When you use your flash, do you cringe at the over-exposed results? Have you taken outdoor photos, only to find your primary subject is in the shadows or otherwise under exposed despite the sun? Diffusing the light with a speedlight softbox will fix both of those problems at a wallet-friendly price.
Not all softboxes fit every need, though. Some work better outdoors, and others are designed for close-up studio work or portraiture. That’s why we’re bringing you this comparison of the best speedlight softboxes so you can find the one (or more) that meets your specific photography needs.
8 Best Speedlight Softboxes
Best Overall: Fotodiox F60 Quick-Collapse Flash Softbox – 24” Hexagon
- Type: Stand-mount
- Dimensions: 24” hexagon
- Mounting Method: Off-camera stand or handheld
- Durability: High
- Weight: 3.0 lbs.
The six-sided design and deep parabolic draft of this softbox offers the photog a nice dispersion of light. An internal diffuser baffle can be removed to soften light further, as well as removing the face diffuser to turn this into a studio light umbrella. Best of all, the pistol grip flash mount can be attached to a stand or used as a handheld speedlight softbox.
According to reviewers, one thing that sets this softbox apart is how easy it is to assemble and break down. Construction is sturdy, but not in ways that make its use cumbersome or difficult. Light quality for portrait, close-up and macro work is excellent, and it will also fill your outdoor and indoor large scene shooting needs.
There are few negative reviews of this equipment, and generally, people like it and consider it durable. Professional-level users are confident it’s a good investment and will continue to be valuable for quite a while. If you only buy one softbox as your entry into this type of flash work, this Fotodiox should be it.
Best for Outdoors: Neewer 24” x 24” Bowens Mount Softbox with Grid and S-Type Flash Bracket
- Type: Stand-mount
- Dimensions: 24” x 24”
- Mounting Method: Off-camera stand
- Durability: High
- Weight: 2.7 lbs.
This size and shape of softbox is great for indoor portrait work and for close-ups of products or food, and given its heavier weight, it makes a great light source outdoors when conditions might be iffy. It comes as a softbox by itself, and if you buy it that way, you need to buy the bracket (attachment) for your speedlight. While this kit comes with a grid to diffuse the light further, it’s worthwhile to have everything in one purchase.
An advantage here is that the softbox can also function as a strobe flash umbrella. Users deem the construction to be sturdy, so it can stand up to exterior shooting conditions. The ability to change diffusers to color gels (purchased separately) is also a plus.
Weight is an issue for some customers looking for a portable solution. Others mention that it is difficult to fold up. It may be hard to return it to its circular carrying case. The mount is also noted as a reason to avoid this softbox, since it isn’t necessarily as sturdy or firm as some may want.
Best for Studio: GODOX Softbox with S Type Bracket Bowens S Mount Holder Foldable Mini Size 8080cm Softbox Kit
- Type: Stand-mount
- Dimensions: 32” x 32”
- Mounting Method: Off-camera stand
- Durability: High
- Weight: 14.5 lbs.
If flexibility is what you like and a larger size softbox is what you need, this GODOX can fit the bill. In addition to being able to accommodate both horizontal and vertical flash set ups, this softbox can convert into an umbrella for studio light use or a reflective. Reviewers like the stable support it provides at its connection to the speedlite.
Next to nothing is required for assembly or break down, making it a quick solution when you need to set up and move often, as in wedding work. It’s also good for studio settings since it offers multiple light diffusion levels with its removable internal baffle. It is light and stores quickly in its carrying case.
Few complaints and no significant negative trends were noted in user reviews. The only potential concern is that the plastic mounts will not wear well with time, though people have not reported that as a current issue. The fact that this is easy to use and lightweight seems to satisfy customers.
Best for Portraits: Neewer 32 inches /80 centimeters Octagonal Softbox with S-Type Bracket Holder
- Type: Stand-mount
- Dimensions: 32” octagon
- Mounting Method: Off-camera stand
- Durability: Medium
- Weight: 1.89 lbs.
If you’re doing close-ups or portraits, the soft framing of light this octagon provides will be useful for you. The large size covers the scope of your subject with soft light, adjustable with internal diffusers in addition to the face. If you need an umbrella for studio work too, this can be converted for that as well.
