Softbox for 400WS Qflash

[zack_musarsa]

Hey,

 

I've got a 400WS Qflash and i'm looking into buying a softbox. My

question is how big can i go with this flash setup. 24" X 32"? 36" X

48"?

[jmf]

Well assuming you can go bare bulb into the SB, you should be able to fill a 36x48 and have usable light for close portrait work. Effectively, a SB of that size will probably eat 2 or 3 stops of light (compared to what a flash and reflector would yield and depending on the interior and diffusion panels). Metallic interior == greater light yield

 

This is based on me using a norman 2000 series head on a p800 pack (800/600/400/200ws) into a SB of about the same size. YMMV, and I don't have any experience with the qflash.

[twmeyer]

Your biggest problem will be attaching the Q-flash to any softbox.<p> 400ws will work fine in many sizes and many types of modifiers. More relevant issues would be the type of subject you are photographing and how that subject effects your desired depth of field. Also is the issue of how you could use the Q-flash on a boom or wayyyy off the floor, where you can't see the controls to make changes in output without bringing the Q-Flash back down to eye level. Many people who like the Quantums on a light stand favor umbrellas, even though extra accessories are required to get the actual lamp close enough the umbrella axis. <p>I assume you have the X model, as 400ws will toast the T models.<p>

Identifying what your subject is and what iso and f-stops you want to use will help people answer this question in a more useful way... t

<p>p.s. for a small box, I really like <a href="http://www.photo-control.com/battery_softboxes.asp">Norman's 19in octagonal box</a> that slips on the Q-flash, replacing the standard 5" reflector. It's small, but makes a nice portrait light when placed well.