Hey Everyone. A NEW UPDATED video as of May 5th, 2020 has been released featuring more information everyone asked out. th-cam.com/video/on1rLQ2zgMw/w-d-xo.html
Did you just purchase your first speedlite softbox, or are you considering getting one soon? In this tutorial I will not only show you how to set one up, but also the bracket options available to hold your speedlites and the best method for mounting your flash to get the best light from them. #speedlite #strobist #octobox #soft #box #setup #how #to #learn #photography
+Joe's Photo & Video ChannelGreat job Joe, I really like the way you explain the actual setup and I have leaned so much from your channe. My question for you, I have $500 to spend for my home photo studio, I already have 580 II canon flash, can you recommend or put together a list of equipment I would need to have a good working studio for now. Thanks for dedication
Joe's Photo & Video Channel Hey Joe, great video. I am considering purchasing this same octabox but i am unsure that one speedlight will have enough power to give a reasonable amount of light. Is using two speeslights at once mainly for even quality of light or simply a lack of power ?
Hey Callum, I do it essentially for even illumination. One this most people fail to mention is that with a speedlites being offset from the center. Only about 2/3rds of the outer diffuser will be hit by the light inside. So to counter this I use two speedlite opposite of each other. But if I do need more power like outdoors I will through that 3rd one on for good measures. But as far as power. It depends on the distance. I use a general rule for all my modifiers for soft light. I use a 18" modifier at 18", 3ft at 3ft, 4 at 4 and so on.. So for t his softbox I normally always have it about 3ft at most unless I am going for harder light and power is not an issue. But in a studio enviroment I normally can use them about 1/8th power give and take when using two. But this allows me to shoot at f/7.1 and ISO200.
Hi Joe if you look at single speedlite bracket you will see that the hole for the umbrella softbox is angled and you have to make sure that you put the the softbox in correctly.
Hello Harry, thanks for commenting. Yes I am aware there is a slight angle. But often the whole is much larger then the umbrella rods so they really do not end up adding any angle. In addition larger umbrella modifiers even from popular professional brands will tend to sag downward under their own weight. Thus the angle does not really tend to add any real additional benefit. That said, angling the speedlite to shoot into the center will not result in light coming directly straight out of the softbox or even an umbrella. So what ever angle you shoot into it at, the light will do its best to escape at an equal and opposite angle. Thus the only true way to get is to get the speedlite directly in the center as much as possible. Hope this helps clarify :-) Cheers.
Hi Joe, thanks for the video ! you gave me some good ideas ! I have that same kind of soft box except it's a rectangular one (24" x 36") and I don't like it because i just can't lean it forward enough ! I think I'll find myself a good octagonal one with a bowens mount.
Really depends really.. I have no issues bringing these outdoors for a photo shoot. They are light and in expensive.. So if they get damaged its not a big dent in my wallet.
Hi Joe. Thanks for the video. I mentioned there are two holes for an umbrella/softbox. The lower hole has a tightening screw to lock in the refelctor but the center hole does not. How is that tight enough to hold let's say an octogon reflector box? Thanks.
I have the same cold shoe swivel. My flash is a Cactus RF60X, it has a mount hole for 1/4 in. thread. I remove the cold shoe and my flash goes right on the swivel and aligns with the center of the umbrella. Just my two cents.
Joe, have a question. Since the two flashes are inside this box, it would seem the only way to fire them is with radio frequency remote, since the line of sight from a an ST-E2 transmitter works via line of sight, the front and the entire box for that matter would be blocking the line of sight. Are you using a wired setup to fire the strobes or a radio transmitter?
Hi Joe-I have an October like the one in your video and I am using a Bowen’s S mount for my flash. I have the umbrella in place and the flash mounted but for some reason no matter how I do this the flash, the mount, and the umbrella are butting up against the diffuser panel on the front. This causes about a two to three inch bulge in the diffusion panel. What am I doing wrong?
Sigh - can't I just dial back the flash exposure compensation 2 or 3 stops and go E-TTL as fill flash without a light modifier? I'm going to try that and see what sort of result that I get.
can i use my regular tripod to support a softbox with off camera flash? I have a sb-700 and i know it comes with the bracket for my tripod. But I'm wondering if i can fix the softbox on it as well?
You will need to use a wireless transmitter. But yes. This softbox uses a standard umbrella pole so it will fit on almost any speedlite bracket. Hope this helps.
