I don't think it was just slightly better. It was significantly better. It helped separate you from your background a lot more, kept the light from spilling over the scenario and softened it a little further. IMO, the scenes when you're using the new octabox look much more appealing; it even made those background lights seem way prettier, without that previous spill light to undermine them.
at 4:14 what you are describing sounds like things affected by the light, Broncolor Paras are the same, if the light is RECESSED, aka not like broncolor or profoto Pro heads, aka Like Godox AD400 style, the light can't 'expose' all of the reflective surface, and also these modifiers are designed with a certain W/sec. power input, that is to say don't expect full spec. out if you only have a speedlight lighting it, these big (133/177 para, or 150cm and above) modifiers need 400W\s minimum, and under ideal conditions a 1600 or 3200 W\s pack, like a broncolor Satos, Scoro packs or Siros mono lights to get full output performance [there is light lost in the box, and ~2 ish stops from the combined diffusion cloths]- this is why there are ideal power inputs, but also so the cloth materials used don't overheat some of them aren't 'pro' capable, good for spaced out use, but not with high power lights, going like a pro portrait or high glamour fashion shoot.
when the video first started I was about to complain about the light. I'm so glad that was intentional. :) The big softbox is definitely worth the cost. It's actually fairly inexpensive for anyone who will be getting paid for video work. Good work gets us more work.
Just picked one up for myself, just passing this on but a good rule of thumb for setting the distance of the soft box from your face (to achieve the “softest possible light”) would be to match the diameter of the soft box with the distance from the subjects face. Example if the soft box is 31 inches in diameter, place it 31 inches away from your face, if it is 24 inches in diameter, place it 24 inches away from your face.
Well worth the extra money, and your effort in demonstrating it was equally well appreciated. Looks stacks better than the softbox I almost just bought. Thanks!
Great video thanks for posting. Demonstrates the significant benefit of the Godox box with the honeycomb, really keeps the light of the background, which is important if you are using a chroma key, or trying to keep a white background lit with a gel, light spill would kill the effect. Thanks again.
Great video! BIg difference! Also looking to remove the spill on the background. What light source are you using with Godox SB-UE ... and at what procentage are you runing the light?? I think it was not mentioned.... I think you mentioned in another video you are using SL60W?
i just ordered this gidox softbox wt grid and found ur video .. i must say it very well made and helpful , very impressed man .. joining u, fellow creator frm India.
It definitely makes a difference, but I think the most effective thing is the honeycomb grid, more than the size as 20cm is not that much. Thanks for the video 👍.
Chris I bought a Godox SB-UE 47"/120cm softbox but when I try to put in my honeycombs they just look strange and pull on the edges of the octagon and kind of make it look warped it almost appears like the honeycombs don't fit properly. Dior honeycombs fit nicely like the picture on Amazon because mine sure don't going to give them a call and see if perhaps the size is a little too small.
Hey mate! Great video, I could see a massive difference especially looking on the left side of your face the shadows really mellowed out more nicely. BTW, you really got a calming and nice way to speak, keep it on :)
Interesting review. Did you use a grid on the smaller one? I think you got spills on the smaller softbox because you didn't use a grid on it. Correct me If I am wrong. Thx
I checked the Amazon links you left on those softboxes and I noticed something important that might explain the power difference needed for each softbox: The biggest one is umbrella type, I guess you are using a COB type led light, so you are basically putting a solid object in front of the hotspot of that light. That type of softbox (umbrella) is perfect for Strobist lights but not for continuous lighting. For continuous light, after a lot of videos and some experiments, I think what gives the best results, in this closed modifier format, are the "parabolic softbox" type, where you don't put anything between the front of the light source and the modifiers (diffuser material, color gels or honeycomb grid). I'm doing the same upgrade because I have exactly the small one, the same as you. But I want to be able to add a honeycomb. I think would be a cool DIY small project. For an option to a bigger light modifier without the above issue, check some models on brands like Triopo, Godox fw90, and Nice photo Cheers!
That’s why you need smth like a godox vl300 to have enough power for almost any scenario with it :p The convenience of an umbrella softbox is so nice I bet.
It needs twice more power because of 20cm additional. What is different people should say a bit of different angle and the not noticeable honeycomb (at all). Buying cheapest isn’t a good option but buying expensive one isn’t also a good option. What I recommend (for even many things) buying from middle shelf. Materials = quality. It needs to be durable to temperatures. It can have double diffusion and grid but the size matter of soft box. Additionally I don’t recommend buying hexagon. That’s it. Differences are meaningless. The size has been enlarged and you added grid to it. You need to look at materials and that’s the all of strict differences.
