I have two ArriLite 650 fresnels, and I am doing a project where the subjects will be showing a lot of skin. Right now I am filming in a small room and bouncing the lights off my ceiling to get a soft, diffused light. I am not totally satisfied with this though, and I'm interested in getting a softbox so I will have more control over my lighting. Basically what I need to know is: Should I get a softbox for both of my fresnels, or do I just need one? Also I need recommendations as to which box and speedring to get. Thanks!
Help me with Softbox
- Thread starter superbb
- Start date
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Get a softbox and lamp 'em down as low as they can go... if you can afford two softboxes then get two.
In a small room even 2 x 300w of light is a crap-load.
To give some modeling of objects under lighting you need to have key and fill... you can probably get fill from bounce... I'd put the softbox at a 45 angle out of the shot, but so that the softbox also hits the white wall behind the subjects... the wall bounce will provide fill.
To supplement this you can use the other softbox from as far away as you can get it... and off to the farthest corner on the same side as the first soft box... one box is going to flood the area with NOT ENOUGH LIGHT overall... the other one is going to bring up the details while the bounce fills.
Follow me?
EDIT: As I think about it... you may even be able to light a small, white room with just the one 300w in a softbox... try angling the light off the subjects so that you get bounce fill from the wall. I had MR Tweenie II lamped down to 300w and it was still more then I needed in small rooms.
In a small room even 2 x 300w of light is a crap-load.
To give some modeling of objects under lighting you need to have key and fill... you can probably get fill from bounce... I'd put the softbox at a 45 angle out of the shot, but so that the softbox also hits the white wall behind the subjects... the wall bounce will provide fill.
To supplement this you can use the other softbox from as far away as you can get it... and off to the farthest corner on the same side as the first soft box... one box is going to flood the area with NOT ENOUGH LIGHT overall... the other one is going to bring up the details while the bounce fills.
Follow me?
EDIT: As I think about it... you may even be able to light a small, white room with just the one 300w in a softbox... try angling the light off the subjects so that you get bounce fill from the wall. I had MR Tweenie II lamped down to 300w and it was still more then I needed in small rooms.
Last edited:
Ok, I did some research. How do I know if this speedring is compatible with the softbox? Here are the links to each:
Speed Ring:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=173855&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
Soft Box:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=149963&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Cheaper Soft Box(What's the diff?):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...337&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Speed Ring:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=173855&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
Soft Box:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=149963&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Cheaper Soft Box(What's the diff?):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...337&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Last edited:
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
It looks like for the most part... the ARRI name! Arri sells some Manfrotto stands with "Arri" laser etched on them that are overpriced also.
The "Chimera" name is plenty good enough to have on your softbox... that's good sh*t there. Nobody doesn't like Chimera. (sing like the Sara-Lee jingle)
The "Chimera" name is plenty good enough to have on your softbox... that's good sh*t there. Nobody doesn't like Chimera. (sing like the Sara-Lee jingle)
Cool Lights
DVXuser Sponsor
What's wrong with these?
What's wrong with these?
I use them and don't see a problem with them.
http://cgi.ebay.com/TWO-24-x36-SOFT-BOX-SET-SOFTBOX-FREE-MOUNTING-RING_W0QQitemZ7626262264QQihZ017QQcategoryZ30082QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Very inexpensive. Even has a fairly big speed mount ring. The plastic ring works okay doesn't have to be metal in my experience. It is heat resistant. This softbox is rated to 500w. With a bit more money you can get one rated to 1000w. No problems in my use.
Chinese lanterns could work too:
http://www.paperlanternstore.com/30whnyla.html
These are only rated to around 250 - 300w in this size. And are also not expensive solutions.
I see no reason to spend big bucks on any of these items. Particularly since, you may not really like the results that these approaches give either and may have to do something involving more work.
Richard
What's wrong with these?
I use them and don't see a problem with them.
http://cgi.ebay.com/TWO-24-x36-SOFT-BOX-SET-SOFTBOX-FREE-MOUNTING-RING_W0QQitemZ7626262264QQihZ017QQcategoryZ30082QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Very inexpensive. Even has a fairly big speed mount ring. The plastic ring works okay doesn't have to be metal in my experience. It is heat resistant. This softbox is rated to 500w. With a bit more money you can get one rated to 1000w. No problems in my use.
Chinese lanterns could work too:
http://www.paperlanternstore.com/30whnyla.html
These are only rated to around 250 - 300w in this size. And are also not expensive solutions.
I see no reason to spend big bucks on any of these items. Particularly since, you may not really like the results that these approaches give either and may have to do something involving more work.
Richard