Do TINY Speedlights work in Large light modifiers? Testing with Godox MF-12
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Speedlights don't fill a softbox. Speedlights don't have enough power to reach a large umbrella. These statements are commonly shared in flash photography conversations, but how true is it? Are photographers who want to create the softest, most even light required to upgrade to strobes?
Check out this video where I show practical and test samples showing the difference between one of the smallest speedlight products on the market, a Godox MF12 macro speedlight and the Godox AD600 Pro; a barebulb strobe.
Gear used in this video
Godox MF12: adorama.rfvk.n...
Godox AD600 Pro: adorama.rfvk.n...
Glow 65" Umbrella: adorama.rfvk.n...
Glow 48" Quick Octa: adorama.rfvk.n...
Instagram: bit.ly/2sj7Lsq
Where I get Music and Effects: share.epidemics...
Thank you for this video. Your video cleared all my doubts. I always thought that may I use my godox flash with softbox or not. I found no video regarding it. But today, I found your video, and it's saves my money.
There is NO logical reason why a small strobe cannot be used in any modifier - it's just a matter of how bright the output will be. The softness/spread/character of the light are all determined by the physics of the modifier - not the brightness of the light source. Of course what ISO you are willing to shoot at, whether you need to overcome ambient light levels, and recycle times are a different matter! Kind of like the old Archimedes statement- Give me a lever long enough and I can move the world. Theoretically possible- maybe not really so practical!
Excellent comment!
Those MF12's are an overlooked gem. One unintended use: I lined the inside of a lantern with a CTO gel and put an MF12 inside to create a more authentic look than simple photoshopping light into it in post. These things are so versatile when you need a little extra touch in a shot.
The AD 200s are great.
Yeah I bought mine used it’s amazing!
@@jimmyhinAKBe careful the batteries will die soon
Speed lights are great. I saved lots of money when i realized this
3:43 Bro, your model DISAPPEARED in the AD600 Photo! It must have been TOO MUCH light! lol but yeah, light snobs in general make me laugh, good video! Here's another lighting hack: you don't have to ONLY shoot at ISO 100 when doing studio work / shooting flash!
As usual, well presented and informative. Real world examples, just wish more RUclips influencers tried this approach. Well done Rob :)
Things that I do that baffle people. AD200 with the fresnel straight through a softbox. I rarely use the bare bulbs. this vid shows me I can use the junior lux with a small softbox with an extender.
Same here. Packing the 200 with the fresnel in a bag is infinitely easier than the bare bulb - even if there was a difference, it'd have to be pretty dramatic to get me to go through the extra steps to bring the bare bulb along with me.
@@waynedennyphoto exactly! I can wear cargo pants and put 2 ad200s in each pocket.
Very important & interesting but rarely discussed/tested topic. Thanks for covering.
I was just wondering if the test shown here was really optimal to highlight the difference. The subject being relatively small compared to the softbox might minimize the observable difference (if there is any). not sure... because it still makes a lot of sense that the light from a bare bulb should be diffused much more evenly (maybe it is also output dependent? the higher the power the bigger is the difference?)
The type of the softbox, reflective (like in this test) vs shoot through, is probably also very important. Reflective showing less difference between a speedlite and a bare bulb.
I use Godox Tt685 & V1.. Both works almost same in most condition.
For event photography, it's easy to carry speedlights than strobes.
What do you think about using that little guy for real estate photography? Think it would work by itself?
Used to have a round head ad200. I bounced it inside the umbrella. The quality was great.
Great video! Thanks. I found myself wondering about this very issue since I'm considering up to a 65" soft box. I thought I wuild need two speed lights (and least) and a bracket to hold them.
Thanks, always very useful to clear up misunderstandings 😊
what wattage of MF12?
Nobody really shares the w/s of speedlights. I’m sure there’s some explanation, but that’s always been the case.
Great information!
Where is the zoom of the speedlite supposed to be in a soft-box?
which gn have that flash? thanks you
Excellent test! Amazed by the results!
Excellent video!! Finally the debate is settled.
So why would we buy AD600 if a cheap speed light does the same thing?!?
Because a cheap speedlight can't produce the output/recycle speeds of an AD600.
This video is super useful i have someone asking about photos outside this helps me decide if i need to spend a major amount of money or not (iI already have 2 of the MF-12 for macro stuff) and obviously i want to get better lights just cant afford them at the moment
should i buy otabox 90 or 120 cm for godox 860. I got Cl15 but i dont satified with it. I also aim softbox 60x60 with 1/2 price. need some advice
Nikon sb-22 is magnificent with Phottix Odin trigger/receiver system can fill gym with enough light.
Rob, you're seriously the best source of information for these products there is! I'm only a little south of you in Maumee, OH... home of Westcott..... but they don't hold a candle to the versatility and price point of Flashpoint/Godox.
What about a speedlight on a stripbox? I've seen a special stripboxes where you attach the light from the bottom.... but considering the video... would it be better or more convenient (due to the variety of models) to use a "regularl" stripbox (with bowens mount)?
