How big of a softbox could I use with a Yongnuo 560 flash

bladerunner6 · 01-29-2022, 05:28 PM

I have a couple of these I have been using with 24 by 24 reflective soft boxes.

I have a chance to buy a variety of bigger ones as big as 48 by 48.

Any opinions on this, please?

Thanks.

JohnMc · 01-29-2022, 07:02 PM

The light output from the flash will still be the same, just spread over a larger area. Doesn't mean it's not usable, but.. In your current use are you popping it off at full power, or do you need to dial it back? If you're shooting product/still life it's likely you can make it work. If it's fashion or competing with daylight maybe not so much. Not sure what your buying opportunity is/means, they are not hard to find items in many places. If they're cheap and you have the money, why not, it'll be a learning experience for you.

Wheatfield · 01-29-2022, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by bladerunner6

I have a couple of these I have been using with 24 by 24 reflective soft boxes.

I have a chance to buy a variety of bigger ones as big as 48 by 48.

Any opinions on this, please?

Thanks.

48x48 might be a bit much for that flash. At one time I used a Metz 60 series flash in a 2x2 sotbox and was able to shoot at f5.6, IIRC with ISO400 film with the box a few feet from the subject.
The Yongnuo 560 flash is about the same guide number as my old Metz.
A 4x4 box will require you open up a couple of stops, so if my remembery is correct, you will be in the f2.8 range at ISO400.

I have a gigantic modifier called a moonlight. It's a 60" diameter monster. I never did have a room big enough to do it justice. The light from it was too flat. A big modifier let's you move the light further away which is nice, but then power demands start to increase dramatically. Double the distance from light to subject and you need 4 times the light output to keep everything else the same.

stevebrot · 01-29-2022, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by bladerunner6

Any opinions on this, please?

What is your intent with a bigger soft box?

Steve

**macman24054** · 01-30-2022, 03:48 AM

I use a 47" octabox on a regular basis for portrait and product photography. I even use the combination for outside portraits. By the way, I use the inner diffuser.

bladerunner6 · 01-30-2022, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

What is your intent with a bigger soft box?

Steve

Portrait work.

Wheatfield · 01-30-2022, 09:32 AM

Originally posted by bladerunner6

Portrait work.

You might find the really big ones to be too big.

**macman24054** · 01-30-2022, 11:59 AM

I recall one time I used one with a 55" Octabox that had a grid on the front. This was in a studio setting and I really had to push the power setting up and raise my ISO to get good results. But like I said before in my 47" with no grid they provide plenty of power.

stevebrot · 01-30-2022, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by bladerunner6

Portrait work.

Originally posted by Wheatfield

You might find the really big ones to be too big.

Yep...a 2x2 should be plenty big for portraits (at least, that is what I use).

Steve

Wheatfield · 01-30-2022, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Yep...a 2x2 should be plenty big for portraits (at least, that is what I use).

Steve

My go to main light modifier these days is a 24" beauty dish, and for fill a 24" dish with diffuser.

C_Jones · 01-30-2022, 02:53 PM

28 and 34 inch soft boxes may be effective. The thing is, as you go larger than 24, the power may be enough for some shots, but you may have to use the flash on a higher power.

**Digitalis** · 01-30-2022, 11:08 PM

The problem with small diffusers for portraiture is that the zone of greatest diffusion is equal to the diagonal of the diffuser surface, so say if you have a square 100cm soft-box, the zone of maximum diffusion going to be seen at a distance of 100cm or closer from the diffuser surface - any further than that and the softening effect becomes diminished and the light source becomes progressively harder. For head shots: a 38cm dish is decent*, but for full length portraits you need bigger diffusers, or better yet: more lights to cover your subject which will give you ~~raging migraines when some inexplicably refuse to fire~~ more control.

*Make sure you get a Grid along with it. The problem with Dish modifiers is that they aren't particularly compact - at least the good ones from MOLA ,Broncolor and Elinchrom. Also the softening effect of a dish depends on the surface on the interior, silver is the hardest with white being noticeably softer.

bladerunner6 · 01-31-2022, 06:20 AM

Thanks everyone for the constructive input.

bdery · 02-03-2022, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by C_Jones

28 and 34 inch soft boxes may be effective.

That's what I would recommend also as a rule of thumb. I've used a softbox of that size for many years with a Godox V850, close in power to what you have.

Nowadays, I'm having great results with Godox AD100Pro, and either a V1 or V860 iii could work also. It would increase the cost of ownership, but give you much more flexibility.

It's always possible to increase the ISO, but for portraits I generally prefer to keep ISO down.

