Reflector - which brand?
smargita
Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
I am an amateur photographer who enjoys shooting portraits in outdoor light. I am considering adding a reflector or reflector kit to my camera accessories. I was considering the white/silver Lastolite Trigrip reflector or a circular one.
Which reflector would you recommend?
Also, I am considering adding the Ezbalance gray card as well which would help with white balance and exposure settings.
Which should I get first? Do I really need the WB card if I shoot raw?
Thanks!
- Steve
Which reflector would you recommend?
Also, I am considering adding the Ezbalance gray card as well which would help with white balance and exposure settings.
Which should I get first? Do I really need the WB card if I shoot raw?
Thanks!
- Steve
0
Comments
The Westcott kit includes TWO different white scrims with collapsable frames. One is a 1-f-stop scrim, the other a 2-f-stop scrim. There's a BIG difference between a 5:1 kit which only has one scrim and frame, and a 6:1 kit.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Yes. RAW does little for you if you don't have a neutral starting place. And read this thread.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
From a price perspective, the Westcott kit John mentions is a better bargain and is as versatile.
As far as the gray card, I'd look for one that has color targets as well. I don't own one but if I were doing more studio work, I'd get one.
Only slight caveat about the ebay ones is they can take a bit to ship - mine was over 3 weeks. But worth it! I'd buy another in a second - very, very good value, and the 32" one is a very useful size.
Remember, too, that a single 24" sheet of foamboard really IS a great reflector, so even before you get a "real" one, a quick trip to the dollar or craft store will get you set up for under $5. I still use those as well as the shinier ones - sometimes that matt white surface does the job I want better; all depends on what I'm trying to do
I have a 5 n 1 reflector kits...chamelon is the brand...but I very seldom use white or silver...I prefer the warming of the gold......the only times I have needed 2 was doing nature shots and I really needed to bring light in from 2 different angles to open up some dark shadows...but that is the only time I have needed 2 reflectors.....now I hardly use mine since I have 2 SB900's...............
As to white balance...since I doing 99.9% of all processing in Lightroom...I do not bother...but grey cards are not really the way to go.....from my experience in TV (where I first learned about white balance) most any pure bright white object can be used....you can spend money on Whi-Bal cards other more expensive tools but I just do my outdoor shooting on AW and fix in Lightroom if there is a problem and I have yet run into a prob with getting white .... white outdoors or indoors........
30", 42", or 50"?
Also, I saw the $30 5 piece kit also from Westcot. Aside from possible quality issues, do circumstances require multiple pieces at once?
I guess I am thinking maybe a diffusor above the subject and a reflector below?
I'd better get some assistants!
The 30" fits my budget better....
thank you
- Steve
I have the 42" kit. 30" would probably work OK if you never shoot more than one person at a time, but even at that, if you're using a scrim, the larger the better. Smaller scrims make it more likely that your shaded area won't be big enough. My judgement was that larger than 50" would be too cumbersome. Heck, when I'm outside and there's any breeze at all, even the 42" are troublesome. TINSTAAFL.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Each lighting situation is different. Bringing a bit of reflection ground up and maybe even using the diffuser to tame the sun or just cut the light from a flash. You might use just one or maybe two. Depends on what you need to do.
+1 on the SUPER CHEAP 5 in 1 Ebay reflectors. I also use them and now own 6 of them.... in different sizes, since they are so cheap. I think I even made a post awhile back to share the "deal" that I had found. The quality is just fine and so is the quality of light that they reflect. That's all that matters, right? I'm a big Joe McNally fan though and if money was not an issue, I would probably stock up on the Lastolite panels/reflectors that he praises so much.
Until I am rich, these seem to be the logical way to go.
http://cgi.ebay.com/80cm-32-5-1-Light-Mulit-Collapsible-disc-Reflector-/370489569936?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5642e63290
- Steve
The answer is "it depends". It depends on your lighting situation. You might use the reflector as fill to a main light or just as fill in a daylight situation.
The reflector would serve the same purpose but only use natural light.
Which is more desireae when planning the shot.
What should my thinking start out with - my nikon SB flash or a reflector or both (as a starting point?)
Thanks
- Steve
If I had just a few pieces of gear I could carry (aside from camera/lens combos), it'd be two flash units, maybe a small softbox (like a lastolite) some gels and a trigger mechanism and maybe something to clamp/mount the flash on. You'll get a result with that gear. If there's no light, no reflector will reflect enough to get the job done.
As far as using a reflector, no. You could use both the flash and reflector or one or the other or none.
It really does depend on the situation and what you're trying to achieve light wise.
There are a variety of books on the subject of lighting with small flash units but one resource that is free and worth looking at strobist.blogspot.com.