difference between 2 softbox

Box 1 is a crappy Chinese rectangle softbox (rectangular catchlights in subject's eyes and this will fall apart in a few weeks of pro usage)
Box 2 is decent Chinese parabolic softbox. (round catchlights and probably better quality to the light itself and has more features)

Just to give you an idea, I own four Chimera Quartz Pro Smalls, which are about these size. I bought most of them in the mid to late 90s and they are still going strong. I probably paid $400.00 ea. for them and they are still 100% in play two and half decades later and basically look like new.
Neither of the softboxes you linked to will probably be in play in a year, possibly 2-3 for the Aputure. Chimeras, are hand made by American labor in Colorado, Chinese stuff can made by child slave labor in some anonymous sweatshop in Shenzen or Guangdong (not saying these two are, but just in general).
Not saying you should buy a Chimera but you should be aware of exactly what you are buying, how it's made, the company that may or may not be available to you for service or repairs (I've been dealing with Aputure in China, trying to get a few replacement parts for my LS-1S light, it's been a challenge to say the least).
This is the difference between a $59.00 softbox and a $400.00 version. $400.00 is obviously more expensive but if you like quality and for your gear to last, you'll pay more. Chinese film and video gear, for the most part, is still disposable. I like my LS-1S lights but I won't be surprised if they crap out in a year more use whereas my Arris
from 25 years ago will easily go another 25 years.

The overall takeaway, that hardly any people beginning in the business heed, is to spend more, buy the best you can afford and in the long run, it's much cheaper and you get better quality and reliability. Softboxes will probably still be needed for the foreseeable future. I personally bought the Aputure LED panels because I couldn't afford the $5k for an Arri Skypanel, but also, LED is not a finalized technology at all so no matter what you buy, as far as LED panels, the are outdated in about two years so perhaps disposable is acceptable if it's making me money and I go into profit on it in less than a year? So there are pluses and minuses to buying cheap versus not cheap.
 
puredrifting said:
The overall takeaway, that hardly any people beginning in the business heed, is to spend more, buy the best you can afford and in the long run, it's much cheaper and you get better quality and reliability. Softboxes will probably still be needed for the foreseeable future. I personally bought the Aputure LED panels because I couldn't afford the $5k for an Arri Skypanel, but also, LED is not a finalized technology at all so no matter what you buy, as far as LED panels, the are outdated in about two years so perhaps disposable is acceptable if it's making me money and I go into profit on it in less than a year? So there are pluses and minuses to buying cheap versus not cheap.
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Yes.

I have Chimera’s that are 13 years old. The only reason they’re that young is because all of the ones I originally bought in the 90’s were stolen 13 years ago... Otherwise, I’d have some that would legally be able to drink. And after some of the shoots we did, I’m sure they’d buy the first round.
 
I have only purchased 1 soft box new in over 40 years.

ALL of the other Chimera's I own were purchased used, and are still alive and kicking.
 
David W. Jones said:
I have only purchased 1 soft box new in over 40 years.

ALL of the other Chimera's I own were purchased used, and are still alive and kicking.
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Care to share your source for finding used Chimera's? I've been looking for both an octobox and rectangular soft box for my Joker2 800 for about 3 months now with no love... was hoping to save a bit of cash by buying used...
 
David W. Jones said:
Exactly where I found them.
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Yep. Before I posted last night I just typed in “Chimera” and several listings came up.

Like anything used(and on the internet), you have to pay attention, but eBay is a pretty good resource. Heck, I bought one of my Fuji HD w/a’s off of there many years ago. And two HD P2 decks. And back in the days of Betacam, I found some great portable Beta decks that served me well in the field for producers/reporters to log tape on.
 
Run&Gun said:
Have you looked on eBay?
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Of course. Even have a saved search for which I get regular emails when something new is listed. And have seen many available for strobes or LED's... but not finding any for heat producing lamps. Perhaps my search has been too narrow...
Apologies to the OP for derailing your thread a bit...
 
This would probably be good for your 800 Joker. I have a small(which is approx 2’x3’) on my BronKobold 800 HMI.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chimera-Shallow-Video-Plus-Softbox-Silver-Interior-Small-24x32x13-in-60x80x33c/153412188702?epid=1002304537&hash=item23b8143a1e:g:aMsAAOSw6lpcfaHS
 
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