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Umbrella vs. Softbox: a quick comparison
By Jacob Vorpahl | January 29, 2009
After receiving my new Westcott 28″ Apollo Mono softbox for Christmas and putting it to work for some family shots, I was curious to see what uses it would provide me over a shoot through umbrella/brolly. I’ve been using umbrellas for a while and I’ve gotten some nice results, but I’ve always had a problem with spill, mainly because I’m doing all of my shooting in a small room in my house so it’s very hard to control the spill from the brolly (note to self: make more money, buy larger house, create dedicated studio).
I’ve also seen many questions asked around photography forums about what light modifier people should buy: a softbox or a brolly. Many replies go for the umbrella: it’s cheaper, more versatile (shoot through or bounce), and it’s a whole lot easier to transport and set up. That’s true. They are cheaper, by far, in comparison to softboxes and I can’t do two different techniques with my softbox (bounce or shoot through). However, the great thing about the Westcott Apollo Mono softbox is that it us on an umbrella-type frame. So, it’s just like carrying around a large umbrella (the kind you buy to stay out of the rain) and it sets up in only a little more time than a regular brolly. What is important, though, is the different quality of light you get from each and that’s what we’re going to look at today.
I will preface this by saying that I had a much more in depth comparison that I wanted to do, but time has not allowed it and my model/wife has not been exactly free to take the pictures I wanted to show the strengths and weakness of each, so you’ll instead have to make do with self portraits of me (I can sense the excitement). However, I think you’ll get the gist of it.
The Modifiers and the Set up
For our comparison we’re going to be using a Westcott 43″ shoot through (optical white satin) umbrella and a Westcott 28″x28″ Apollo Mono softbox. When I took the following shots, I stood in exactly the same place (approximately the same distance from the camera and with the softbox or umbrella directly to my left side at a 90 degree angle), and the front of the modifier was exactly the same distance from me each time. This meant moving the light stand a little, as the front of the shoot through in relation to the position of the flash versus the front of the softbox in relation to the flash was different, so when I took the shot with the softbox I had to move the light stand toward me a little. Regardless, the front of the modifier is the same distance away (~1 ft to 1.5ft) from me. I used the exact same camera and flash settings for each shot that will be compared as well, so I think I have my bases covered as far as making this comparison equal. Also, just for notation sake, the umbrella was extended almost to the very end of the shaft, so it had as much coverage of the flash as possible. The flash used in all photos was a Nikon SB800 with a 1/4 CTO gel attached triggered via CLS .
First shots: Portrait
In this comparison we have a typical portrait using only the key light. The room I’ve taken this in is not that big (as you will see in the next comparison) so the light sent out by the umbrella bounces against the ceiling and adjoining walls creating a lot of fill light. If that is what you’re going for, then an umbrella would suit you just fine. However, you might not always have that small space to have the light bounce around and you’d need a second light, or a reflector. Obviously, though, the same goes for the softbox. So, as far as which creates more light, the umbrella is the winner hands down.
Something else to consider, though, is how soft the light is. These pictures here don’t really do the Apollo justice. In some other pictures I’ve taken with it, it has given some very, very soft light that you’d be forgiven if you mistook it for a north facing window. I’ve never been able to achieve the same softness with an umbrella. It could be due to a lack of experience with it, but considering I can just setup the softbox and get that effect makes it very useful in my mind. Consider this photo that I took of my wife while she was reading. Extremely soft, and no bounce coming back on the left side of her face. Sometimes you may want that, sometimes maybe not, and that brings us to our next comparison.
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Second shots: Spill
If you can excuse my goofiness (and apparent kung-fu mastery), you’ll see the biggest difference between these two modifiers: light spill. While I think I can get softer light using my Apollo, I also maintain almost total control over where the light is going when it is being utilized. I used my 10.5mm fisheye to capture as much real estate as I could in the room. The umbrella sends light everywhere, as you can see, and if you’re trying to gel a background light with something other than what’s on your key light, you’re going to run into problems, whereas the softbox sends very little light to the background.
Which is better?