It depends on the speedlites you will be using. I use the Yongnuo YN560 IV flash units and they have built-in wireless transmitters/receivers. So I do not have to connect anything to them. But I do use the Yongnuo YN560-TX wireless controller to control and flash the units. It works very well. Hope this helps.
Personally I use just plain manual speedlites. But if your not used to having to manually adjust your exposure and also adjust your speedlite power, then a TTL speedlite like the Neewer 600EX RT would be a better choice.
Hello sir love you from India 🇮🇳 sir my Godox Softbox Octa 120CM Inside Rod Is Broken By Mistake How Can I Buy It Only Rod Inner fiber stick so please help me
Most brackets have a slight angle to them. This helps a little. But best practice is to use the wide angle defuser that comes made into the front head of your speedlite to help ensure even light spread. Hope this helps.
Tell me this because I’ve always wondered. Why would anyone buy and use three Sppedlights when you can buy a streaklight or an evolve 200. I just don’t get it. I use speedlights on camera that’s it. As bounce flash.
Well, many would also ask why bother with a bare bulb flash when you can buy studio strobes for about the same price too. Which I do also have. Its just about portability and using what you have. Also not everyone can afford a wistro BBF from the start or live in a part of the world where they are sold. Now me personally. I never use 3, I use 2 speedlites often because they are very light and portable unlike a BBF that is actually fairly heavy. That said, many other professional photographers like Joe McNally have dozens of speedlites because of their flexibility and use then in various ways including ganging them up for a single light source. Cheers.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel thanks Joe good point. I like tour videos very practical info. Yea I was just asking because I use the streetlights and other bbf which have a lot of power. Sometimes I’ll use a speed light as a hair light but usually I just use one on camera 1. As a trigger and 2. As a light fill. I got these neewer soft boxes for the money great product. So cheap and they get the job done well.
A number of my viewers have the Godox and Streakpoint BB flashes and love them. Even Gavin Hoey uses them for his videos. They are very good. I was considering them at one point, but I ended up going with Paul C. Buff DigiBee studio strobes because of the similar price and also that I would not have to worry with a better in my studio office, plus the added bonus of a modeling lamp to help illustrate the lighting effects in my videos.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel yea I have the PCB alien Bees. Everyone used to use them here at weddings in the N.Y. area. But then Everyone got into Flashpoint streaklights. To be honest I tried them out and it was nice little more portable but half the power. Then they made the xplor 600 and the evolve 200....that blew me away because the battery is in the unit and they all work together as a unit very portable great light. Then they sealed the deal for me when they made the speed lights that have the lithium ion batteries that you can use as a trigger. The quality of light is really good at an event with all these products but PCB units are made to last forever and for the price and power you get out of them you cannot go wrong. Still with Godox/Flashpoint products they are so convenient and by such a margin I’m willing to give up on build quality (which is pretty good anyway). Do you still do events? If so give it a try you will be sucked right in. 😂
If I already own 2 soft boxes non "newer" brand, its Linco, am I able to still purchase those speed lights and brackets. Would it fit & work? Moreso Im not sure what speed lights are compatible with my Canon T5i. Any help?
If you want to use your speedlites on your Canon camera. Make sure they are a Canon mount. All the mounts on Canon are the same from the lowest entry level to the 1DX flagship. The tri-speedlite brackets are universal. Hope this helps.
Hey Joe, thanks for the headsup :) Here my setup www.flickr.com/photos/gipukan/32891013816/ I was wondering how you trigger yours and my YN's would set the flashes off center by 1.5cm.
Hey Everyone. A NEW UPDATED video as of May 5th, 2020 has been released featuring more information everyone asked out.
th-cam.com/video/on1rLQ2zgMw/w-d-xo.html
This man deserves a million subs. No kidding.
Still helping new people four years after posting 👍🏻
வீடியோ மிகவும் பயனுள்ளதாக இருந்தது மிக்க நன்றி
இரா.மனோகர் சென்னை .
Very useful This video sir, , big thank you sir R.MANOHAR ,Chennai.India
Mark my words Joe, you are going to the TOP of TH-cam!
+Dustin Dolby Many thanks Dustin. :-)
Super duper helpful! Got it all set up in 10 minutes as a complete noob. THANKS JOE!
Couldn't have asked more from a tutorial! Thanks, quick, easy. And very useful tips!
