Product photography is a tricky genre that requires lots of techniques and controlled surroundings including the right amount of light. Without proper light, the products may lose true colors and appeals which ruin all of your efforts. That’s where you need an artificial lighting tool like a softbox.
Softbox it’s a photographic lighting device designed to diffuse harsh lights into soft and even lights. The closer the softbox is placed to the product, the softer the light seems. Edges and colors of smaller products can be highlighted when focusing light directly onto the product using a softbox.
If you’re searching for the best softbox for product photography, you’re at the right place. This article will discuss different types of softbox in photography and suggest some of the top-quality products. So, Let’s start.
Best Softbox For Product Photography Review
While choosing the best photography softbox, I emphasized the products designed to help to capture different products particularly. I considered the build quality, size, shape, and easy installation for choosing the best products. Here are the details of the products.
1. Neewer 32 inches Octagon Softbox: Top Pick
Key Specfications:
- Works as both softbox and umbrella
- Made of high-density nylon material
- Durable metal frame, light and solid
- Used with flashes and studio flash lights with umbrella hole
If you’re searching for a softbox for photography, you should’ve come across a well-recognized company named Neewer. The company produces some of the most popular and reliable softboxes and Neewer 32 inches Octagon Softbox is no exception.
I’ve put the 32’’ softbox as my top pick because of its optimum size and octagonal shape that makes it suitable for product photography. Also, the product shows its versatile usage being used as a softbox when spread, and an umbrella when folded.
The great softbox for product photography is easy to use. The umbrella body is made of high-density nylon material that makes it really strong. Moreover, the double metal frame provides additional strength to the octagonal structure.
The umbrella is proved to be highly reflective. It diffuses sharp lights so that you get even and soft lights on the products you want to highlight. It can be used with flashes and several studio flash lights with the umbrella hole.
The package includes a 32″/80cm portable octagonal umbrella softbox, a front cover, and a carrying bag. It doesn’t carry a light stand or flash holder.
2. PULUZ 30cm Ring Light Photo Studio Light Box: Runner Up
Key Specfications:
- Multi-angle shooting
- Brightness dimmer allows more control
- 6-color backdrops
- Lightweight and convenient design
PULUZ 31cm ring light photo studio light box is another high-quality softbox for product photography. The kit includes 128 pieces of LED lights and six color backdrops that make the product stand out.
PULUZ studio tent is detachable, foldable, and portable. The light box has changed the concept of a conventional studio and created a new possibility of photography. It allows everyone to take studio-quality pictures with a simple device such as a smartphone.
The tent offers Multi-angle Shooting with openings in the top and front that helps you to meet different shooting demands. Also, there’re three colors of light dimming available. They include white light, soft light, and warm light.
The small tent comes with a brightness dimmer function which allows you to have better control over the light effect ranging from 10%-100%. The LED natural daylight, daylight-balanced features help to eliminate harsh light and shadow so that the photos look more natural.
The portable and foldable design of the mini-studio allows you to take it anywhere you want. The bag included can be used to carry the studio box and other small parts.
The installation process is pretty straightforward and can be divided into six steps. You’ll get the steps written in the manual while buying the box.
Once installed, you won’t have to worry about taking high-quality images for products of your online shop anymore with the magical box.
3. Neewer 6 x 5’’ Translucent Softbox: Best Budget
Key Specfications:
- Great for portraits and recording videos
- Includes 2 diffuser layers for a softer light
- Premium reflective silver interior maximizes light output
- Fit most on-camera shoe-mount Speedlite flash
If you want to present products like professionals, but you’re on a budget, Neewer Translucent Softbox has you back. The softbox offers excellent performance by diffusing light. It reduces the cost of being a tiny device.
The portable and versatile softbox incorporates a hotshoe to be used with speedlites and flashes. Moreover, the softbox comes with an adjustable L-shaped mounting bracket which is capable work with any flash unit.
By diffusing the light, the softbox creates an even lighting that enables you to capture picture-perfect shots. It also helps in reducing blemishes and improve skin tone contrast while delivering amazingly rich coloring.
The inexpensive softbox for product photography is also convenient and effective to use. Simply unfold the diffuser and attach the front. That’s all you need to do to have beautiful lights. Stretch opening enables you to connect the product to most shoe mount flashes available on the market.
The diffuser offers a premium reflective silver interior to maximize light output. Also, durable materials are used to ensure long-lasting usage. The package includes a universal softbox diffuser for shoe mount flashes and a carry pouch.
4. Godox 32″ Foldable Universal Softbox: Most adjustable softbox
Key Specfications:
- Portable design and easy mounting system
- Adjustable mount size
- Umbrella input hole is available
- Unique Speedlite mounting way
The Godox 32 inches foldable universal softbox offers a Godox S-type speedlite bracket, which is a superior and all-in-one diffuser solution for many professionals.
The foldable softbox requires no pre-assembly & post-disassembly. Moreover, the smaller size and lighter weight leave no worry for you to search for additional space for the diffuser. The durable plastics used for the product make sure that you can use it for a long time.
The mount size of the softbox is adjustable so that all brands of speedlites can be fitted to it. The Bowens mount adds the highest number of studio flash accessories, for example, softbox, reflector, beauty dish, etc.
An umbrella input hole is also available to be used for versatile purposes. Also, adjusting lighting direction with handle is supported by the most adjustable softbox.
The diffuser offers a unique speedlite mounting way featuring both horizontal and vertical mounting by wrapping speedlite body. The softbox can reduce blemishes and enhance skin tone contrast with a silver reflective internal face and a black face side.
Like most of the softboxes, the Godox 32 inches softbox also offers quick and easy installation. It comes with a carrying bag to protect all accessories and easy to carry.