Thanks
Many thanks for this useful video! 🙏🏼🙌🏼
For indoor portraits, speedlights help to keep the weight down and still deliver the same results as with large strobes!
Great to see your testing - IVe only ever use speedlites due to budget, storage space, small shooting space and portability - I often use either the pull down diffuser panel or add a diffuser cup to help turn the speedlite into a more omnidirectional setup in softboxes, shoot thru and bounce umbrellas - i have been very happy with the results and more than enoughh power for my portrait and product photogrpahy work
Does it work? I mean adding more diffuser?
@@ARGHAMUKHERJEE I believe there is a slight but noticeble difference that fills the ubmrella and softbox a little better - it does reduce light output a little but i find that Im still only using 1/4 power
Thanks mate! You just answered a question i've been asking myself for quite sometime.
11 Seconds ago ... never found a video so fast I believe 🙈
MAkes you wonder if you even need bare bulb head on the AD200 pro or just leave the fresnel head on it all the time?
My shooting style favors an AD200 with speedlight head in an octobox outdoors. My thinking is that even if it doesn't fill the diffuser, the fall-off on the edges will soften any shadow transitions.
I use an Ad200 with a bare bulb all the time in the studio. Works great, plenty of power for most things. Speed lights are awesome.
Excellent video my friend just in time I was one of those few people who was so curious about that thanks again for a great video. Keep them coming.
Can you share the link to the video you mention at the end of this one? Where you compare different strobes outdoors? It is not showing up and I couldn't find it. Thanks
Sorry about that, just added the card in. Here's a link though : ruclips.net/video/Qlla-uZeKFc/видео.html
@@robhallphoto Thanks, just watched it. My conclusion is that 400 w/s is almost as usable as 600 w/s, right? I am gravitating towards Westcott and they just don't make 600 w/s strobe
@@JohnDoe-gb3zh Yes, there's only a difference of 1/2 stop of light between 400 and 600 w/s so it's not too impactful. However the adage goes, better to have too much and not need it, than too little. As with everything in photography it really depends on your use case.
that's how i've shot before...ad200 w/fresnel in a large softbox and the results were nice and soft...granted in shade or the sun wasn't too extreme.
And those small speedlight work very good at sunset and in the blue hour.
If godox just made a small trigger for this I'd love to use this for off camera flash!
Great video! Can you add the video that you mentioned at the end? I searched your videos and wasn’t able to find it.
4:17 MF12 has less details in Highlights and Shadows
Great video and something I had been wondering about.
Excellent thoughts. I like 😊
Mythbustin', photo style
Does the MF 12 support HSS?
So is there even any point using the bare bulb on an ad200?? Seems like the light quality would be equal? (In these modifiers)
Also did that glow softbox have the metal deflector in it?
The results of this test would suggest there is no need for the bare bulb in this style of portrait work.
I always shoot with the speedlight head as I feel its more rugged, and only use the bare head when I just want to fill in shadows in a room.
Refresh rate is more important
So you're saying I don't need to carry around my fresnel head for my ad200 when I wanna use it in a softbox?
I know the fresnel gives a lot more power vs the barebulb too...
Both heads give the same amount of power. (200Ws)
The fresnel head just throws it all in the same direction which makes it more efficient when lighting a specific subject.
Although the question could be asked "Is using the fresnel head to light up just the diffusion panel get more light on the subject than a bare bulb that throws light everywhere inside the softbox?". The answer is "Probably Yes", although I am unsure it is a measurable amount.
Thx for this bro l,
welcame Mr. Rob
Very useful video. Curious question I’ve always had for speedlights, does it matter what you have the zoom set to when using a modifier? Thinking it may really only make a difference when using a shoot through umbrella or rear mounted softbox… but you’ve got me wondering
it does matter. you can create an hotspot or spread beam to fill entire modifier, best solution is using widest setting. set up umbrella to check, zoom to maximum and take picture of umbrella, go to widest setting and take picture of umbrella. diffusion panels can change things but back in 1996 when i first checked it, I noticed hot spots occurred using my old Sunpak 383 or Vivitar 285. have not checked since then. If I put speedlite in umbrella or box, I follow old Joe McNally trick, set to widest zoom setting 35mm or 28mm and put on dome diffuser skip inner baffle if you do that with softbox that has two diffusers, FYIm you can also control umbrella shaft to help control spread of light. See Gavin Hoey for how
@@billmcfadden4791 Why skip the inner baffle? Would say it spreads the light even more with the baffle...
@@michaelkiewiet1022 The inner diffuser/baffle will reduce the light output. If you are only using speedlights, then you probably need all the light you can get.
👍🏽
may i ask what power were they at for the comparison?
That doesn't matter really, it is the "quality" of the light in question rather than the amount.
Fantastic video 👌whats the best size umbrella and light strobe to use at an indoor event to photograph group photos of upto 12 people or less?