This kit comes with both the universal speedlight mount and the mount for studio lighting. No pre-assembly or breakdown is said to be required. It is shipped with different-colored seam edges and with or without the bracket, in case you already have one.
A general issue appears to be the durability of these softboxes, as some report the ribs are easily bent and won’t return to shape. Reviewers also mention the design as an issue, as changing the light settings on a flash require the photog to work from the front rather than the back of the softbox. Overall, though, the large size and shape seem to compensate for these shortcomings.
Best On-Flash: Flash Diffuser Light Softbox 6” x 5” by Altura Photo
- Type: Mini
- Dimensions: 6” x 5”
- Mounting Method: Direct on flash
- Durability: Medium
- Weight: 2.4 lbs.
This softbox is ideal for those situations where you must shoot handheld. It is generally expected to fit universally on most speedlight brands. Altura makes many accessories for cameras and lenses and is well-known as a reliable source for gear.
An advantage of a softbox mounted directly on the speedlite flash end is flexibility in shooting. You can bounce the light off a ceiling or wall or aim it directly at the subject. When not in use, the softbox folds and attaches around the flash, or it can be collapsed and folded flat for easy portability & storage.
It’s difficult to find any trend in complaints about this softbox. Distributor Digital Goja stands by their 90-day money back guarantee and is very responsive to negative reviews and comments, and most customers appear to be satisfied after resolutions are offered. Overall, consumers appear to love this product for the quality of light it brings to their handheld shooting in a variety of lighting conditions.
Best Budget Softbox: waka Flash Diffuser Light Speedlight Softbox 2 Pack
- Type: Mini, 2-pack
- Dimensions: 8” octagon; 8” x 6”
- Mounting Method: Direct on flash
- Durability: Low
- Weight: 3.0 oz. each
These two mini softboxes offer you both circular and rectangular options to fit most major speedlight brands. Both are collapsible and fit into a handy storage pouch, or the one in use can be folded around the flash head and fastened with Velcro. The softbox affixes to the flash head by tightened a Velcro strap.
The unique quality in these softboxes is the interior with a diffuser lining of its own over PVC. This can be removed to soften the light further. The two shapes mean you can experiment with different effects on your subjects depending on the kinds of fill work light you need.
Some customers have not been satisfied with the quality of these softboxes, noting that while intended for a universal fit, they work better on some speedlights than others. Also, the light diffusion hasn’t satisfied some reviewers. However, at a two-for-one price and different shapes, they can be a good first step to understanding how portable softboxes work for your close-up work.
Best for Intense Close-Ups: Neewer Round Universal Collapsible Magnetic Ring Flash Diffuser Soft Box 18″
- Type: Ring
- Dimensions: 18” round
- Mounting Method: Direct on camera and flash
- Durability: Medium
- Weight: 9.6 oz.
This round ring flash is not to be confused with a round light. If you shoot portraits, you will find this specialty softbox to be useful. It might also be good for intense close-up work, like small creatures still on a surface with the camera and light shooting from above.
The camera sits in the center hole with the body held by nylon straps and lens pointed through the hole, and the hot shoe speedlight’s flash is attached through a baffle to flash inside the ring. The result is a circle of soft light to fill in shadows around a subject. Rings are also available in 12-inch size, but most deem those too small to effectively use your camera settings.
It’s really best to use a tripod with this ring flash, because while it’s not heavy, it’s cumbersome to adjust camera settings with a big doughnut around your head. Some users note the nylon straps for the camera are flimsy and don’t hold well, another good reason for a travel tripod to help steady the camera and flash in its hot shoe. Zoom lenses will be easiest to adjust inside the center tube.
Best for Narrow Beams: FOTOCREAT 8″ x 35″ Collapsible Strip Light Softbox With Honeycomb Grid
- Type: Strip stand-mount
- Dimensions: 8” x 35”
- Mounting Method: Off-camera stand
- Durability: High
- Weight: 7.7 oz.
Perhaps the best thing about this strip softbox is its convertibility. It can be the strip softbox you need for light diffusion at two levels, since both the external and internal diffusers can be removed. You can also add the external grid to change the light intensity. It also subs in as a studio light umbrella if required.
