Favorite brands of softboxes and reasons why?

<p>I'm about to buy an entire line of softboxes for my Speedotron monolights, and would like to hear about everyone's favorite brands, and why. Although I haven't used a recent-issue Chimera softbox, I haven't liked Chimeras in the past because they only put Velcro "hooks" on one side of the interior baffle's attachment tabs. Also, the Velcro "fuzz" strip never seemed wide enough to attach both the diffuser and the fabric eggcrate easily. Although I'm asking specifically about studio strobe softboxes in this thread, I just bought a Lastolite hot-shoe softbox, and found that having the Velcro hooks on both sides of the tabs, makes attaching the interior baffle a lot quicker and easier. It may seem like a little thing, but I think it's details like this which make rapid set-up under pressure go a lot smoother.</p>

<p>As I had mentioned in another thread, I was planning to buy the entire line of Paul C. Buff modifiers, when I was planning to go with Einsteins, especially since their fabric grids are so incredibly reasonably priced. But, I decided to go with Speedotron monolights instead. Thanks to other members' suggestions, I now know that I can use the Chimera quick-release speedring made for Speedotron 102-series heads, and insert virtually any other manufacturers' softbox into it.</p>

<p>Here are the approximate sizes I'm looking to buy: (note that I'm not particularly attached to Photoflex, I'm just using their product line as a model for the "standard" sizes that are available from most other manufacturers as well).</p>

<p>34" x 45" Photoflex large rectangular softbox<br /> 53" x 70" Photoflex extra-large rectangular softbox.<br /> 53" x 16" Photoflex strip.<br /> 7' Photoflex OctoDome</p>

<p>I've used Westcott products before, but never their softboxes. Is there some special feature about the Westcotts that make them a bit better? Do the Westcott baffle tabs have "hooks" on both sides, for example? The Elinchrom Rotoluxes are out, since their flush-faced design doesn't allow them to accept fabric eggcrates. What other brands should I consider?</p>

<p>So, what's everyone's favorites?</p>

<p>Not a HUGE fan of softboxes, they use too much power and slow to set up, and pricey. If I need that type of light, I use Photoflex Softlights. Cheap, easy to set up (use the same amount of power).</p>

<p>Marc said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>If I need that type of light, I use Photoflex Softlights. Cheap, easy to set up (use the same amount of power).</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks for your reply, Marc! I assume you meant something like the Photek Softlighter? An umbrella turned into a softbox, right? But now that you mention it, those types of modifiers do seem to have a few advantages over traditional softboxes, and that reminded me to take another look at the Paul C. Buff PLM (parabolic light modifier) system. With its available "white front diffusion fabric" accessory, this basically turns the PLM into a bounce-into-umbrella-softbox thing (just what is the generic name for this type of modifier?). Plus, you gotta love Paul's accessory pricing! It's made to fit both Paul's and Elinchrom rings, so I could still buy the Kacey Eli-to-Speedo adapter ring, and I should then be able to use that modifier with my Speedotron Force 5/10 monoblocs, right?</p>

<p>"Umbrella-style" Softboxes:</p>

<p>Oh, nevermind. I might buy one of these for its affordability and convenience, but I really need for my soft sources to be able to accept fabric grids. So, back to everyone's favorite softboxes . . .</p>

<p>"Traditional" Softboxes:</p>

<p>By looking at the B+H site's softbox search-filter selector, I see the brands with the most listed models are:<br>

<br /> Chimera (115)<br /> Creative Light (15)<br /> Dynalite (30)<br /> Elinchrom (22)<br /> Hensel (17)<br /> Interfit (26)<br /> Lastolite (25)<br /> Photoflex (32)<br /> SP Studio Systems (15)<br /> Westcott (34)</p>

<p>While I am shopping a bit on price (that's why Broncolor and Profoto were omitted), I'm not looking for price at the cost of quality or ingenuity. Also, I'm looking for a brand whose fabric eggcrates are also reasonably priced (which surprisingly, Westcott's are <em>not</em>).</p>

<p>Paul Buff's folding softboxes are surprisingly well made, have not-insanely-priced grids available, and are very, very fast to set up. Definitely worth a look.</p>

<p>I have always used Chimera Super Pro (might be more like the current Super Pro Plus from the pictures on BH photo) softboxes, the ones with the 3" or so recessed face (like to feather the light as well as block it from the lens. I have had mine for over 20 years and they are used commercially so they are frequently set up and torn down, on location and in studio. I still use them. </p>

