Essential Guide to Soft Box Lights: What It Is | How to Choose

If you love photography or are interested in becoming a professional photographer, you've probably heard of soft box lights. But what are they? And how do you choose the right one?

This article will discuss in detail what soft box lights are, the different types of soft box lights and how to choose the right one for your needs.

What Is Soft Box Light and Its Benefits?

A softbox is a type of photographic lighting device that uses a diffuser to create a uniform, soft lighting.

Benefits of Soft Box Light

• You can use softbox lights in various settings, from portrait to product photography.
• Softbox lighting creates a more flattering light than other types of photography lighting, such as bare bulbs or fluorescent lights.
• Softbox lights are portable and easy to set up, so you can take them wherever you go.
• They provide more versatility than other types of lights, as you can adjust the angle and position of the softbox to get the perfect light for your needs.

Soft Box vs Umbrella vs Ring Light vs Led Panel

Now that you know the benefits of using a soft box light, you might wonder what the difference is between a softbox and other lights, such as an umbrella, a ring light, or an LED panel.

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

Softbox vs Umbrella

There are many differences between a softbox and an umbrella. Some of them are:

• A soft box produces a more diffuse and flattering direct light, while an umbrella produces a soft, indirect light bounced off the umbrella's surface.
• A softbox is more expensive than an umbrella.
• A softbox is more versatile as you can adjust the angle and position of the softbox to get the perfect light for your needs, while an umbrella is less versatile.

Softbox vs Ring Light

Softbox and ring light differ in many ways. They vary mainly due to the quality of light that each produces. Some of the key differences are:

• A soft box creates ample lighting that can still form shadows, while a ring light creates an evenly diffused light with no shadows.
• A ring light can create circular catchlights reflected on the subject's eyes while a softbox cannot.
• A softbox is more expensive than a ring light.

Softbox vs Led Panel

When comparing a softbox to an LED panel, the main difference is in the quality of light that each produces. Some of the key differences are:

• A softbox is designed to diffuse the light through a modifier, while an LED produces light that can spread in a wide area but is not diffused.
• A softbox is more expensive than an LED panel.

How to Choose the Best Soft Box?

Now that you know the benefits of using a softbox and the differences between a softbox and other types of lights, you might be wondering how to choose the best softbox for your needs. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a softbox:

1. The Size of the Soft Box

Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash

Softboxes come in a variety of sizes, from small to large. You should know your subject's size to choose the right size of the softbox. This is because the size of the softbox should be about the size of your subject. If your subject is small, you should choose a small softbox, whereas if your subject is enormous, you should choose a large softbox.

2. The Portability of the Softbox

Considering the portability of the softbox is essential as you might want to take your softbox with you when you travel. If you travel a lot, you should choose a softbox that is easy to carry and set up. This will make your life a lot easier. However, if you are not traveling much, you can choose a softbox that is not as portable.

3. Quality of Light and Stand

If you want to use it in shooting videos, you must ensure that the light source is steady and does not produce any flicker. It would help if you also considered the brightness level and the light's ability to diffuse. The stand is also important as a good stand will make it easier to set up the softbox and position it in the right place.

4. Color and Shape

Softboxes come in a variety of colors and shapes. Some of the most common shapes are rectangular, square and octagonal. The shape of the softbox determines how the light is cast. A softbox with a rectangular shape will cast a longer light, whereas a softbox with a square shape will cast light more even. The color of the softbox also matters, so make sure to choose a color complementary to your subject.

10 Best Soft Box Lighting Kit

There are many softboxes on the market, and choosing the best one for your needs can be challenging. Here are the ten best soft boxes:

1. Aputure Amaran HR672W Led Softbox Lighting Kit

 Image Credit: amazon.com

Specifications

• Variable color temperature from 2500K-7500K
• Battery power or AC power from 0-100%
• CRI/TLCI: 95/96
• 45 degrees beam angle
• Battery charging type: USB
• Connectivity: Bluetooth

Pros

• It is very portable and easy to set up.
• It is very versatile as you can adjust the angle and position of the softbox to get the perfect light for your needs.
• It is very affordable.
• You can adjust the color temperature and brightness of the light.

