What flash zoom setting should I use inside a small speedlight softbox?
Asked 12/25/2013
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I’m using a small speedlight softbox (Lasolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 22×22 cm) and often run my flash in manual mode. What flash head zoom setting is usually best when the flash is mounted inside a softbox like this? Should I zoom the flash head to a long setting such as 105mm to concentrate the light, or use a wider setting for more even diffusion?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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It is not so much the size of the soft box as it is the angle from the head of the flash to the edges of the material on the front of the soft box. Think of the flash head like it was a lens. The angle created by drawing lines from the center of the flash head to opposite corners of the soft box would be the same as a lens with that angle of view. Extend those lines on out to the subject distance and you can see that it would be a very wide angle lens.
Normally you would want to set the flash to the widest zoom setting. This allows the most dispersion of the light, which is also the reason you would generally use a soft box. However, if you wan to create a little harder 'hot spot' in the middle of the pattern then you can set the zoom to the longer setting.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a small softbox, there isn’t one single “correct” zoom setting, but the usual starting point is the widest flash zoom setting.
A softbox works by spreading and diffusing the light so the front panel becomes the effective light source. Using a wide zoom helps fill the softbox more evenly, which usually gives the softest, most even result.
Zooming the flash head tighter (for example toward 105mm) concentrates more light in the center. That can create a brighter hotspot and slightly harder light, but it may also help push a bit more light forward if that’s the look you want.
So the practical answer is:
- start wide for the most even, soft illumination
- zoom in only if you want a stronger center hotspot or a bit more concentrated output
In other words, treat it as a creative control rather than a fixed rule.
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