Modifiers are the way to go. There is a very big difference between your two modifiers here Chris and the larger one with a grid absolutely sells the space you are in by letting the practicals do the talking.
James Watts 😃 I’m so new to all the studio lighting stuff but I do really like the look of it. I’m the kind of chap who really needs to play with something before I understand it!
The new softbox is much better, I’m glad you are keeping it. Don’t say you are sat there. You are sitting there. Nobody took you by the shoulders and plunked you down in your chair. It’s a common error, also in US and here in Canada. I was taught the difference quite a long time ago, 78 now … the grammar has not changed.
this Umbrella softbox also has a disc with it, acting like a beauty dish, this should help remove any hot spots, and re-direct this wasted light into the body, upping the power of the light, if you didn't have this, that could be the reason, the high contrast of the main and diffused beams, instead of a softer light which wraps around more.
es sumamente superior...fijate como te suaviza la piel y como te mantiene en luz mientras que tu fondo no...eso se debe al grid...pequeños detalles hacen la diferencia
Well done Chris it has made a difference instead the way you shown the results and i was going back and forth to check the results. I think its worth. I am planning to pair GODOX Parabolic Soft Box P120L with Appurture 100D what do you think i have sapce in studio. Nice video
Do you have the 2 diffusion sheets attached? if it is, I think thats why you need more power to get the same exposure, maybe try removing the inner diffusion sheet and just place the outer diffusion sheet and the honeycomb grid. :D Just wondering. :D Loved this video! :D
The more expensive softbox is much better although it appears (I’m watching on a 55" TV) that there’s a little too much light hitting your face now you have more contrast with the background. Interestingly you also now appear to be getting more light bouncing up off the desk under your chin.
Yes you made a good decisions but again the question is why you didn't choose godox parabolic soft box, like Peter mackinon shape... Godox has p90L Or H version
The image quality in my opinion is better with the cheap one. But I think you made a mistake by over exposing with the godox. The reason it looks harsher in my opinion.
Well worth the extra because it has to be better by virtue of the greater area of the modifiers size in producing a softer look, I believe? Very welcome comparison though in helping people see the differences between the two. It helped me - I'm off to order one for my Honey Badger 320W lights, just hope they are man enough? Thank you for your time.
i think it is worth the money but the exposure on the cheaper one was technically better but if you match the exposure with the new one it should look even better overall they are not extremely expensive and you can still use the small one with a light for a rim light or something; great video keep it up; PS: try to eliminate the white noise using izotope or any noise removal as i can hear it clearly.
I slowed down the video to .25 x speed then saw the difference between nosoftbox/small/otcaTHICCboysoftbox if you look at the highlights on the face. 120 cm is money in portraits.
I don't think it was just slightly better. It was significantly better. It helped separate you from your background a lot more, kept the light from spilling over the scenario and softened it a little further. IMO, the scenes when you're using the new octabox look much more appealing; it even made those background lights seem way prettier, without that previous spill light to undermine them.
at 4:14 what you are describing sounds like things affected by the light, Broncolor Paras are the same, if the light is RECESSED, aka not like broncolor or profoto Pro heads, aka Like Godox AD400 style, the light can't 'expose' all of the reflective surface, and also these modifiers are designed with a certain W/sec. power input, that is to say don't expect full spec. out if you only have a speedlight lighting it, these big (133/177 para, or 150cm and above) modifiers need 400W\s minimum, and under ideal conditions a 1600 or 3200 W\s pack, like a broncolor Satos, Scoro packs or Siros mono lights to get full output performance [there is light lost in the box, and ~2 ish stops from the combined diffusion cloths]- this is why there are ideal power inputs, but also so the cloth materials used don't overheat some of them aren't 'pro' capable, good for spaced out use, but not with high power lights, going like a pro portrait or high glamour fashion shoot.
Thank you Chris for sharing, loved the second look of course! Good luck man!
Dude thanks for this! Definitely gonna get that Godox SB-UE for the quality
when the video first started I was about to complain about the light. I'm so glad that was intentional. :) The big softbox is definitely worth the cost. It's actually fairly inexpensive for anyone who will be getting paid for video work. Good work gets us more work.
haha thanks :) yeah its still very cheap compared to the aperture lightdome... maybe I will try and get one to do another comparison.