01-29-2022, 05:28 PM	#1
bladerunner6 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,080	How big of a softbox could I use with a Yongnuo 560 flash I have a couple of these I have been using with 24 by 24 reflective soft boxes. I have a chance to buy a variety of bigger ones as big as 48 by 48. Any opinions on this, please? Thanks.

01-30-2022, 02:53 PM	#11
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	28 and 34 inch soft boxes may be effective. The thing is, as you go larger than 24, the power may be enough for some shots, but you may have to use the flash on a higher power. Last edited by C_Jones; 01-30-2022 at 03:11 PM.

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01-29-2022, 07:02 PM	#2
JohnMc Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 655	The light output from the flash will still be the same, just spread over a larger area. Doesn't mean it's not usable, but.. In your current use are you popping it off at full power, or do you need to dial it back? If you're shooting product/still life it's likely you can make it work. If it's fashion or competing with daylight maybe not so much. Not sure what your buying opportunity is/means, they are not hard to find items in many places. If they're cheap and you have the money, why not, it'll be a learning experience for you.

01-29-2022, 07:44 PM	#3
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by bladerunner6 I have a couple of these I have been using with 24 by 24 reflective soft boxes. I have a chance to buy a variety of bigger ones as big as 48 by 48. Any opinions on this, please? Thanks. 48x48 might be a bit much for that flash. At one time I used a Metz 60 series flash in a 2x2 sotbox and was able to shoot at f5.6, IIRC with ISO400 film with the box a few feet from the subject. The Yongnuo 560 flash is about the same guide number as my old Metz. A 4x4 box will require you open up a couple of stops, so if my remembery is correct, you will be in the f2.8 range at ISO400. I have a gigantic modifier called a moonlight. It's a 60" diameter monster. I never did have a room big enough to do it justice. The light from it was too flat. A big modifier let's you move the light further away which is nice, but then power demands start to increase dramatically. Double the distance from light to subject and you need 4 times the light output to keep everything else the same.

01-29-2022, 08:07 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by bladerunner6 Any opinions on this, please? What is your intent with a bigger soft box? Steve

01-30-2022, 03:48 AM	#5
macman24054 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Axton, VA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 461	I use a 47" octabox on a regular basis for portrait and product photography. I even use the combination for outside portraits. By the way, I use the inner diffuser.

01-30-2022, 06:46 AM	#6
bladerunner6 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,080 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot What is your intent with a bigger soft box? Steve Portrait work.

01-30-2022, 09:32 AM	#7
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by bladerunner6 Portrait work. You might find the really big ones to be too big.

01-30-2022, 11:59 AM	#8
macman24054 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Axton, VA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 461	I recall one time I used one with a 55" Octabox that had a grid on the front. This was in a studio setting and I really had to push the power setting up and raise my ISO to get good results. But like I said before in my 47" with no grid they provide plenty of power.

01-30-2022, 12:29 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by bladerunner6 Portrait work. Originally posted by Wheatfield You might find the really big ones to be too big. Yep...a 2x2 should be plenty big for portraits (at least, that is what I use). Steve

01-30-2022, 01:24 PM	#10
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by stevebrot Yep...a 2x2 should be plenty big for portraits (at least, that is what I use). Steve My go to main light modifier these days is a 24" beauty dish, and for fill a 24" dish with diffuser.

01-30-2022, 11:08 PM	#12
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	The problem with small diffusers for portraiture is that the zone of greatest diffusion is equal to the diagonal of the diffuser surface, so say if you have a square 100cm soft-box, the zone of maximum diffusion going to be seen at a distance of 100cm or closer from the diffuser surface - any further than that and the softening effect becomes diminished and the light source becomes progressively harder. For head shots: a 38cm dish is decent, but for full length portraits you need bigger diffusers, or better yet: more lights to cover your subject which will give you ~~raging migraines when some inexplicably refuse to fire~~ more control. Make sure you get a Grid along with it. The problem with Dish modifiers is that they aren't particularly compact - at least the good ones from MOLA ,Broncolor and Elinchrom. Also the softening effect of a dish depends on the surface on the interior, silver is the hardest with white being noticeably softer.

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01-31-2022, 06:20 AM	#13
bladerunner6 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,080 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for the constructive input.

02-03-2022, 06:58 AM	#14
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by C_Jones 28 and 34 inch soft boxes may be effective. That's what I would recommend also as a rule of thumb. I've used a softbox of that size for many years with a Godox V850, close in power to what you have. Nowadays, I'm having great results with Godox AD100Pro, and either a V1 or V860 iii could work also. It would increase the cost of ownership, but give you much more flexibility. It's always possible to increase the ISO, but for portraits I generally prefer to keep ISO down.