The flash is actually mounted through the bottom of the strip and shooting upwards. The shape and direction make it good for backlighting your subject or providing mood lighting from the side. Its reasonable price makes it a fun way to experiment in studio settings to find a new artistic look.
Users haven’t left reviews on this softbox except to say they like it. It fills a narrow niche important to specific photogs but not generally. However, it can create a different lighting impact to reduce accent shadows at the edges, and for that reason, we’re keeping it on our comparison list.
The Complete Speedlight Softboxes Buyer’s Guide
How to Select a Softbox
Consider first the subjects you shoot and the location you’re using. This determines the potential size you need as well as how many softboxes will be important to your success. After that, your choices truly are endless.
What kind of speedlight do you own?
Speedlight is a category of flash, and there are many brands out there. These light sources are, in effect, flash guns. Some are on-camera, fitting to a hot shoe, and their size calls for a mini or dome type softbox that doesn’t interfere with the viewfinder and camera-driven image analysis systems.
Off-camera speedlights come in many different designs and shapes. Their functions and features are outside the scope of this article, other than to note how they fit inside or attach to the softbox. You may also have multiples and want to put them together to create even greater light intensity.
Note that because there are many brands of speedlights, you’ll want to make sure the kind you own fits with the softbox you want to buy. That being said, softboxes rate highly on flexibility, meaning they can accommodate many different brands of speedlight. There are so many combinations, in fact, that we don’t have space to list them all in this article, so check for yourself before you buy.
Softbox | Best For | Type | Mounting Method |
Fotodiox F60 Quick-Collapse Flash Softbox – 24” Hexagon | Best Overall | Stand-mount | Off-camera stand or handheld |
Neewer 24” x 24” Bowens Mount Softbox with Grid and S-Type Flash Bracket | Best for Outdoors | Stand-mount | Off-camera stand |
GODOX Softbox with S Type Bracket Bowens S Mount Holder Foldable Mini Size 8080cm Softbox Kit | Best for Studio | Stand-mount | Off-camera stand |
FOTOCREAT 8″ x 35″ Collapsible Strip Light Softbox With Honeycomb Grid | Best for Narrow Beams | Strip stand-mount | Off-camera stand |
What softboxes are best for fashion photos?
Fashion usually translates into work in a controlled area, a studio or an outdoors area but with a perimeter. You’re also often shooting to emphasize all angles of your subject, such as all sides of an outfit. You want diffusion to cover wider areas.
In this case, you might be looking at a combination of multiple softboxes. Larger ones are placed at an angle offset to the subject to highlight the otherwise shadowed sides of the clothes. Smaller ones offer primary light in front of the model to fill the details.
If you shoot outdoors, consider the strength of the softbox in terms of standing up to the elements. If wind and weather are factors, you’ll need sturdier construction than, say, studio work. How the softbox attaches to the stand also is a factor.
Which softboxes are best for weddings?
This gets a little trickier, but let’s begin with a note that everything we said about fashion use applies, plus some. Weddings also need to be artistic as you might want to highlight only one side of a couple or bride/groom. You might also want to fill in just enough light to provide small details, like the expressions on their faces while the sun setting in the background outlines their bodies.
While you’ll be formally staging part of your album with interior or exterior backgrounds, don’t overlook the spontaneous, intimate moments, too. Think about the uneven light you often find when toasts are being made, or the first dance, or the cute little flower girl and ring bearer. A mini softbox mounted on your on-camera flash can do the trick for those situations if you can come close to your subject without interfering with the moment and allows you to bounce the light to fill in corners too.
Many wedding photogs note that portability is key for their softboxes, along with flexibility in different settings. Some will have large units they put in place around a dance floor or other high traffic areas because they know the light there will need help. Others use a flash bracket which attaches the speedlight to the camera, but at a distance, leaving more room for a slightly larger softbox.
Softbox | Best for | Type | Mounting method |
Neewer 32 inches /80 centimeters Octagonal Softbox with S-Type Bracket Holder | Best for Portraits | Stand-mount | Off-camera stand |
Flash Diffuser Light Softbox 6” x 5” by Altura Photo | Best On-Flash | Mini | Direct on flash |
waka Flash Diffuser Light Speedlight Softbox 2 Pack | Best for Limited Budget | Mini, 2-pack | Direct on flash |
Neewer Round Universal Collapsible Magnetic Ring Flash Diffuser Soft Box 18″ | Best for Intense Close-Ups | Ring | Direct on camera and flash |
What softboxes are best for close-up photography?
