Dreaming of umbrellas - DPChallenge Forums

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

10/25/2007 06:09:02 AM · #1

I have a 550EX, and the ebay wireless trigger. My next step is to get something to soften the light. My question is, what sort of umbrella to get, white or silver. I've seen a few kits around with brollies, stands and swivel mounts.

Some have big umbrellas, some smaller, 32", 43", some silver, some white, some white with black covers. What do I need as a versatile general purpose brolly? Eventually would like to get 2 for cross-lighting, but I only have one flash at the moment. But if there's a really good deal around, I could get the 2 now, and put them aside for when I do get a 2nd light.

My thinking is to get the 8' stand (higher is better), a 43" umbrella (is bigger better), probably white with black cover (is this more versatile than silver?).

What's your recommendations?

(And I don't know of any cheap suppliers in Brisbane, Aust, so I'll probably end up getting it all mail order from the US.)

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

10/25/2007 06:40:20 AM · #2

Westcott makes a really nice 43" compact umbrella - in silver and white with removable back. What I like about them is that they fold down to maybe a foot long. Very compact and easy to pack. I got mine at Midwest Photo Exchange. I don't know if they ship worldwide (probably not) but they are local for me. If you were not able to ship what you wanted and were interested in these I could probably ship them for you if you were interested.

Quick check at their website - they do ship internationally - here is the link - Strobist at Mid West Photo Exchange

Firsty

Fujifilm X-E1

10/25/2007 07:14:22 AM · #3

I picked up a some of the 43" double fold white ones with black covers from mid west and they shipped them over here to Sydney no problems
joined with a friend and brought in 4 umbrellas and 4 umbrella swivels at AU$264.00 delivered to my house in Sydney ($66.00 per set)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/25/2007 07:19:56 AM · #4

The ones with black covers, are the covers silver on the inside?

How do you find them efficiency wise compared to silver ones, if you've ever had experience with both?...

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

10/25/2007 07:28:49 AM · #5

The ones with removable covers are white. The silver ones are bounce umbrellas only. I am still farting around with both of them so I couldnt give you any solid testimony - but the silver ones are supposed to give you the best light efficiency if I am not mistaken. I went ahead and bought one of the kits and added on the white umbrella. For the $20 it was worth it to me to have both. I just purchased a 2nd speedlight unit so I will be back there to purchase another stand, flash mount and a second set of umbrellas.

bfox2

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/25/2007 07:29:33 AM · #6

I recently picked up one each of the Translucent and Silver double folding umbrellas. I haven't experimented a ton with them, but I really like the translucent one since you can shoot through or reflective. They really aren't that expensive though, so it couldn't hurt to get one of each and try them both out ;)

skylercall

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/19/2009 03:27:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by timfythetoo:

How durable is the collapsing shaft? Is it easy to setup and take down?

Message edited by author 2009-10-19 15:49:17.

Trumpeteer4

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/19/2009 03:45:58 PM · #8

Silver has better light efficiency but it also has harsher light. The one I have is reversible so you can use it as white or silver. Personally though, I prefer my white shoot through umbrella that also comes with a black cover so you can use it as a reflector umbrella or a shoot through.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM

10/19/2009 06:56:06 PM · #9

Originally posted by skylercall:

How durable is the collapsing shaft? Is it easy to setup and take down?

Wow, old thread. :) I did get the strobist kit in the end, with a couple of vivitars, 2 stands, 2 silver brollies, one white with a removeable black cover. I was pretty impressed with the quality of stands. Being the cheapest prices around, I was expecting some really flimsy stuff, like those flimsy little music stands, but they seem pretty solid. Sure, maybe not suitable as full-time professional gear, but they seem fine for occasional use.

I mostly use the silver umbrellas. The white one is slightly fiddly with the black cover, and I have a soft-box, so I'd probably use the white one a lot more if I didn't have the softbox.

rider

Canon EOS-7D

10/19/2009 07:11:48 PM · #10

Originally posted by surfdabbler:

Originally posted by skylercall:
How durable is the collapsing shaft? Is it easy to setup and take down?

Wow, old thread. :) I did get the strobist kit in the end, with a couple of vivitars, 2 stands, 2 silver brollies, one white with a removeable black cover. I was pretty impressed with the quality of stands. Being the cheapest prices around, I was expecting some really flimsy stuff, like those flimsy little music stands, but they seem pretty solid. Sure, maybe not suitable as full-time professional gear, but they seem fine for occasional use.

I mostly use the silver umbrellas. The white one is slightly fiddly with the black cover, and I have a soft-box, so I'd probably use the white one a lot more if I didn't have the softbox.

what do you think of the soft box? what kind?