5. Flash Diffuser Light Softbox: best softbox for portraits
Key Specfications:
- Simple and compact design
- Reduces harshness and softens shadows
- Compatible with most shoe mount flash units
- Reinforced stitching for durability
Flash diffuser 6 inches light softbox is one of the most popular softboxes for portraits and product photography. The softbox is compatible with most shoe-mount flashes including Canon 430EX II, 580EX II, 600EX-RT, Nikon SB-900, SB-910 AF, SB-800 AF, Yongnuo YN560 II, III, and IV.
The diffuser includes two layers of diffusion for a softer and more even quality of light. Also, the Pro grade reflective silver interior ensures maximizing light output.
The product’s collapsible and portable design and ease of use make it the perfect accessory for everyone’s gear bag. The rubberized mounting grip holds your diffuser in place so that you can fix it once and capture photos a couple of times.
It is constructed from durable & high-quality materials to be used for a long period. mount flashes. Its reflective silver interior lining produces a soft evenly spread light that minimizes harsh shadows.
6. RALENO Softbox Photography Lighting Kit: Most professional softbox
Key Specfications:
- Scientific Soft Light Technology
- Portable and easy to operate
- Sturdy and fast locking system for precise adjustment
- High color rendering
If you want a softbox that can be used for multiple scenes of applications including, art and product photography, live broadcasting, industrial technology photography, and many more.
The rich packaging content includes two 20 inches softbox windows, two 110V CFL bulbs, two height-adjustable light stand, and one portable tote from Oxford cloth. You’ll have lifetime customer service including worry-free 365 days warm services.
The Scientific Soft Light technology E27 socket is directly connected for providing a light source. The kit uses dual soft light technology. The embossed stone on the silver reduces the bulb light while reducing light loss and illuminating the light without break with 85W bulbs.
The portable light kit is adjustable and easy to operate. It’s durable and foldable to be carried out from place to place. Moreover, it is made of high-quality aluminum alloy with a standard threaded tip for heavy-duty usage.
The diffuser provides sturdy fast locks for fast and precise height adjustment. Also, they ensure your items are safe from any swing during use. High-quality soft 5070 Nylon cloth is used for smooth light flow, eliminating shadows and making suitable light for photographic lighting.
7. Neewer 26’’ Octagonal Softbox: Most versatile softbox
Key Specfications:
- Diffuses harsh flash light
- Lightweight and easy to operate
- Helps controlling different level of light output
- Highly reflective
Neewer 26’’ Octagonal Softbox is another top quality and versatile softbox from the well-recognized brand by delivering classic soft but crisp light. The versatile softbox can be used for a wide range of applications starting from product photography, portraits, and event photography.
The diffuser is made of collapsible and sturdy nylon cover and lightweight durable plastics handle grip that is proved to be highly reflective. Incorporating a silver particle inner baffle and two white diffusers, it helps your photography by softening the harsh flash light and casting even lighting.
The easy and quick opening and folding design makes it quite easy to operate. you can simply assemble and disassemble within a minute. The softbox comes with a Bowens mount adapter which allows flexible use with most flash Speedlites.
There’s a hole at the bottom of the handle which allows it to mount on the light stand or tripod with easy installation. The package includes an S-type flash speedlite bracket mount, a 65cm octagonal softbox, and a carrying bag.
Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Softbox For Product Photography
There are lots of softboxes available on the market which makes it harder for the buyers to find the right one. On my best softbox for product photography review, I’ll now discuss some of the factors you should consider before buying one.
Size
You’ll find various softboxes of different sizes. It is difficult to say whether you’re buying the right one or not. Nevertheless, this variety of sizes provides more opportunities. Usually, you’ll get more concentrated and harsh light for smaller light sources, while even and softer for the larger light sources.
Larger softboxes are mostly used for portraits where softer lighting creates better transitions between light and shadow. Product photography softboxes, on the other hand, need to be smaller.
Smaller ones generate more contrast lighting while still minimizing harsh lights. They can highlight soft lights on the products specifically that allow the viewers to notice the products naturally.
Shape
There are mainly three types of softbox in photography namely, rectangular or square softbox, strip softbox, and octagonal softbox. You’ll also find softboxes in parabolic, circular, and hexagonal shapes.
Rectangular/ Square softbox
The type of boxes is used as window light. The softboxes with straight edges are easy to mask. As a result, it is easier to manipulate the light making it seem like a mirror on an opposite light.
Octagonal Softbox
Octagonal softboxes are the most popular type of lighting device as they produce the most pleasant lights. When shooting on highly reflective surfaces, octagonal softboxes leave spectacular highlight that looks way more natural than rectangular softboxes leave.
Strip Softbox
Strip softboxes create a narrow band of light that is mostly used for fashion photos and portraits. Several strip boxes are arranged in a square or triangular fashion to separate subjects from the background for rim-lighting photography.
Build Quality
When it comes to choosing the best softbox for photography, there’s no alternative to get the sturdiest model you find. Even if the model costs you to pay extra pennies, it’s completely worth it in the long run.
Apart from the sturdy built quality, you should also look for a durable outer cover to keep the device safe. Usually, professionals use nylon covers that are proven to be reliable.
Portable Or Fixed
Most people ignore the factor and many regret it after buying one because of this. Simply, if you need to move around with the softbox, consider buying a compact and sturdy model which weighs significantly less than others.
Again, if you shoot indoors usually, this shouldn’t be a concern for you. Just know how to position a softbox. That’d do.
Conclusion
The article aimed to help you find the best softbox for product photography. However, softboxes aren’t the only light diffusing device used in photography. You may get interested in softbox vs umbrella product photography that would help you find the most appropriate tool for your photography.
I hope you’ve found your desired product by now. If so, don’t forget to leave your feedback below.