Thank you.
Very helpful tip regarding that three way shoe mount and using only the 2 on the sides--did not think about that! Thank you!
Thank you for commenting. Always glad to help :-)
Did you just purchase your first speedlite softbox, or are you considering getting one soon? In this tutorial I will not only show you how to set one up, but also the bracket options available to hold your speedlites and the best method for mounting your flash to get the best light from them.
#speedlite #strobist #octobox #soft #box #setup #how #to #learn #photography
+Joe's Photo & Video ChannelGreat job Joe, I really like the way you explain the actual setup and I have leaned so much from your channe. My question for you, I have $500 to spend for my home photo studio, I already have 580 II canon flash, can you recommend or put together a list of equipment I would need to have a good working studio for now. Thanks for dedication
Joe's Photo & Video Channel Hey Joe, great video. I am considering purchasing this same octabox but i am unsure that one speedlight will have enough power to give a reasonable amount of light. Is using two speeslights at once mainly for even quality of light or simply a lack of power ?
Hey Callum, I do it essentially for even illumination. One this most people fail to mention is that with a speedlites being offset from the center. Only about 2/3rds of the outer diffuser will be hit by the light inside. So to counter this I use two speedlite opposite of each other. But if I do need more power like outdoors I will through that 3rd one on for good measures. But as far as power. It depends on the distance. I use a general rule for all my modifiers for soft light. I use a 18" modifier at 18", 3ft at 3ft, 4 at 4 and so on.. So for t his softbox I normally always have it about 3ft at most unless I am going for harder light and power is not an issue. But in a studio enviroment I normally can use them about 1/8th power give and take when using two. But this allows me to shoot at f/7.1 and ISO200.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel Is 2 speedlights enough to overpower sunlight?
get the godox :)
Thank you Joe. You provided exactly the solution I was looking for.
Thank you, happy the video was helpful.
Great and simple video - well explained Joe.
Thank you.
I have this and use it with my ad360. Does the job well when I want to keep my equipment light and light output higher.
Great video, straight to the point.
This was extremely helpful! Thank you!
Excellent; I had no idea this existed. Thanks a mil.
Such a helpful video! Thank you SO MUCH!!
Thank you helpful video
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips. Going to forward this to a few photography friends who are just getting started. Also goin to like and subscribe. Thanks
Thanks for commenting. Many thanks on subscribing and sharing to your friends. Again, much appreciated. :-)
Thank you sooooooo much... keep it up my guy.. I’ll mention you on my channel (86k)
Great video! Very straight forward and informative
Really appreciate this advice - just what I needed.
GE makes a temp controlled LED bulb that comes w a remote and has 8 pre set colors
Hi Joe if you look at single speedlite bracket you will see that the hole for the umbrella softbox is angled and you have to make sure that you put the the softbox in correctly.
Hello Harry, thanks for commenting. Yes I am aware there is a slight angle. But often the whole is much larger then the umbrella rods so they really do not end up adding any angle. In addition larger umbrella modifiers even from popular professional brands will tend to sag downward under their own weight. Thus the angle does not really tend to add any real additional benefit. That said, angling the speedlite to shoot into the center will not result in light coming directly straight out of the softbox or even an umbrella. So what ever angle you shoot into it at, the light will do its best to escape at an equal and opposite angle. Thus the only true way to get is to get the speedlite directly in the center as much as possible. Hope this helps clarify :-) Cheers.
Love the simplistic directions. It really helps.
Hi Joe, thanks for the video ! you gave me some good ideas ! I have that same kind of soft box except it's a rectangular one (24" x 36") and I don't like it because i just can't lean it forward enough ! I think I'll find myself a good octagonal one with a bowens mount.
I been using the Fotodiox branded ones. The EZ-Pro ones are nice and quick to setup.
great video...think i made my choice thanks for the advice..
great tutorial! Thanks for sharing it! learned alot!
Glad to help.
Would’ve liked to seen the S type bracket
Hey Bill, Updated video was released yesterday and does feature the S Bracket and more.. th-cam.com/video/on1rLQ2zgMw/w-d-xo.html
This is useful information, thank you.
I use a number of westcott apollo modifiers, would it be worth looking at the less expensive newer or godox modifiers!?
Really depends really.. I have no issues bringing these outdoors for a photo shoot. They are light and in expensive.. So if they get damaged its not a big dent in my wallet.