It’s helpful here to think about the size of your subject and how close you’ll actually be. Close-up can mean everything from focusing on the steam coming off a plate of food to highlighting the furniture in a room. The larger the space or the subject, the bigger you’ll typically need your softbox to be.
Much as you’d use a mini or dome softbox mounted on your on-camera speedlite in a wedding setting, you can use the same set-up for close-ups of food or interior design. Having something you can focus or bounce, depending on your speedlight angle, can bring out details of part of your subject into artistic shadow. A lower light setting on your speedlight modulates the diffusion too.
You might couple this with larger softboxes for a full room shot, or a mid-sized model to bring highlights to a table setting while putting the food on sharp display. If you’re shooting products, you’ll want enough light to capture the branding without making it appear harsh, usually falling into the mid-sized range too.
What softboxes are best for nature photography?
Some people might find it funny to think about using softboxes when you’re shooting nature, but even when we have natural light, Mother Nature can need help. We shoot nature inside too, and if that’s your gig, note what we said under the close-ups section.
While we stage some nature photos, most of our imaging in this category is handheld and spontaneous. We can’t tell that hummingbird to hang on while we change our softbox position, so we change ourselves with camera in hand to make the most of what we have. For that reason, softboxes that fit your on-camera speedlight, either attached to the hot shoe or on the flash bracket, become essential.
Don’t overlook the value of having at least one larger softbox in your gear, though. If you have a larger setting like a bed of flowers and you know it will attract a hummingbird, you can set up a softbox to provide fill light to augment whatever your current conditions might be.
FAQs about Speedlight Softboxes
To understand how a softbox helps fill in the flash when you release the shutter, you need to grasp what this contraption is. It looks like a geometric pillow on your speedlight or on a stand with your flash gun or studio lighting inside. It synchronizes with your shutter so the light triggers and the glow coordinates to best complete the exposure of your image.
That all sounds wonderful, but when we’re starting out, most photographers don’t quite get why softboxes are important. To understand that, let’s look at common lighting problems we have with our images.
Softbox | Dimensions | Mounting method | Durability | Weight |
Fotodiox F60 Quick-Collapse Flash Softbox – 24” Hexagon | 24″ hexagon | Off-camera stand or handheld | High | 3.9 lbs. |
Neewer 24” x 24” Bowens Mount Softbox with Grid and S-Type Flash Bracket | 24″ x 24″ | Off-camera stand | High | 2.7 oz. |
GODOX Softbox with S Type Bracket Bowens S Mount Holder Foldable Mini Size 8080cm Softbox Kit | 32″ x 32″ | Off-camera stand | High | 14.5 oz. |
Neewer 32 inches /80 centimeters Octagonal Softbox with S-Type Bracket Holder | 32″ octagon | Off-camera stand | Medium | 1.89 lbs. |
Flash Diffuser Light Softbox 6” x 5” by Altura Photo | 6″ x 5″ | Direct on flash | Medium | 2.4 oz. |
waka Flash Diffuser Light Speedlight Softbox 2 Pack | 8″ octagon; 8″ x 6″ | Direct on flash | Low | 3.0 oz. each |
Neewer Round Universal Collapsible Magnetic Ring Flash Diffuser Soft Box 18″ | 18″ round | Direct on camera and flash | Medium | 9.6 oz. |
FOTOCREAT 8″ x 35″ Collapsible Strip Light Softbox With Honeycomb Grid | 8″ x 35″ | Off-camera stand | High | 7.7 oz. |
What are light sources and why are they important to understand?
We usually consider two light sources for our photos. Natural or ambient light is what’s available from our surroundings as we shoot, like sunlight for exterior work or general lighting for interior imaging. This is often called Key Light, though the next category can be considered Key Light too.
When natural light isn’t enough, we fill in with artificial help. Harsh Light is the light generated from a direct flash, like the one built in to your camera or from an attached flash gun. It brightens our subject within a certain range and can often create harsh effects in our image, hence the name.
