Help me choose the right softbox

[EDV]

I live in a small city, so don't really have access to the higher-end lighting gear you guys use for your videos.
My two options are:

http://www.dragonimage.com.au/product.asp?id=1422#pic

http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=511

The Lowel kit I can hire for about $70 a day , I only have access to kit 44 so I'm not too keen on it since the softbox it comes with is too small.

The other choice looks promising, but I have to buy the lights ( $350 )

 

[Chris Santucci]

Westcott and Photoflex have the best options for softboxes as far as I'm concerned.

Lowell stuff is WAY overpriced.

I'd recommend looking for used lighting on eBay. Lighting equipment is fairly simple and easy to repair and maintain, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy new lighting gear unless you really need new gear for some reason.

.

 

[Jeff Anderson]

I second the buying used. I get all my lights on ebay anymore. Dont plan on buying new ever again unless a project comes up needing something special that I cant find. Basic fresnels and open face lights though are dirt cheap. On average I'm paying about 30% of the original cost for lights that are a few years old and in perfect condition.

As for softboxes... The lowel rifa's are cool but thats all they do. Just a softbox and nothing more. An open face or a fresnel in a softbox is still an open face or a fresnel if you want that and no softbox. Another option to at least consider is could you use bounced light instead of a softbox. Reflectors are cheap (white foamcore from your hobby store) and a fresnel or open face light shining onto it is a very versatile tool to own.