Versatile umbrella?

mpauliempaulie Registered Users Posts: 303 Major grins
edited July 2, 2009 in Accessories
Hi everyone, looking for some advice because I'm going to be purchasing my first flash soon and I also would like to get an umbrella around 43" that can be used for shoot through as well as bounce. Ideally I would like to be able to bounce off a silver insert as well. Does anyone know of or have any experience with this?

Thanks!!

Comments

  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,132 moderator
    edited July 1, 2009
    My only experience is with "3-way" convertible umbrellas. Some of these have silver inside the black cover to increase reflectivity with the white umbrella, but I don't think I've seen any with the ability to switch white with silver, for instance. I have seen both white and silver convertible 3-way umbrellas, but I only have white versions.

    The three functions that I am aware of:

    1) Reflector, black cover on.
    2) Reflector, black cover off.
    3) Shoot through with cover off.

    Of these I have 5 umbrellas with sizes up to 60". Typically I will use the 60" as key and a 45" as fill. Many times the key will be shoot through, but it depends on the situation.

    I do recommend umbrellas as the most portable large modifiers, but I love the light from soft boxes so they have gone with me on road trips too.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • mpauliempaulie Registered Users Posts: 303 Major grins
    edited July 2, 2009
    Thanks Ziggy, so I guess I with the black cover on it will be more reflective? That should work for the versatility I want right now. Time to look around and do some shopping.
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,132 moderator
    edited July 2, 2009
    mpaulie wrote:
    Thanks Ziggy, so I guess I with the black cover on it will be more reflective? That should work for the versatility I want right now. Time to look around and do some shopping.

    The black cover is more to control light "spill" from the umbrella used in reflective position. If the black cover also has a silver liner then it should increase reflectivity as well (depending partly on how transmissive the umbrella itself is to the light source.)

    A convertible umbrella is probably not as efficient a reflector as is a dedicated photographic "reflector only" umbrella. A dedicated silver lived umbrella is the most efficient in term of reflectivity, but it tends to be a "harder" light that I don't like for people photography.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • mpauliempaulie Registered Users Posts: 303 Major grins
    edited July 2, 2009
    Ah, good points! I will go with the convertible and see if I have a need for the harder light of the reflective bounce.
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