Why Softbox Size Matters for Filmmaking

[@kuntalgo]

This is the only video I needed before buying my first soft box for KZbin home studio. Thank you so much for making it.

[@georgekamenov_]

@@kuntalgo No worries, glad I could help!

[@instrby]

thank you!

[@scotey]

Well done! Thanks for the comparison. The other value of a 65 is you can fly it on a Matthews reverse stand (the larger ones are just too heavy). Really helps to keep the gear light for solo filmmakers.

[@georgekamenov_]

You're welcome 🙂 And yeah, I probably should have mentioned the weight difference as well since that can also be a big reason for getting a smaller softbox for sure 😅

[@RINGOTVReactions]

I LIKED and SUBSCRIBED in the first 30 seconds cause you focused I what I needed to know about these softboxes, while a popular brand is having a black Friday sale going. I don't know which size to buy. Its for a two person talk show. I'm buying two soft boxes for each subject/talent as a key light and a panel light for the rear behind both people.

[@georgekamenov_]

@@RINGOTVReactions If you're set on buying 2 separate ones, I'd say the 65 cm is the way to go 🙂

[@RINGOTVReactions]

@@georgekamenov_ At first I was going with the 65cm then I seen a video where a guy 85cm and appear the 85 though larger looked better. Thing is I'm wondering would the light spill on the other person. The two show include me and my wife and we will be setting about 3 feet apart. My budget is about $1,200 so what I have in my cart right now to order is two Neewer CB60B, 4 130cm Triangle wall mounting boom arms, Two 85cm Softbox. I may throw in 1 65cm softbox cause I'm learning the size really affect how the light look on the subject. Also have the two of the Neewer NL660 Bi-Color LED video lights in my cart too, which will be used for back/hair lighting with a softbox Neewer made for it. The only issue I have is I'm looking at the RGB660 Pro II, which would give the same results plus I would get cool RGB lighting. Think I will go with the RGB660 Pro II.

[@georgekamenov_]

@@RINGOTVReactions The larger the softbox - the more the light from it will spill. You can use a grid on the front of the softboxes to minimize the spill, but at a certain point, the size of the light source will just be too much even for a grid to control. I made a video very recently where I go more in depth with softbox grids. In general, it also depends on how you're going to be positioned relative to the background. If there's more distance between the subjects and the background, and you use a grid on the softbox while positioning it correctly, you can work around some of the light spilling out. Also, consider how much room the bigger softboxes will actually take and if they'll poke into your frame, for example. Lots to consider. Another option for you might be getting a lantern attachment instead of softboxes and putting that overhead, then using garbage bags or some cloth material around it to create a "skirt" if it doesn't already come with one. That would help you focus the light down on the subjects without having it spill much on the background.

[@RINGOTVReactions]

@@georgekamenov_ I ceiling is 8 foot high so I think the 65cm may be the right choice due too the size. My down stairs studio room where the softboxes will be setup is 17'L x 16'W x 8' H

[@RINGOTVReactions]

@ appreciate the information. The soft boxes will be 6 feet away from the subject. I will have a 3 camera setup so it won’t be in the frame. I get what you’re saying through about the bigger the soft box the more possibility of the light spilling on areas I don’t want it to be on. If I got a lantern it would show in the from due to the 8 foot high ceiling limit. There will be a total of 8 lights on. Two key lights, two back hair/shoulder lights, two RGB light for some mood color. And two dimmed lights in the corners to make my wooden wall panels and decorative plants stand out. Based on all the lighting everything would be separated giving a great pleasing look for viewers. I always knew lighting was extremely important. Now I’m finally getting serious about it to make my content more cinematic. Thanks again for your advice.

[@patataeve]

This has been the BEST video on this topic I've seen, and the most useful and concise! Thank you so much, you just saved a lot of people form making mistakes, haha. Blessings!

[@georgekamenov_]

@@patataeve Happy to hear it was helpful!

[@omegaman1409]

Have both 65cm and 90cm. Always found the 90cm as my favorite. Puts out the best quality to portability results. You are right on the 120cm. It just makes the rig too top heavy and the size unfit.

