Umbrellas vs soft boxes

[JDArt]

Sometimes I like travelling light, and that means taking umbrellas rather than bulky soft boxes when doing studio stuff.

I'm continually amazed at how good studio work can be with just umbrellas, too. I wonder: how many of you really find the light you get from soft boxes to be superior to that provided by bouncing light into large umbrellas?

Also, the new wave of octagonal soft boxes we see these days: how many of you think these really provide superior light?

[Mr. Pickles]

This is gonna be good, because I have neither one. But I think Umbrellas are fine, they just seem like they would spread a wider light beam.

[lordarka]

It's hard to argue against the utility and portability of umbrellas, and I am generally quite happy with what I can achieve with them. However, the nice thing about softboxes is that that the light is even softer than an umbrella, and it is more controlled. One of the big problems I have with umbrellas is spill... the light get everywhere, and it's hard to really control the lighting versus your backdrop using umbrellas alone. Softboxes and beauty dishes give me more control over spill when I need it; if I put a grid on either, I have total control, albeit with a slightly harsher light.

Arka C.

[mikej]

Didn't we have this conversation in a thread before? It sure sounds familiar.

I have both the rectangle and octogon softboxes and umbrellas from 32" to 60"... both shoot though and reflect out of. I have light panels as well. All of these have their time and place of use for a variety of different reasons.

I use the softboxes most of the time because (as mentioned above) I can control my light better and the light is more diffused and softer. But, I also use a small umbrella as a fill sometimes with my softboxes as it gives me a wider fill light.

I like the umbrellas when I need a wider area of light (as for a large group or area) and also because I can feather the umbrella to control the light, which you can't really do with a softbox.

Now for really soft and diffused light, it's hard to beat a very large light panel. I have several 4'x4' ones, but I used a 6'x4' one for awhile and it gave me some really soft light. In fact, for what I was shooting, it was too soft and I couldn't move it back far enough to harshen the light up to what I wanted. If I had the room, I'd love to try a couple of 6'x6' light panels just for fun. What was nice about the light panel, the 6x4' one only cost about $35 to make and this was made of 2 almost same size panels connected together so it formed a hinged L to be free standing. It also broke down to a box of PVC pipes about 4' long and a roll of sport nylon material.

Don't limit yourself to one type of light modifier. There are reasons to use any one of the types available.

Mike

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Umbrella's spread the light more whilst softboxes can be aimed.
The light quality of an umbrellla can change alot with focussing the umbrella but most of the time I like the look of a softbox a little more, but on location I use the umbrella's