G Guhan Gunaratnam , Dec 20, 2005; 06:44 p.m.
Hello,
I would really like to get something to soften up portraits. I have
a Canon digital system, being used with Canon flashes [580ex, 2
420ex]. I've tried various pocket reflectors/softboxes [though I
have not bought anything yet] and want to know how useful a 16x22
softbox would be for portrait lighting. I know I can't expect much,
and I'm thinking primarily about head and shoulders [if I could get
more with the same size softbox...great]. I just don't know if I'll
be immediatly disappointed and have the new softbox and connector
sit on the side. Portability is of course a concern, which is why
studio lighting is not the subject of this post. I don't shoot much
macro, so if I can't use the small softbox for portraits, it won't
get much use at all.
The softbox would be used with an ST-E2 to keep it off camera
[softbox and flash will be handheld the majority of the time, on
occasion attached to a lightstand].
Any help is appreciated.
Merry Christmas everyone
Tom Meyer 
, Dec 20, 2005; 11:37 p.m.
It will be very useful. It will probably look very different from the "pocket reflector/softboxes" you have already tried, but they will be less portable/spontaneous. Whether you will be happy with it, or not, I can't say. I use small softboxes for portraits all the time, even though I have much larger ones. I like higher contrast lighting than many people here at photo.net... t
This is a much smaller liht than you are considering, about a 9 inch round dish with fabric scrim on it's face
G Guhan Gunaratnam , Dec 21, 2005; 02:22 a.m.
Thanks a lot for the input Tom. Nice picture as well.
Ivan Dzo , Dec 21, 2005; 03:29 a.m.
It will be very useful. If you can get it close enough, with a tight head and shoulders, then it will give a reasonably soft light. In combination with a reflector opposite side, it should do pretty much all you need. Not so good for full length shots though.
Garry Edwards 
, Dec 21, 2005; 03:57 a.m.
It may be useful to you, it depends on the type of shots you want to produce.
It won't produce really soft lighting, even for a tight head shot, because it won't be possible to get it close enough - this may or may not be important to you.
Leonard Forte , Dec 21, 2005; 09:24 a.m.
Talking about small softboxes....would a small (16 x22) softbox be good to use as a hairlight for 1-4 people?
Tom Meyer , Dec 22, 2005; 12:29 a.m.
Yes, but not for more than two, I tried it a few weeks ago. Well it could work, if you put all their heads together like a bunch of coconuts.. t
This was with that little 9 inch dish and it's slip on diffuser. There probably was a big box for fill, too.
Tom Meyer , Dec 22, 2005; 12:40 a.m.
This is with a 19in Octagonal softbox sold by Norman, on my Lumedyne strobe about 20 inches from his head
kevin farrell , Dec 26, 2005; 05:38 p.m.
Tom Meyer, I have considered trying a small softbox with my Vivitar 285 flash. Of the ones
attached by a speed-ring, there are those with removable baffles and extra diffuser panels,
and cheaper ones without. Am I likely to regret buying a cheaper one and not having the
option of added diffusion or baffling?
Tom Meyer , Dec 27, 2005; 12:21 a.m.
Yes, and not just for that reason. You stress a box pretty severely every time you set it up and tear it own. Get one with strong construction. Since your light source is small to begin with (the 285) and the box is small, too, it would make sense to get one that has a high level of diffusion, since that seems to be your goal, ie: soft light.
I have different criteria. I am looking for a diffuse light that will cover a smaller area, as opposed to direct light on a small area or diffuse light on a large area. So double diffusion is not as crucial to me.
My strobe head is a bare bulb type (Lumedyne/Quantum), and there are softboxes made specifically for them, no speed ring required. All of my small softboxes (Norman, Quantum and Calumet) only offer single diffusion. I do carry some white gauzy cloth that I can jam/tape/rubberband around the bulb, if I want more diffusion. You could probably do the same. Think creatively about how you might securely attach your own second sheet or layer of diffusing material inside a softbox to your 285... t