[@coachpeterwilliam]

Also agree, this is exactly the video I was looking for. I was wondering if the 120 was worth it but now I’m gonna go for the 90 with quick set up.

[@georgekamenov_]

@@coachpeterwilliam Glad I could help! The 120 can occasionally be useful, but in my experience it's rare that you can do something with it, which you wouldn't be able to do with a 90 or just a light with a reflector and some diffusion material 😅

[@coachpeterwilliam]

⁠ya exactly, when you mentioned the 5 in one reflector set I realized I have one that is 120 and can try that first. For a first light I guess 90 is perfect :) Keep making great videos like this!

[@kaydawgy1999]

Cheers

[@uppsatskanalen4456]

Superb tutorial. So relevant info! Im already a huge fan of your channel.

[@drjulierasmussen]

Very useful video thank you...just what I was looking for!

[@georgekamenov_]

Glad to hear it was helpful 🙂

[@coachpeterwilliam]

Perfect short and clear love it!

[@Настя-ю1л]

Thank you for the video! It was really helpful, especially the comparison shots!

[@georgekamenov_]

Happy to hear!

[@nickolaasmedia]

Great video man. Just getting into lighting and purchasing gear.

[@georgekamenov_]

Happy to hear I could help!

[@Fadedbygee]

Awesome video man! Appreciate it.

[@cosmonaut1961]

Thank you man! I wanted to do that kind of test for ages to see the result !👏👏👏

[@georgekamenov_]

You're welcome 🙂 I'm glad you found it useful. Hopefully it checked all the boxes for stuff you wanted to test, or at least most of them 😁

[@cosmonaut1961]

@@georgekamenov_ it did! And very nice touch mentioning the size!👍👍 I have all 3 sizes, but I was getting them in this order: 120cm, then 90cm and then 65cm And you're absolutely right about the size aspect.

[@deepnightown]

Thank you, man! Only your video helped me with my choice!

[@georgekamenov_]

Glad to hear I could help!

[@anamorphicalan]

Very good content. Today revived amaran 4545. Will test it tonight.

[@jamesburton1050]

Thanks for posting. I had a set the other day where they were trying to do real even lighting, and I've been more focused on moody narrative styles for the last several years. If I'd had a softbox and light standing by, I might have been able to get it in (instead of just using some light panels).

[@georgekamenov_]

To be fair, light panels can also give you some really soft light but it depends on the diffusion you've got on the front of the LEDs as well as how large it actually is. The smaller light panels are very hard to get a flattering light quality with.

[@jamesburton1050]

@@georgekamenov_ and I think the small light panels we used were mostly just for fill, but would love to have had _something_ available in the 24"+ diameter area to truly brighten the room.

[@hecarim268]

Helped me a lot thanks 👍🏻👍🏻

[@georgekamenov_]

Happy to hear! 🙂

[@TasteofTaboo]

corgi for the win

[@TaQuangVu-be9cw]

useful video! Thanks!

[@doctorPuffin]

Great video with amazing info! Is the 65cm softbox still a good option a year later?

[@georgekamenov_]

Absolutely! I've used it for literally every video I've made after this one as well as on a bunch of client projects. It's been great!

[@doctorPuffin]

@@georgekamenov_ great!! Thank you!

[@jls1495]

Hello George so do you only have one soft box for your videos …what other lighting do you use in you video because it looks nice and soft ..

[@georgekamenov_]

@@jls1495 For the most part I only use the Triopo 65cm softbox which has 2 sheets of diffusion in it. Aside from that, I might occasionally bounce light off of a wall or the curtains on my windows which also softens it. In terms of actual lighting gear, my main key light is a Colbor CL220, I have the 2 Ulanzi light tubes which I occasionally have in the background. However the light in this video specifically was a GVM P80s with the Triopo softbox on it 🙂

[@vahidamini1863]

✌....

[@Joe-ot5bo]

Hate to be that guy but I have a feeling you are the victim of some gamma shift in your videos. I can tell you have a good eye and know how to expose, edit, color, but its giving the impression that you are losing a little but of contrast and saturation because of gamma shift. Just a thought. Great video, still!

[@kojiyong47]

very helpful