<p>I use them with the internal baffle, so the effect is softer than one could get from most umbrella modifiers. I use shoot through umbrellas as well, in certain circumstances, but mostly I use hard light and silks to modify the hard light when I want something softer--it sort of depends on one's style of shooting and the effect you want for a given shot, but Chimera's are great boxes.</p>

<p>I use softboxes and my PLM. They're both good for different things. My 64" PLM is big and beautiful and soft. Very easy to set up and you don't need to bring it too close for beautiful falloff and all that. The only problem is that it can't be feathered like a softbox. For more dramatic looks my PCB large softboxes with grids are perfect. They're affordable and easily set up and transported. I like the big ones because I can just clip on black material to make it whatever size I want.</p>

Chimera SuperPRO softboxes for me. Why?

 

-Quality of light and consistency of quality and color of light from one size to another.

 

 

-Replacable front scrims and additional modifiers on front (hard and soft grids of varying angles, different scrim

fabrics),

 

 

Quality of materials and very high manufacturing standards. Cheaper brands in my experience scrimp on these and

provide lower value over the medium run - color shifts, seams ripping, wands breaking (melting with a small photoflex

boxes).

 

I also have older Plume Wafers which are also excellent but are frankly worn out after twenty years. They are still very

handy in tight locations due to their shallowness.

 

While I have Einsteins and a Zeus pack and head system. I have never used the Paul C Buff softboxes. The Retro Laser reflector and PLM high intensity parabolic reflectors are great however. Also the Moonunit softboxes for the ABR 800.

<p>Hi, Ellis --- Any comments about the Chimera Super PRO shallow softboxes? Better avoided unless you're routinely working in cramped spaces?</p>

 

<p>I admire <a href="http://www.fjwestcott.com/">Westcott</a> Halo & Apollo units for their ease of use. They set up like umbrellas and do not require speedrings. I've used one of their <a href="http://bhpho.to/lXTb9V">Halo</a> units frequently. The quality and results are just fine.</p>

<p>For traditional soft boxes I have to confess to a personal loyalty to <a href="http://www.chimeralighting.com/">Chimera</a>. Theirs were the first soft boxes I ever used. At the time I managed a studio with a dozen+ shooters each using 4 soft boxes per set-up. We all began complaining about their fiber glass rods and Chimera replaced them all, plus spares, with metal at their expense. They were remarkably understanding and responsive.</p>

<p>Henry Posner</p>

<p>Not sure about monolight use, but the 2 Apollo 28 inchers I have had for 20 years, pack and head system, are holding up well. Good price too. gs</p>

<p>Matt said:</p>

 

 

<blockquote>

<p>Paul Buff's folding softboxes are surprisingly well made, have not-insanely-priced grids available, and are very, very fast to set up. Definitely worth a look.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Yes, I originally was planning to buy Buff's line of softboxes and incredibly affordable grids, but when I decided not to go with Einsteins, I didn't think I could mount them onto the Speedotron monolights I just bought. Aren't the speedrings built-in to the Buff softboxes? Would I need a Kacey Eli-to-Speedo ring adapter? Would that work?</p>

 

<p>I just ordered one of these:</p>

<p>http://www.cheetahstand.com/servlet/the-38/Cheetah-Qbox-24/Detail</p>

<p>It includes a grid as well as a round mask for those who don't like square/rectangular catchlights. It can also be adapted to their Speed Pro Bracket system so that you can integrate it with your Bowens, AB, etc. modifiers by specifying which attachment type you want.</p>

<p>Of course, I don't actually have it yet so this endorsement is a wee bit premature. :)</p>

<p>John said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>. . . but mostly I use hard light and silks to modify the hard light when I want something softer . . .</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks for your reply, John. Yes, for midday daylight exteriors, I certainly won't need a fabric grid, or even a softbox. For those set-ups, I plan to use cheap, but effective, Photoflex Litepanels with their silk-like "translucent" panels attached (I just bought two of the 39" x 39" panels, and already own one of the 72" panels). Easier to carry around than a real 3' x 3' or 4' x 4' silk. Although Litepanels are pretty lame when used as reflectors (too much flap), but when used with their translucent panels, they make for a convenient, collapsable silk that totally does the trick. Although not as sturdy, they're priced less than Westcott and Lastolite variants (however, for large collapsable silks, the Westcotts are far superior).</p>