Cons

• Has a short battery life.

2. Fovitec SPK10-037 Soft Box

Image Credit: amazon.com

Specifications

• Power source: AC
• Weight: 26.05lb
• Number of light bulbs: 11
• Remote control: Yes

Pros

• Has adjustable light output from 0-100%
• It is very portable and easy to set up.
• It is very versatile as you can adjust the angle and position of the softbox to get the perfect light for your needs.

Cons

• It is a bit pricey
• The light stand is not sturdy
• It has a single bulb in the boom stand

3. Studiofx 2400 W Softbox Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com 

Specifications

• Power: 2400 Watt
• Number of softboxes:3
• 5500K temperature of color

Pros

• Each bulb is controlled individually
• It comes with a carrying case
• It is used with a variety of light sources

Cons

• The equipment is difficult to adjust
• Has only a single bulb in every boom stand

4. Neewer 2-In-1 Softbox Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com  

Specifications

• The material used: Aluminum
• Diffuser: White
• Size: 24x24 inches/ 60x60 centimeters
• The temperature of the color: 5500K

Pros

• Perfect for both video and photography
• Made of aluminum, making it durable
• The diffuser is white, which makes it perfect for diffusing light

Cons

It is a bit more expensive than some softboxes on the market.

5. Yesker Softbox Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com   

Specifications

• The material used: Aluminum, nylon
• Type of light source: CFL
• Number of light sources: 2
• Dimensions(length*width*height) : 28*9.5*8inches

Pros

• Is very affordable
• Very easy to set up.

Cons

• The light is not very bright.

6. HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com 

Specifications

• Dimension:(length*width*height) : 27.5*7.8*8.2inches
• Temperature: 5500K
• Light stand height: 78.7 inches

Pros

• It is easy to set up.
• It is very portable.
• The light is bright and has a good color temperature.

 Cons

• Is a bit pricey.

7. YICOE Softbox Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com  

Specifications

• Dimensions(length*width*height): 27.56 x 9.45 x 6.89 inches
• The material used: Aluminum
• Weight: 4.63 pounds

Pros

• It is easy to set up
• Is very affordable

Cons

• The light stand is not very sturdy.

8. MOUNTDOG Softbox Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com  

Specifications

• The material used: Aluminum
• Type of light source: LED
• Color temperature: 6500kelvin
• Power: 80 watts
• Input voltage: 110-240 volts

Pros

• It is easy to assemble and disassemble
• Has a lightweight hence easily portable Cons
• It is a bit pricey

9. RALENO Softbox Photography Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com

Specifications

• Type of light source: Incandescent
• The material used: Nylon, Silver
• Dimensions(Length*width*height): 27.5 x 8.66 x 8.27 inches

Pros

• The softboxes are made of high-quality nylon and silver, and they are designed to diffuse the light and create a soft, even light
• The light bulbs are daylight-balanced, and they provide plenty of light

Cons

• The kit does not include any background stands or other accessories, so you must purchase them separately if you wish to use them.

10. Limostudio Photography Softbox Lighting Kit

Image Credit: amazon.com 

Specifications

• Type of light source: LED
• The material used: Nylon
• Dimensions(Length*width*height): 27.5 x 8
• Temperature: 6500K

Pros

• The softboxes are made of high-quality nylon and designed to diffuse the light and create a soft, even light.
• The light stands are made of sturdy aluminum and adjustable, so you can position the softboxes exactly where you need them.

Cons

• The light bulbs are not daylight-balanced, so you will need to buy separate bulbs if you want to use them for outdoor photography.

Conclusion

Using Softbox lights to take photos is a great way to get more flattering, soft lighting on your subject. There are many different types and sizes of soft boxes to choose from, so it's essential to select the right one for your needs.

With practice, you'll be able to take amazing photos using a softbox light.

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