Fill Light, on the other hand, offers us a softer choice. We still use an external (not built-in) flash, but the light is diffused through the use of a softbox. The closer the softbox is to the subject, the more diffused the light will appear to be.
What if my subject’s face is too dark?
Let’s say you’re shooting outside on a bright sunny day. At midday, the sun is directly overhead, making it difficult to position your subject with his face to the sun. Parts fall into deep shadow while surroundings are overexposed.
In this case, natural light falls from above to brighten his head. He might even have a halo of sunshine in his hair, but his features appear indistinct. The light meter in your camera adjusts for the brightness of the sun, throwing the shadowed face into darkness.
In this case, you need to use Fill Light. It fills in the darkened portions of the face and under the chin, offering you a consistent light quality in your image overall. A softbox diffuses flash to fill in your shadowed areas while keeping your backgrounds bright.
What if my subject’s face is too light?
Let’s say we’re shooting indoors and rely on the flash in our camera to provide the exposure we need on a friend’s face. Often, we find that flash creates an exposure that’s too exposed on the subject. Her face appears washed out and shining with an unnatural brightness that’s impossible to correct in post-production.
This also creates harsh light and appears to emphasize every imperfection and uneven coloration in our subject. Flash guns external to the camera can create a similar effect, and in those cases, they might even effect only half of the face since they are direct light but shined from an angle. In either case, the subject is overexposed and there’s little you can do to fix that image later.
Fill Light also works here. You rely on external light sources you diffuse with a softbox to diffuse the flash’s effect. That softens the light and allows you to capture a more natural look.
How does a softbox change light?
A softbox relies on a light source put inside the box. For this comparison, we’re focusing on speedlights that synchronize to the shutter release in your camera, but the light source could also be a studio light. Their purpose is to provide that Fill Light to overcome any sunlit or camera-driven direct light, which is called Harsh Light.
The light source attaches to the softbox, which is directed toward the subject or bounced off a nearby surface, like a ceiling or wall. Diffusion of the light happens when it passes through a shroud of material across the face. The shape of the softbox is important because it controls the amount of light diffusion, and the larger the softbox surface, the greater the diffusion.
How is a softbox different from an umbrella?
An umbrella reflects the light source. The flash source is aimed at the open umbrella, and the umbrella is aimed at the subject, reflecting back around the light source. It tends to create Harsh Light rather than diffuse it, so they serve a different purpose.
Do you need both? Probably, depending on your shooting subjects and style. Most photographers start with a softbox as they are learning to use light more effectively in their imaging and expand from there.
Do softbox materials matter?
Early light diffusers were made of plywood and weren’t portable, but today, we don’t have to worry about that. The box part is made of a black material generally impermeable in terms of light release (though some come with sides that can be opened to diffuser fabric for multi-directional light use). The face is made of a diffuser fabric allowing light to escape, and there may be another diffuser fabric baffle inside too.
You want a softbox that fits your light source, in this case, speedlights. Consider too the kind of stand you’ll need and the system the softbox uses to attach to that stand. Other than portability, though, materials aren’t critical to your selection.
Does softbox size matter?
We’ll throw in one more light term now, Primary Light. This means the one you rely on to provide the majority of your exposure lighting. Consider the types of subjects you usually shoot and how you want an addition of the Primary Light to compensate for what else is happening in the image.
If you want a small area and intense lighting, you want a smaller softbox. If you remember nothing else from this education section, remember this. The smaller the softbox, the narrower and more intense the resulting light source will be.
Next, think about where that photography takes place. If you’re shooting outside and you need to overcome sunlight and fill in shadows over a larger area, you want a bigger softbox. If you’re shooting indoors but have a large area to highlight, you also need a bigger softbox, and probably more than one.
Does distance to my subject matter?
Distance does matter, and it works hand in hand with the size of your softbox. If you change the size of your softbox without changing the distance to your subject, the nature of the diffused light changes. The smaller the box and the closer it is to the subject, the more intense the lighting effect.
Let’s set aside the many ways you can control light exposure with your pro camera for a moment. If you shoot a variety of subjects and need different amounts of light intensity, but have only one speedlight and softbox, distance is the way you’ll control the exposure. Closer is more intense, while further covers a larger area but is less intense.
