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<blockquote data-quote="WayneF" data-source="post: 335616" data-attributes="member: 12496">Big and close is what makes a light be soft.&nbsp;&nbsp; Big makes soft, and close makes it be big (relative to the subject, with light arriving from many angles, filling all the other paths shadows).&nbsp; &nbsp; A 40 inch umbrella or a 40 inch softbox, either roughly about 40 inches from the subject (distance about same magnitude as size), will be the same &quot;soft&quot;, will produce very soft and vague shadows, almost shadowless except where there subject is touching the background.&nbsp; There won't be much difference in the light from an umbrella or a softbox (if same size), but a tiny softbox (like 8 inches across) simply can't be very soft.&nbsp; Umbrellas are naturally bigger, and will run circles around a little softbox.&nbsp; The soft concept is about size (and close makes big).As you mention, you may not always want &quot;soft&quot;.See <a href="http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashbasics3.html" target="_blank">Four Flash Photography Basics we must know - Soft Light</a> You can do that other ways, like a speedlight reflected from a wall, or from a 3x3 foot white foam board.&nbsp; The reflector is big and soft (and close).&nbsp; But the umbrella is so much easier to mount and move.&nbsp;&nbsp; And a speedlight can fill an umbrella, but its difficult in a softbox.My opinion is that the light tent is for shiny subjects, like glass or chrome balls, which reflect all the things in the room, including you and the camera (stuff seen as unwanted reflections on the subject).&nbsp; The light tent can hide that, and reflects only the smooth featureless white tent walls.&nbsp; The lighting is diffused, but not necessarily better, in fact umbrellas may be more versatile.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="WayneF, post: 335616, member: 12496"] Big and close is what makes a light be soft. Big makes soft, and close makes it be big (relative to the subject, with light arriving from many angles, filling all the other paths shadows). A 40 inch umbrella or a 40 inch softbox, either roughly about 40 inches from the subject (distance about same magnitude as size), will be the same "soft", will produce very soft and vague shadows, almost shadowless except where there subject is touching the background. There won't be much difference in the light from an umbrella or a softbox (if same size), but a tiny softbox (like 8 inches across) simply can't be very soft. Umbrellas are naturally bigger, and will run circles around a little softbox. The soft concept is about size (and close makes big). As you mention, you may not always want "soft". See [URL="http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashbasics3.html"]Four Flash Photography Basics we must know - Soft Light[/URL] You can do that other ways, like a speedlight reflected from a wall, or from a 3x3 foot white foam board. The reflector is big and soft (and close). But the umbrella is so much easier to mount and move. And a speedlight can fill an umbrella, but its difficult in a softbox. My opinion is that the light tent is for shiny subjects, like glass or chrome balls, which reflect all the things in the room, including you and the camera (stuff seen as unwanted reflections on the subject). The light tent can hide that, and reflects only the smooth featureless white tent walls. The lighting is diffused, but not necessarily better, in fact umbrellas may be more versatile. [/QUOTE]

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