I don’t think you can say which is “better” in an overall sense. They are both tools that can be used effectively if used properly. If you need total control over the light in your shot, unless you plan on goboing the heck out of your umbrella, get the Westcott softbox. It may cost $130 but it is well worth it for the ease of use and quality of light. But if you don’t find yourself setting up background lights of different colors than the main light, or you want to send light everywhere in a room to maximize the light spread, go with a brolly. They don’t cost that much and they can be very useful. Just know what you need and get the tool that allows you to do it. For me, right now it is the Apollo Mono softbox, for you, it might be something else.
One thing you shouldn’t take away from this though, is how much light each modifier eats. The umbrella and flash were up against a glossy white wall, so though it is putting out more light, a lot of that may be coming from the reflection off the back wall. I’ll be doing some more tests in the future to see which one eats up more of your flash juice and just how much that is. For now though, I hope the above information was helpful if you’re making a decision to go brolly or softbox. If you can think of something else I can do to give you more information, go ahead and drop a line in the comments to let me know. Hopefully we can all get moving on our way to better lighting.
See also: Another quick comparison: shoot through umbrella vs. bounced /w cover
Topics: Flash, Gear, Photography | 20 Comments »
January 29th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Thank you for putting this together and posting it. It is very helpful.
January 29th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Saw this on the flickr Strobist group; seems pretty interesting. I greatly prefer the results out of the softbox, in this test anyway. Thanks for writing it up.
January 29th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Cool! Saw this linked from Twitter. I’ve got both, but never experimented with comparing them. For artistic photos (my own use), I’d probably prefer the softbox, while the umbrella is more appropriate to the fashion shots I’ve been doing lately for website use.
January 29th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
The twitter link was me but then I thought I should come over and comment too.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Thanks! I appreciate the link and spreading the information. Also, very cool of you to come by and comment.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Hi Jacob
Very informative and illustrative. Clearly the correct answer to the on-going debate of which is better. Right tool for the right job. Each definitely have their advantages and drawbacks according to the situation where they are being used.
Continued success with your photography and blogging.
Cheers
~Gary
January 30th, 2009 at 1:21 am
I’d like to see a comparison of a bounced umbrella added to this. Great work.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:36 am
I’ll see if I can get that put up tonight Kris. That shouldn’t take too much time.
January 31st, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Nice Review, Jacob. Looks like you’ve tinkered with studio lighting enough to write a good review. Keep up the good work.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
[...] Umbrella vs. Softbox: a quick comparison [...]
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:47 am
[...] been a long time since I updated my blog, I know. I also know I still you owe that review of the 28″ Westcott Apollo softbox from way back when. Don’t worry, it’ll come, along with some more updates. Just because I [...]
July 8th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
[...] didn’t care about spill since the shot was going to be in close enough for it not to matter (this will explain a little why spill is important). I tinkered with the cupcakes a little as I looked through my viewfinder, moved them around here [...]
October 29th, 2009 at 12:20 am
[...] Article: Umbrella vs. Softbox: a quick comparison [...]
November 21st, 2009 at 9:49 am
Jacob, Thanks for your comments!! I have been looking on the web to buy my firts equipment, and your blog has been of great help!! Ill go for the softbox! Cheers
December 29th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Thanks a bunch for the comparison. I was about to make a huge mistake in purchasing an umbrella kit. LIFE SAVER!!!
January 20th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
My pleasure jon, hopefully you’re getting great results from your new softbox.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Great that you’re doing these tests, but it would be more informative if you adjusted to get even exposures. It seems pretty clear that the softbox eats up more light – no surprise – and it’s worth noting this difference. But I would find the comparison shots much more useful if you adjusted the flash levels to get the same exposure on the subject. It’s also not fair to compare spill when one is under exposing the subject compared to the other.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Fair enough issue regarding the spill being different with even exposures versus the same flash power.
I’ll look to do an update or something taking this into account. I’d like to note that I just recently (last few months) got into using a light meter so before there was no exact way for me to make sure the exposures were the same. Now I can do that.
I’m looking at doing a more comprehensive update/series just on brollys and softboxes with some of the points people have raised on here. It’s so popular that articles involving the two appear at the top of my visited list almost everyday.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I realized that my previous comment didn’t come off sounding as appreciative as it should for the work you’ve already done – So thanks! I recent got a soft box for exactly this reason – too much spill from umbrellas. Your comparisons are very helpful.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:47 am
No no, you’re fine. It was a good point and you’re welcome for the comparisons. I don’t mind seeing ways to improve things, it can only help us all out if done right.