Love this video. Thanks for the honesty.
Just picked one up for myself, just passing this on but a good rule of thumb for setting the distance of the soft box from your face (to achieve the “softest possible light”) would be to match the diameter of the soft box with the distance from the subjects face. Example if the soft box is 31 inches in diameter, place it 31 inches away from your face, if it is 24 inches in diameter, place it 24 inches away from your face.
Well worth the extra money, and your effort in demonstrating it was equally well appreciated. Looks stacks better than the softbox I almost just bought. Thanks!
Dude , definitely worth it.
Great video thanks for posting. Demonstrates the significant benefit of the Godox box with the honeycomb, really keeps the light of the background, which is important if you are using a chroma key, or trying to keep a white background lit with a gel, light spill would kill the effect. Thanks again.
put a honey cone one the smaller one and you will get the same effect.
Great video! BIg difference! Also looking to remove the spill on the background. What light source are you using with Godox SB-UE ... and at what procentage are you runing the light?? I think it was not mentioned.... I think you mentioned in another video you are using SL60W?
Hi thanks for the comment, yeah it was the SL60w which I love. percentage wise I think its about 40 percent from memory :)
@@ChrisWatkinsMedia Thanks. So there is room for even more. That's not so bad!
i just ordered this gidox softbox wt grid and found ur video .. i must say it very well made and helpful , very impressed man .. joining u, fellow creator frm India.
What's the difference between Godox FW and UE series?
It definitely makes a difference, but I think the most effective thing is the honeycomb grid, more than the size as 20cm is not that much. Thanks for the video 👍.
Chris I bought a Godox SB-UE 47"/120cm softbox but when I try to put in my honeycombs they just look strange and pull on the edges of the octagon and kind of make it look warped it almost appears like the honeycombs don't fit properly. Dior honeycombs fit nicely like the picture on Amazon because mine sure don't going to give them a call and see if perhaps the size is a little too small.
Thanks, helped loads!
Can we use speed light with this softbox would it effective for photography.
Hey mate! Great video, I could see a massive difference especially looking on the left side of your face the shadows really mellowed out more nicely. BTW, you really got a calming and nice way to speak, keep it on :)
How much inch ?
Interesting review. Did you use a grid on the smaller one? I think you got spills on the smaller softbox because you didn't use a grid on it. Correct me If I am wrong. Thx
Thinking the same thing
@@nicholaslusk3290 Yeah. That might be the reason.
I checked the Amazon links you left on those softboxes and I noticed something important that might explain the power difference needed for each softbox: The biggest one is umbrella type, I guess you are using a COB type led light, so you are basically putting a solid object in front of the hotspot of that light. That type of softbox (umbrella) is perfect for Strobist lights but not for continuous lighting.
For continuous light, after a lot of videos and some experiments, I think what gives the best results, in this closed modifier format, are the "parabolic softbox" type, where you don't put anything between the front of the light source and the modifiers (diffuser material, color gels or honeycomb grid).
I'm doing the same upgrade because I have exactly the small one, the same as you. But I want to be able to add a honeycomb. I think would be a cool DIY small project.
For an option to a bigger light modifier without the above issue, check some models on brands like Triopo, Godox fw90, and Nice photo
Cheers!
That’s why you need smth like a godox vl300 to have enough power for almost any scenario with it :p The convenience of an umbrella softbox is so nice I bet.
Before spending the money, you could have tried feathering cheap softbox to remove the background light.
Absolutely worth it man ! Absolutely
It needs twice more power because of 20cm additional. What is different people should say a bit of different angle and the not noticeable honeycomb (at all). Buying cheapest isn’t a good option but buying expensive one isn’t also a good option.
What I recommend (for even many things) buying from middle shelf. Materials = quality. It needs to be durable to temperatures. It can have double diffusion and grid but the size matter of soft box. Additionally I don’t recommend buying hexagon. That’s it.
Differences are meaningless. The size has been enlarged and you added grid to it. You need to look at materials and that’s the all of strict differences.
Modifiers are the way to go. There is a very big difference between your two modifiers here Chris and the larger one with a grid absolutely sells the space you are in by letting the practicals do the talking.
James Watts 😃 I’m so new to all the studio lighting stuff but I do really like the look of it. I’m the kind of chap who really needs to play with something before I understand it!
