any good cheap softboxes for lowel lights

markblasco

markblasco

Well-known member
I've got some totas, DP's, and an omni. I'm thinking about getting at least one softbox or some other large diffuser to use, but either I'm not looking at the right stuff, or these things cost 5 times as much as the lights do!

Any suggestions?
 
Lowel makes an umbrella that mounts directly into the accessory hole on the Tota and Omni lights and turns them into a fairly nice soft source. Not quite as big as a full softbox, but it's a very compact and relatively economical accessory. If I remember right, they have both silver (neutral) and gold (warm) versions. I used to use these more often than not when working with Totas because I found them to be an awfully harsh light otherwise.

- Greg
 
You can also just buy a rifa, which is a collapsible softbox with a light built in. Pretty cool.
 
RyanT said:
You can also just buy a rifa, which is a collapsible softbox with a light built in. Pretty cool.
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That kind of goes against what I am looking for, though. If I was going to spend $400 on a rifa, than I could instead just buy a softbox. I've got more than enough lights for what I am doing, I just need them softer.

I will give the umbrella option a look see, and if that is the best low cost option, I'll try one of those and see how it works for me.
 
markblasco said:
That kind of goes against what I am looking for, though. If I was going to spend $400 on a rifa, than I could instead just buy a softbox. I've got more than enough lights for what I am doing, I just need them softer.

I will give the umbrella option a look see, and if that is the best low cost option, I'll try one of those and see how it works for me.
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The way I softened the Lowells I rented a while ago, was to use my 6x6 panels with screening. The screening was plastic, so I could not get them 'close' to the hot lamps, but it did produce a soft light... with blackwrap on the Lowell itself, I could control the stray light and narrow the 'beam' down to just being on my screen...

You can DIY screens, using PVC and something like 'white plastic sheets' from Walmart or the like... this may not give some people the 'pro' look... but it certainly is cheaper...
 
get a roll of light grid then cut 4x4 pieces from the roll then you can hang those from c-stand arms. You point the light at the 4x4 light grid and that becomes a big beautiful soft box for you.
 
OK, some interesting ideas so far. I don't want to have to use an additional stand, or anything that looks too DIY (I already have options for that). To soften it a bit I have been using a sheet of diffusion gel on the barn doors or on a small frame, but it looks like an umbrella may be the best inexpensive option right now for something bigger and softer.

I'll definitely be doing some more DIY stuff in the future, so I'll have to try some of these other ideas out then, but right now I'm looking for professional (or at least very respectable) looking options.
 
There are tons of cheap softboxes on amazon and around other places for under $100. Even under $50. The key is to find one that fits.
 
I've been using the Photoflex Silverdome NXT small softbox (16x22x13) with a Tota light for several years, mostly to light single person interviews. The build is excellent and it does the job nicely. It's not cheap ($98 for the soft box and $79 for a speed ring and stand adapter), but I believe it is a good value. I used cheaper softboxes many years ago and while they worked, they were more difficult to set up and fell apart after moderate use.
 
+1 on the photoflex box + tota speed ring. i have two mediums that i use for interviews. i use them probably 3 times a month for the past 3 years and they are going strong.
 
Umbrellas give you nice soft shadows but an awful lot of spill that you can't control without C-stands and flags. Softboxes with egg crate grids give you decent control of spill without additional flags.
 
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