Hi Joe. Thanks for the video. I mentioned there are two holes for an umbrella/softbox. The lower hole has a tightening screw to lock in the refelctor but the center hole does not. How is that tight enough to hold let's say an octogon reflector box? Thanks.
For the tri bracket? Honestly the softbox is so light it really hardly needs any help holding the softbox. Hope this helps.
Awesome video man! Just what I needed. Thank you 🤘🤘
I have the same cold shoe swivel. My flash is a Cactus RF60X, it has a mount hole for 1/4 in. thread. I remove the cold shoe and my flash goes right on the swivel and aligns with the center of the umbrella. Just my two cents.
Very helpful thank you
Joe, have a question. Since the two flashes are inside this box, it would seem the only way to fire them is with radio frequency remote, since the line of sight from a an ST-E2 transmitter works via line of sight, the front and the entire box for that matter would be blocking the line of sight. Are you using a wired setup to fire the strobes or a radio transmitter?
Hey Jeff, just seen your post and replied to it. :-) I live in the Philippines so I am awake when most people sleep in the US :-D
Thank U mate
Really wish you would have shown the S bracket setup😕
Hey Sam, I feature the S Bracket in my updated video that was just released: th-cam.com/video/on1rLQ2zgMw/w-d-xo.html
Why didn't you do the S bracket. You showed 3 but only setup 2.
Just released new updated video and it has the S Bracket.. th-cam.com/video/on1rLQ2zgMw/w-d-xo.html
Hi thank you for this video. Could you please provide info about the LED bulb where did you find it?
You can pick those up at your local hardware store. As far as the E27 holder, they are sold on Amazon. Hope this helps.
Hi Joe-I have an October like the one in your video and I am using a Bowen’s S mount for my flash. I have the umbrella in place and the flash mounted but for some reason no matter how I do this the flash, the mount, and the umbrella are butting up against the diffuser panel on the front. This causes about a two to three inch bulge in the diffusion panel. What am I doing wrong?
I want to use four speedlites; what flash bracket would you recommend? Thanks in advance
Thank you for you video Joe. One question please: which is better octagon or square soft box?
If I remember correctly the rectangle box is slightly cheaper, but not by much. Your looking at maybe $5 cheaper. Hope this helps.
Is there any kind of amazon link or online link for the LES Bulb
I have them linked on my Amazon store. I will double check to make sure they are still listed.
lol @ "Slide the soft box over your pole"
With this design, how do you adjust the tilt angle of the softbox once the diffuser is in place? Thanks!
You just have to open up the side and reach your arm in. Its velcro so really no big deal at all.
When using one speedlight, would a snap on diffuser (aka soapdish) help even the spread?
If you have only 1 speedlight. Would you recommend this softbox, or would you recommend a more difficult setup up Bowens mount softbox?
It will still work very well with one speedlite. :-) Hope this helps.
you can get dual S brackets now :)
Thank you for the tutorial.May I know what is the name of the piece of music that sounds in the begging?Thank youuuu
What is the folded size/length of the Neewer 32" softbox? Im asking for transportation. Im searching everywhere on the internet but cant find it...
Can you send me the link for the 12w bulb and socket adapter? Thank You!!
Sure.. Here are the ones I used in the video: amzn.to/2AkQBcI
Sigh - can't I just dial back the flash exposure compensation 2 or 3 stops and go E-TTL as fill flash without a light modifier? I'm going to try that and see what sort of result that I get.
Can u put ur camera through (with speed light attached) and take pictures that way or would it look bad ?
Where would you poke your lens out at?
can i use my regular tripod to support a softbox with off camera flash? I have a sb-700 and i know it comes with the bracket for my tripod. But I'm wondering if i can fix the softbox on it as well?
You will need to use a wireless transmitter. But yes. This softbox uses a standard umbrella pole so it will fit on almost any speedlite bracket. Hope this helps.
How to people take these outdoors? what does it connect to?
It depends on the speedlites you will be using. I use the Yongnuo YN560 IV flash units and they have built-in wireless transmitters/receivers. So I do not have to connect anything to them. But I do use the Yongnuo YN560-TX wireless controller to control and flash the units. It works very well. Hope this helps.
