Umbrellas or Soft Boxes?

[Big Mike]

HERE is a site that allows you to compare photos that demonstrate the light (& shadow) from different lighting accesories...pretty cool.

 

[fmw]

Generally, soft boxes for the studio and umbrellas are for portability. Softboxes provide a little better light control. No hard and fast rule. Soft boxes are harder to set up on location and, hence, more time consuming.

 

[nikonkev]

HERE is a site that allows you to compare photos that demonstrate the light (& shadow) from different lighting accesories...pretty cool.

Wow that's an awesome site, Mike! Thanks for sharing!

 

[JodieO]

Generally, soft boxes for the studio and umbrellas are for portability. Softboxes provide a little better light control. No hard and fast rule. Soft boxes are harder to set up on location and, hence, more time consuming.

They've come a long way with softboxes that actually fold up just like an umbrella

I have umbrellas and softboxes and never use the umbrellas. My favorite softbox right now is the 4x6 larson.

 

[sergeo_syd]

I use mostly very large umbles, like 6 foot or larger. Almost always on location, the only exception is strip lights. So go with umbrellas, it will not make enough difference to see really. Don’t worry about it.