<p>Henry said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I admire <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.fjwestcott.com/" target="_blank">Westcott</a> Halo & Apollo units for their ease of use. They set up like umbrellas and do not require speedrings. I've used one of their <a rel="nofollow" href="http://bhpho.to/lXTb9V" target="_blank">Halo</a> units frequently. The quality and results are just fine.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks for your reply, Henry. They look like good products, however, I'm looking for much larger sources than offered in the Halo/Apollo line.</p>

<p>Marlin said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I use softboxes and my PLM. They're both good for different things. My 64" PLM is big and beautiful and soft.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks for your reply, Marlin. I would love a super-big PLM, but I'm not quite sure about the mount. I suppose, I could buy a Kacey Eli-to-Speedo adapter, and use the Elinchrom PLM mount. But that connection appears so fragile for such a large umbrella (I was thinking of getting the 7' PLM). Can you comment on the rigidity and strength of that piece of Buff hardware a bit, please?</p>

<p>Howard said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I just ordered one of these:<br>

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cheetahstand.com/servlet/the-38/Cheetah-Qbox-24/Detail" target="_blank">http://www.cheetahstand.com/servlet/the-38/Cheetah-Qbox-24/Detail</a><br>

It includes a grid as well as a round mask for those who don't like square/rectangular catchlights.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks for your reply, Howard. Again, I'm looking for much larger modifiers than offered by that supplier.</p>

 

<p>From http://www.alienbees.com/plm.html</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em> Note: ALL models of the PLM™ arrive with the umbrella pole for attachment. They additionally arrive with either a Paul C. Buff, Inc.™ speedring assembly or an Elinchrom speedring assembly</em>. </p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>So the current generation of Paul C. Buff PLMs have options for either standard umbrella shaft type mounting or the Speedring cage. It is your choice. Depending on how the Speedotron Force units tighten down on the shaft of an umbrella the standard 7mm umbrella shaft would be okay. If not it should not be too hard to find a source of 10mm rods and have one cut to the length you need for a nominal price. </p>

<blockquote>

<p>Again, I'm looking for much larger modifiers than offered by that supplier.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Ah, sorry I overlooked your requirements. Hope your search goes well.</p>

<p>Thanks for your reply, Ellis. No problem, Howard--thanks!</p>

<p>I've used Chimera Super Pro soft boxes commercially for over 25 years. Great quality of light, consistent color and easy setup and take down. They're the industry standard for soft boxes.</p>

<p>Thanks for everyone's suggestions! I see everyone likes Chimera Super Pros (we used to use Chimera Video Pros at work until we switched to KinoFlos). But, I went cheap . . . I just ordered an Impact-brand 54" x 72" softbox from B+H ($168.99) for my Speedotron Force 10. The handful of customers who reviewed them said they were fine (not true of other "cheap-o" softbox brands sold there: e.g., Interfit and Creative Light). I only bought the one, extra-large softbox from Impact, since I really want to buy the entire line of Paul C. Buff softboxes, fabric grids, and a PLM, someday.</p>

<p>I continue to hear nothing but good things about the Paul C. Buff softboxes and PLM. I really want to order their line of modifiers as soon as I can figure out how to mount them on a 202-style Blackline Speedotron Force 10 head (anyone here have a clue?). I e-mailed Kacey Enterprises, asking about a Speedotron-to-Buff adapter solution, but I'm still waiting for a reply. I just really like the Buff "foldable" design--a real time-saver when on location.</p>

<p>I said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Thanks for everyone's suggestions! I see everyone likes Chimera Super Pros (we used to use Chimera Video Pros at work until we switched to KinoFlos). But, I went cheap . . . I just ordered an Impact-brand 54" x 72" softbox from B+H ($168.99).</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I received my Impact-brand softbox, but one of the Velcro tabs was simply missing. So I called B+H to arrange for the exchange, and they immediately e-mailed me a return shipper. I ordered instead a 53" x 70" Photoflex Litedome (white). B+H also discounted overnight shipping charges for the exchange. I really wanted the Chimera Super Pro Plus (silver), but at $469 it's nearly $300 more, so I settled for the Photoflex.</p>