! I like the bounce lighting effect more than the direct light threw the softboxs ! I do use both but i prefer the Softlighters! they are easyer to take down and put up that a soft box! Just my opinion !

[JohnC]

Add me as another fan of the 60" Softlighter II. But is just another tool. I have a variety of boxes, umbrellas, softlighter, scrims, etc.

I've used the Softlighter as a main light and also as a fill from directly behind/over the camera position. Works great on location, faster to set up than a softbox. I use them with Dynalites (head and pack) and Excaliburs (monolights). I have not used them with speedlights.