Katherine Gomez use remote trigger
What kind of speed light u recommend
Personally I use just plain manual speedlites. But if your not used to having to manually adjust your exposure and also adjust your speedlite power, then a TTL speedlite like the Neewer 600EX RT would be a better choice.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel thanks
Joe's Photo & Video Channel would this work
CowboyStudio NPT-04 4 Channel Wireless Hot Shoe Flash Trigger Receiver
Hello sir love you from India 🇮🇳 sir my Godox Softbox Octa 120CM Inside Rod Is Broken By Mistake How Can I Buy It Only Rod Inner fiber stick so please help me
I recommend contacting Godox, I am pretty sure they likely have a customer support email somewhere and see if they can sell you a replacement.
I like the bracket it's Alu,weighs nothing,put it in the bag!.
Put your pole through first and then slide Tri up and down.
hi joe... i only have one speedlight.how do i work around that to get good even light
Most brackets have a slight angle to them. This helps a little. But best practice is to use the wide angle defuser that comes made into the front head of your speedlite to help ensure even light spread. Hope this helps.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel oh yeah thanks Joe....I'll try that
how big this octa softbox is? is that 60cm?
32 inch = 80 cm
Tell me this because I’ve always wondered. Why would anyone buy and use three
Sppedlights when you can buy a streaklight or an evolve 200. I just don’t get it. I use speedlights on camera that’s it. As bounce flash.
Well, many would also ask why bother with a bare bulb flash when you can buy studio strobes for about the same price too. Which I do also have. Its just about portability and using what you have. Also not everyone can afford a wistro BBF from the start or live in a part of the world where they are sold. Now me personally. I never use 3, I use 2 speedlites often because they are very light and portable unlike a BBF that is actually fairly heavy. That said, many other professional photographers like Joe McNally have dozens of speedlites because of their flexibility and use then in various ways including ganging them up for a single light source. Cheers.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel thanks Joe good point. I like tour videos very practical info. Yea I was just asking because I use the streetlights and other bbf which have a lot of power. Sometimes I’ll use a speed light as a hair light but usually I just use one on camera 1. As a trigger and 2. As a light fill. I got these neewer soft boxes for the money great product. So cheap and they get the job done well.
A number of my viewers have the Godox and Streakpoint BB flashes and love them. Even Gavin Hoey uses them for his videos. They are very good. I was considering them at one point, but I ended up going with Paul C. Buff DigiBee studio strobes because of the similar price and also that I would not have to worry with a better in my studio office, plus the added bonus of a modeling lamp to help illustrate the lighting effects in my videos.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel yea I have the PCB alien Bees. Everyone used to use them here at weddings in the N.Y. area. But then Everyone got into Flashpoint streaklights. To be honest I tried them out and it was nice little more portable but half the power. Then they made the xplor 600 and the evolve 200....that blew me away because the battery is in the unit and they all work together as a unit very portable great light. Then they sealed the deal for me when they made the speed lights that have the lithium ion batteries that you can use as a trigger. The quality of light is really good at an event with all these products but PCB units are made to last forever and for the price and power you get out of them you cannot go wrong. Still with Godox/Flashpoint products they are so convenient and by such a margin I’m willing to give up on build quality (which is pretty good anyway). Do you still do events? If so give it a try you will be sucked right in. 😂
I like this one better b/c I can see the product better. Yeah, it's not as cool looking, but whatever. Lol!
these things are impossible to assemble. Bought two Neewer soft boxes and go so frustrated and just tossed them.
Goddamn.. Velcro shoes must be a bitch also..
If I already own 2 soft boxes non "newer" brand, its Linco, am I able to still purchase those speed lights and brackets. Would it fit & work? Moreso Im not sure what speed lights are compatible with my Canon T5i. Any help?
If you want to use your speedlites on your Canon camera. Make sure they are a Canon mount. All the mounts on Canon are the same from the lowest entry level to the 1DX flagship. The tri-speedlite brackets are universal. Hope this helps.
Came to see the s type bracket. No dice.
I take it you didnt watch the video...
Joe Jackson I certainly did. Let me know if I missed something
Hey Joe, thanks for the headsup :) Here my setup www.flickr.com/photos/gipukan/32891013816/ I was wondering how you trigger yours and my YN's would set the flashes off center by 1.5cm.
Hey Gipukan, I use the YN560-TX transmitter to trigger my speedlites. Radio transmitters are the way to go these days.
Thank you so much, that was so informative!