900 LED Light Panel Compared to Softbox
I get a ton of questions in regards to LEDs vs. softboxes as light sources. Which are better, can I use LED panels to light a green screen or infinite white, what is the major difference between these two, etc. I love this question because once explained, the difference between the two is very clear. I really wanted to show and tell what DIFFUSED light looks like compared to DIRECTIONAL light. Hence the above video comparison of one 900 LED Light Panel to one Softbox to show you what a diffused light source looks like versus the directional light source of a 900 LED. Here’s a little more insight.
* All LED lights won’t give you the exact same look. Depending on the size of the panel and whether or not it comes with the dial to change the intensity of the light, you’re going to get different results. The one consistent factor though is that this light will be directional. It’s going to cast harsh shadows and it’s not going to cover the surface of objects as evenly as a softbox. This is due to the diffusion of light from the softbox’s diffuser panel. With the LED light you will also get less gradiation or wrap around of light on your subject (shown clearly on the pumpkin). This is due to there being no diffusion. The light has a more narrow throw of light.
* All softboxes aren’t going to give you the exact same look either. In short, the way a softbox works is that the (in our case) CFL bulbs inside bounce the light around in the box, that light is then diffused and thrown out onto your subject. Diffused light has a broader output. What’s great about a softbox though is that depending on the size of the box and panel, the same light inside can be thrown to cover a larger surface. With a diffused light source, you’ll see a more gradient light drop off (shown clearly on the pumpkin).
We’re using a 900 LED light panel that is also available in 600 LEDs, and 1200 LEDs, that can be found here.
LED Video Light Panels
For the softbox, we’re using a light that has 5 CFL bulbs in the head. We used these lights in a video you can find here: http://oliviatech.com/infinite-white-background-how-to
They are also available via Amazon (click here)
2400 Watt Photo Studio Softbox Kit
Olivia,
I like what you did here. But are you comparing apples to oranges? You have diffusion on the soft box, and nothing on the LED light so it’s a direct light. Wouldn’t an opal or something to diffuse the light work to make both lights comparable?
Just a thought.
Hi Russel, LEDs have a very short throw so the moment you put anything over it you lose a lot of light output. LEDs normally come with a “diffuser” panel that you can slid over the front of the lights, but if you’ve ever used one of these, you’ll know right away w/o me having to even say anything, they don’t work! lol. I get what you’re saying but in my experience, guys are usually looking to buy either LEDs or softboxes to light a studio or room. I just wanted to show what sort of look you will get with both.
Olivia, so you guys use these ePhoto lights for a lot of work? It’s a very tempting price. Do they flicker much?
Rob, the ePhoto softboxes are very common, ePhoto just distributes them.. Cowboy Studio also is a distributer, for example, of the same light. And yes, we really like them. Here is a video showing the SLIGHT flicker that these give off but it is only detectable at a shutter speed of around 1/160. HERE
ummm… what about putting a softbox on a LED light? Best of both worlds?
Bob, putting a softbox on the LEDs isn’t going to do you any good! =) If you’ve ever noticed, even the high end LED panels never offer softbox options. This is because LEDs have a very short throw so the moment you put anything over it you lose a lot of light output. LEDs normally come with a “diffuser” panel that you can slid over the front of the lights but these really don’t work in my opinion.
Cool Lights seems to offer softbox for both the 600 and 256 LED. I’ve read a lot of good reviews of the lights from them. I would think you would lose about the same amount of light with either the bounce technique suggested by J Hanna as you would with a soft box… maybe an idea for a new test with video… pretty plz.
HERE
In designing a softbox for our popular LED 600, we wanted something portable, compact, quick setup, fresh and modern in order to make a good match for the fixture itself–which is at the cutting edge of portable and battery operated film and television lighting. The Cool Lights LED 600 24″ x 24″ “Speed Softbox” kit is not only unique in design but is also about as quick to setup as any existing softbox out there. The secret to this speedy setup is not only in the softbox ability to “pop open” from a very small and compact size but also in the quick way it attaches to the unique LED 600 speedring through mainly tension.
While putting a silk or diff on an LED does soften it, the best way to get good soft spread light from a directional light is to put it on a low light stand pointed up towards a white bounce board (or gold or silver) and use the bounce lights to light your subject. Sends a nice soft light into your shot…looks good and is simple.
keep the epic work coming olivia. this is my “after cheesycam” stop
Sweet tip, thanks, J!
What do you recommend as a basic kit for filmmaker? Let’s say, one 2400 Watt Photo Studio Softbox Kit plus two 900 LED panels will be enough?
Nikita, you can do a lot with that.. for a basic kit, that sounds good. It also depends on what you’re shooting. Sometimes small on camera lights are sufficient.
awesome video–keep them coming! are these lights/wattage safe for home use? they won’t blow your fuse? also can you recommend any decent lights that would be good for both field and studio?
Thanks, Grace.. these are totally safe for use in a home. For both field and studio it really depends on what you’ll be shooting. If you need large lights on the field, the LEDs are easy to transport. If you just need a small light source, a small LED that attaches onto your hotshoe may be enough light. The softboxes are pretty tough to go mobile with.
Great post once again Olivia!!!
It would have been cool if you had also compared it to the 4 or 6 bank fluorescent lights (I mean the tube type, not the bulb type you used in this review), since these have a nice “throw” of light, and can probably get a nice diffuser in front on if.
Great post anyways! And thanks for making these vids, keep it up!!!
[...] Portability Both of these starts kits come with carrying cases and CAN be portable, however, in my experience with both, I’d say the softboxes are a real pain in the ass to break down and set back up. The Red Heads on their own can certainly be transported much easier without the softboxes and don’t require you to remove the bulbs when packing up for travel. The CFL versions have 5 bulbs in each light head and should be removed when transporting the light head. Another alternative is LED light panels like the new popular 600, 900, and 1200 LEDs. These are directional light sources that can run on BATTERY power. These are the most portable, and easiest to transport, but also the most expensive. I did a comparison with the LED 900′s and the CFL Softboxes HERE. [...]
Olivia, do you know how to get replacement soft boxes for the ephoto lights?
Hi Wayne, check here.. I’m only seeing that they have one though. ePhoto Professional Photography Light Studio Portrait Softbox with Universal Speedring 24″ x 34″ by ePhotoINC SB2434
For this to be a fair comparison, both the led panel and soft box MUST have the same front dimension. Your soft boxes have at least two to four times the light radiating area compared to the LED panels. When both sources are the same size you will find a closer comparison. The soft box will still have a wider spread, but if you shoot within the more focused led beam, both lights will have similar shadow characteristics. Add a fabric grid to the same size soft box as the LED panel and it will be nearly identical to the led panel.