Hello Chris,
Thank you, good job!
Hi! And thank you 😊
Great video 👍👍
so if you are shooting just your self use the more expensive one, if there are more people use the less expensive one since it covers more space?
The new softbox is much better, I’m glad you are keeping it. Don’t say you are sat there. You are sitting there. Nobody took you by the shoulders and plunked you down in your chair. It’s a common error, also in US and here in Canada. I was taught the difference quite a long time ago, 78 now … the grammar has not changed.
this Umbrella softbox also has a disc with it, acting like a beauty dish, this should help remove any hot spots, and re-direct this wasted light into the body, upping the power of the light, if you didn't have this, that could be the reason, the high contrast of the main and diffused beams, instead of a softer light which wraps around more.
es sumamente superior...fijate como te suaviza la piel y como te mantiene en luz mientras que tu fondo no...eso se debe al grid...pequeños detalles hacen la diferencia
Well done Chris it has made a difference instead the way you shown the results and i was going back and forth to check the results. I think its worth. I am planning to pair GODOX Parabolic Soft Box P120L with Appurture 100D what do you think i have sapce in studio. Nice video
A side by side had been great. But bigger is better.
Do you use it for continuous video key light for long time? I have sl60w and wanted to check if it is good for longer hours.
Yeah I use it for hours at a time and it's perfect.
@@ChrisWatkinsMedia Thank you😊.. I have ordered same after checking video but wanted to make sure.
Do you have the 2 diffusion sheets attached? if it is, I think thats why you need more power to get the same exposure, maybe try removing the inner diffusion sheet and just place the outer diffusion sheet and the honeycomb grid. :D Just wondering. :D Loved this video! :D
Thank you 😊 yeah both softboxes have two diffusion sheets but I'll give it a try :)
@@ChrisWatkinsMedia did you tried it? can you remove tha one diffusion?
The more expensive softbox is much better although it appears (I’m watching on a 55" TV) that there’s a little too much light hitting your face now you have more contrast with the background. Interestingly you also now appear to be getting more light bouncing up off the desk under your chin.
Interesting thanks Paul, I think the angle of the light may have changed slightly when I put the bigger softbox on. Good to know thanks 😊
Thank you very much! This video was helpful. Which led light do you use here?
Thanks 😊 it's the neweer sl60w
@@ChrisWatkinsMedia :) Thank you!
thanks for the video!
Yes you made a good decisions but again the question is why you didn't choose godox parabolic soft box,
like Peter mackinon shape...
Godox has p90L Or H version
Great video and the more expensive one is definitely better. What light are you using though to put in the softbox? Btw subbed.
great video
You are better lighted but no background but I like it
The image quality in my opinion is better with the cheap one. But I think you made a mistake by over exposing with the godox. The reason it looks harsher in my opinion.
What light source are you using?
Neweer sl60w
Can i use SB-UE120 for godox sl60w?
Yup.
@@ChrisWatkinsMedia Without any adapters and stuff?
Yup that softbox is a Bowens mount and so is the sl60w
@@ChrisWatkinsMedia Thank's for your reply...
No problem ☺️
The godox is much better. Put something heavy on the base of the lightstand to stabilize it. Like a sandbag.
Well worth the extra because it has to be better by virtue of the greater area of the modifiers size in producing a softer look, I believe?
Very welcome comparison though in helping people see the differences between the two. It helped me - I'm off to order one for my Honey Badger 320W lights, just hope they are man enough?
Thank you for your time.
Go with the new.
The difference between them is obvious.
It's a very good video, thanks for the info! :)
And you don't have to apologize to be sweaty! we are humans, we all sweat
Naty Creci haha thank you 😊
4 times ? I would say 100 times better !! The grid is making all the difference 👍
Looks much better
Thanks yes worth it. 👍
The switch was night and day.
i think it is worth the money but the exposure on the cheaper one was technically better but if you match the exposure with the new one it should look even better overall they are not extremely expensive and you can still use the small one with a light for a rim light or something; great video keep it up; PS: try to eliminate the white noise using izotope or any noise removal as i can hear it clearly.
very better the new one
I like the new
The new one is better
honeycomb sotbox looks better
Way better
It look worst 😊
I slowed down the video to .25 x speed then saw the difference between nosoftbox/small/otcaTHICCboysoftbox if you look at the highlights on the face. 120 cm is money in portraits.