More intense light sharpens the edges of shadowed areas and emphasizes imperfections in the subject. This might be important if you’re shooting for a noir effect, but if your subject is a bride, you want to soften it. Moving further away and/or using a larger box bathes more of that bride in light and softens her too.
Can I make a softbox myself?
You will find many plans online for softboxes, since photographers have been making them for generations. Early models were clunky and inconsistent in terms of the light they produced. While we have access to a broader selection of synthetic materials today, that doesn’t mean going the DIY route is appropriate, though.
Add up the cost of the materials you’d need to construct your own softbox. Yes, people make them at home, but usually this is because what they want isn’t readily available and they have an extremely specific need. Unless you know what you’re doing, your softbox might not be effective.
Selection Criteria in Our Softbox Comparison
This is a tough section to write, because narrowing down a single set of comparative criteria is kind of like asking you to pick your favorite photo you ever took – ever. This is more a listing of features than a ‘best of’. You have a range to review, covering most softbox-styled lighting needs.
Here are the criteria we used to select our buying guide recommendations for the best speedlight softboxes. Please keep in mind that in some cases, these softboxes come in various kits and multipacks as well as shipping alone, and the attachment ring may be sold separately if it is not universal.
Softbox | Best For | Type | Dimensions | Mounting Method | Durability | Weight |
Fotodiox F60 Quick-Collapse Flash Softbox – 24” Hexagon | Best Overall | Stand-mount | 24″ hexagon | Off-camera stand or handheld | High | 3.9 lbs. |
Neewer 24” x 24” Bowens Mount Softbox with Grid and S-Type Flash Bracket | Best for Outdoors | Stand-mount | 24″ x 24″ | Off-camera stand | High | 2.7 oz. |
GODOX Softbox with S Type Bracket Bowens S Mount Holder Foldable Mini Size 8080cm Softbox Kit | Best for Studio | Stand-mount | 32″ x 32″ | Off-camera stand | High | 14.5 oz. |
Neewer 32 inches /80 centimeters Octagonal Softbox with S-Type Bracket Holder | Best for Portraits | Stand-mount | 32″ octagon | Off-camera stand | Medium | 1.89 lbs. |
Flash Diffuser Light Softbox 6” x 5” by Altura Photo | Best On-Flash | Mini | 6″ x 5″ | Direct on flash | Medium | 2.4 oz. |
waka Flash Diffuser Light Speedlight Softbox 2 Pack | Best for Limited Budget | Mini, 2-pack | 8″ octagon; 8″ x 6″ | Direct on flash | Low | 3.0 oz. each |
Neewer Round Universal Collapsible Magnetic Ring Flash Diffuser Soft Box 18″ | Best for Intense Close-Ups | Ring | 18″ round | Direct on camera and flash | Medium | 9.6 oz. |
FOTOCREAT 8″ x 35″ Collapsible Strip Light Softbox With Honeycomb Grid | Best for Narrow Beams | Strip stand-mount | 8″ x 35″ | Off-camera stand | High | 7.7 oz. |
Type
There are a number of different ways to categorize softboxes, by mounting method, size, or style. We’ve captured these in a broad listing of type, referring more to use in creating diffused light than any other factor.
Dimensions
Because size matters, we give you the exact dimensions of the softbox. Size is a choice, and bigger might not be better based on your needs and applications.
Mounting Method
You’ll want to know if this softbox needs a stand or works on your speedlight directly. In some cases, a softbox can accommodate multiple speedlights based on its ring mount system.
Durability
Ranking softboxes for durability is subjective. We give you consumers’ and reviewers’ takes on this. The higher the durability, the more likely this softbox is to stand up to wind outdoors or regular active use.
Weight
While size matters, so does weight, particularly if you’re moving your stands plus softboxes frequently. And it might not matter to you for a dome or mini, but now you’ll know it anyway.
Back to Top
Thanks for the article! Very helpful. I was wondering what the best attachment would be for the neweer softbox. I have some speed lights that I use with screw mounts on account of the cheap radio slaves I use. I also use pocket wizards sometimes too. Maybe just a suggestion for a good all around light stand mount? Thanks!