what to look for in a softbox purchase... are Calumet / illuma good buys?

[kiwiphotography]

Hello,
I recently picked up a used norman set of 2 heads (LH 2400) and a battery pack (P2000) for under $500. My other option was going to be alien bees kit for around $1,000 and this norman kit seems far more profeesional and powerful...so I'm stoked on the purchase!

My next buy is to set up some soft boxes and wanted to know if there is anything in specific I need to look for in a softbox. I don't want the super super cheapo set, but also don't need the heavy duty durable professional boxes either. I looked on BandH and saw loads of different ones.

I went to calumet and found some boxes on sale from Illuma...I think they were 30x42x14 for around $80.
I will be using the kit for shooting small studio work indoors and some outdoor portraits, mainly for fill light in weddings and such.

What should I look for in a box?

Also, I saw another norman head for sale for $100 used and I was going to buy this for a background light...I wouldn't need a softbox or modifiers for a basic backlight set-up would I?
thanks for the help,
Micah

[Skipper]

The bigger the better.

I was watching a Scott Kelby tutorial this week and he strongly recommends the Elinchrom octagonal shaped 53 " softbox.

I do believe this is one of those items/categories where you get what you pay for. I hear Larson is also really good. Pricey but good.

[peirceman]

Be careful with Kelby recommendations. He is very knowledgable and can make Photoshop sing, but he also has no problem being a shill for his sponsors. He will recommend a sponsor's product even if it is clearly sub-standard. There are many less expensive brands than Elinchrom. I will echo what Skipper said about the bigger, the better.

Scott

[Skipper]

That's too bad. Sorry to hear it. I can be such a dupe when these A-listers give out advice and equipment recommendations. Maybe it is a great softbox through. But if you're right then who knows. I would think the Scott Kelbys of the world are successful enough that they don't need to advertise products they don't truly believe in and would not want to risk their image pushing something that isn't all they say it is.

[peirceman]

Skipper, I didn't say the Elinchrom softbox was bad. I have no idea, as I have never used one. I have bought and used Elinchrom's remote trigger, and while it works, there are far better ones that are cheaper. I bought it on Kelby's recommendation in an article.

So, just be careful. If your research shows the elinchrom product to be a good value, go for it!

Scott

[AstroImager]

I have two Calumet/Illuma soft boxes, and an Alien Bees Octabox. As somebody already pointed out -- the bigger the better. My two Calumets (the 30x40x14, and the large 54x78) get the most use, but the big Octabox is just right for full-length portraits and other work (it's 47").
If you get smaller softboxes, you need to keep them very close to the subject, or you lose the soft wrap-around light you got a softbox for in the first place
I've been very happy with the durability and quality of all of them. One reason I got the Calumets is because there's a local Calumet store for me, where I can go and actually try stuff out before buying...but in the end, by the time you add a speedring for your particular flash units, they're a bit more expensive than some other options.

Paul

[Skipper]

No, I know you were not saying the Elinchrom was bad. I was disappointed to hear that some of these (frequent and plentiful) recommendations from celebrity pros cannot always be as reliable as I thought as they may be just shilling for sponsor rather than really thinking a piece of equipment is great.

Skipper, I didn't say the Elinchrom softbox was bad. I have no idea, as I have never used one. I have bought and used Elinchrom's remote trigger, and while it works, there are far better ones that are cheaper. I bought it on Kelby's recommendation in an article.

So, just be careful. If your research shows the elinchrom product to be a good value, go for it!

Scott