There are a ton of softbox options available from Glow. Searching “Glow softbox” on Adorama will yield 99 search results. If you are buying your first round of light modifiers, this can feel a bit overwhelming. As someone who has used almost every one of these modifiers and has a studio packed with over 30 softboxes, I’d like to help you find the best one for you.
Glow EZ Lock Beauty Dish
Sizes available: 25”, 34”, 42”
Accessories included: grid, inner diffusion, outer diffusion, beauty dish plate
The EZ Lock Beauty Dish, despite its “Beauty Dish” name, is very much a soft box. It opens and closes with an umbrella mechanism. It is 16-sided which creates a very round shape ideal for catchlights. Because of it’s shallow depth, it’s quite manageable for outdoor use. The beauty dish plate and narrow shape also allows for a high-contrast beauty dish look when using without any diffusion. If you don’t have a softbox yet, I think the 34” EZ Lock Beauty Dish is the best place to start. It allows you to build preferences to make informed purchases in the future.
Glow EZ Lock Deep Parabolic Softbox
Sizes available: 20”, 28”, 38”, 48”
Accessories included: grid, inner diffusion, outer diffusion, beauty dish plate
The EZ Lock Deep Parabolic Softbox is very similar to the EZ Lock Beauty Dish. The opening mechanism, 16-sided round shape, and accessories are the same. The only difference is that the Deep Parabolic Softbox has a more parabolic shape which creates a deeper softbox overall. This leads to a more concentrated pattern of light, namely when no diffusion is used. It makes it easier to control light spill. Between this unique property, and the fact that it is more susceptible to wind when used outdoors, I think the Deep Parabolic Softbox is great for anyone focused on portraiture indoors.
EZ Lock Rectangle Softbox
Sizes available: 10×24”, 12×56”, 16×48”, 31×47”, 28×39”, 24×36”,
Accessories included: grid, inner diffusion, outer diffusion, beauty dish plate
The EZ Lock rectangle softbox covers both 2×3ish softboxes (31×47, 28×39, 24×36), and strip softboxes (10×24, 12×56, and 16×48). Again, all six of these options include the same accessories, simply applied to a 4-sided softbox. The 2×3 softboxes are ideal for product photography where reflective surfaces can show the shape of your lighting modifiers. With a rectangle softbox, this results in clean lines instead of tough-to-manage circle reflections. The strip softboxes, on the other hand, are ideal as hair, rim, and accent lights in portraiture. Small options like the 10×24 work well in on-location headshot setups, whereas the 12×56 is better for full-body work.
EZ Lock Quick Octa
Sizes available: 36”, 48”, 60”
Accessories included: grid, inner diffusion, outer diffusion, beauty dish plate
The Quick Octa is amazing, particularly when you get into the larger sizes like the 48” and 60”. Because it is a shallow octabox with only 8 sides, it is lighter than the larger beauty dish and deep parabolic softboxes. The opening mechanism requires much less effort than the umbrella mechanism found on everything above. It is the most affordable Glow option for a very large light source. My studio is packed with them because they are so simple.
Glow Grand Box Pro
Sizes available:
Rectangle : 24×34″, 30×40″, 36×48″
Strip : 12×36″, 14×60″, 16×48″
Square : 24”, 32”, 40”
Octagon : 32”, 43”, 51”, 60”
Accessories included: inner diffusion, outer diffusion
The Grand Box Pro series from Glow can be looked at as upgraded versions of the EZ Lock series. They come in various sizes and shapes, but have a number of differences. The opening hardware is external. This ensures there is no central mechanism obstructing your bulb, which makes it easier to gel and can increase output. The material on the inside is more polished and reflects light more, leading to greater outputs. The hardware is still durable, but more lightweight. They also come in more durable cases, although I personally find the shape of these cases somewhat cumbersome. I’ve found that the diffusion is more durable than the EZ Lock series as well. While the build quality upgrades justify the price difference over the EZ Lock, I tend not to recommend the Grand Box series simply for the lack of a grid option.
Glow Profond
Sizes available: 27”, 35”, 47”, 55”, 70”
Accessories included: varied
The Profond series is a rather unique option from Glow. First, of the five options, the 27” and 35” do not have focusing rod options. Think of these as a lightweight version of the EZ Lock Deep Parabolic series. They have a similar shape (18 sides) but lighter and more flexible hardware. The 47” is available with or without a focusing rod. Finally, the 55” and 70” versions are focusing rod only. The focusing rod is a tool that lets you mount a light inside the softbox, and then focus it to adjust the throw of the light. Without diffusion, this lets you make the light source larger or smaller, which affects the qualities of light. While the 27” to 47” without focusing rods are great for location photographers looking to keep a lightweight setup, the 55” and 70” are ideal for studio photographers looking to have one modifier that can create a lot of different looks. When diffusion is added to the front, you essentially have a massive softbox that will diminish most of the focusing rod effects.
Glow Grand Parabox Pro
Sizes available: 35”, 43”, 51”, 63”, 70”
Included accessories: Inner diffusion, outer diffusion
Optional accessories: focusing arm
The Grand ParaBox Pro is the most top-of-the-line modifier option from Glow. Unlike the Profond series, all five sizes can be used with a traditional rear mount (like a regular softbox) or indirectly mounted via the focusing arm. All models are 30-sided creating the most circular option available. The rods and hardware are a massive upgrade that inspires serious longevity. Finally, the reflectiveness of the material is a massive leap over the EZ Lock, Profond, and Quick Octa series. This means your lights are either more capable of throwing light greater distances, or you can use your strobe more efficiently for faster recycle times. The focusing arm also has a dedicated zoom pole and counterweight pole, so adjusting the strobe’s position is much easier. Beyond that you can expect the same light characteristic control that I spoke of with the Profond. The Grand Parabox Pro is ideal for anyone looking for strong contrast, exceptional build quality, and ease of use.
Article and portraits by Robert Hall
Product photos from Flashpoint/Adorama