42" Parabolic brolly = poor mans beauty dish?

Marcus Geezer

Marcus Geezer

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Thanks to The23rdman (big up respect to you Dean), I have been looking at parabolic umbrella's as a possible way to focus soft light into a controlled area with hard fall off. I've seen the size of some on offer and the common sizes tend to be 42", 60" and a whopping 84", where I was wondering if I could use the smallest one to simulate light controlled as if from a beauty dish?

Also, just to note, I understand these are not 'true' parabolic umbrellas which seem to be more bowl or bell shaped, but if used properly these type can produce similair levels of light control, using Canon speedlites.

Can anyone provide some insight as to whether I am on the right track?
 
I've never used them with hotshoe flashes, only with studio flashes but I don't think that there should be much difference other than the lack of a modelling lamp and the lack of power.

The shallow type doesn't (can't) give a hard-edged light and the result can't be identical to a beauty dish, partly because they aren't round, but the effect is fairly similar.

They are also fairly versatile. If the flash isn't aimed straight backwards , different effects are possible, and if a circular reflector or similar is positioned to block the light except for the edges, they can simulate a large ringflash. The one on the Lencarta website shows this, see the extra pics
 
Thanks Garry. From some research on t'internet including watching some youtube video's, these parabolics seem to give a a very focused light, which drops off quickly as you move sideways from it. I suppose what you are saying is that they do focus the light well, but just not as well as a beauty dish? Would it focus better and softer than an equivalent octabox / brolly box?
 
Marcus, mine isn't as good as a beauty dish, but it does give a good fast fall-off.
 
The23rdman said:
Marcus, mine isn't as good as a beauty dish, but it does give a good fast fall-off.
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Hi Dean,

You use the 60"? Is that correct? I was thinking of the 42" to see if it would provide a bit more fall off than my fave bit of kit which is a 40" brolly box.
 
I've the 42", Marcus. I may invest in a 60" in the future. I'll try and find time to do a wall test shot to show the fall off later. :)

Edit: I love my brolly box too. Have you tried modifying it? I've hacked a good 6 inches of the stem off so it can get close, but I plan to chop it right back and make the stem detachable so it can get really close.
 
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Marcus Geezer said:
Thanks Garry. From some research on t'internet including watching some youtube video's, these parabolics seem to give a a very focused light, which drops off quickly as you move sideways from it. I suppose what you are saying is that they do focus the light well, but just not as well as a beauty dish? Would it focus better and softer than an equivalent octabox / brolly box?
Click to expand...
The falloff of light will depend on 2 factors...

1. The shape of the thing in the first place - a true parabolic will give a much sharper cutoff of light than a shallow dish.
2. The distance that the light has to travel before hitting the reflective surface. The greater the distance, the sharper the edge of light
 
The23rdman said:
I've the 42", Marcus. I may invest in a 60" in the future. I'll try and find time to do a wall test shot to show the fall off later. :)

Edit: I love my brolly box too. Have you tried modifying it? I've hacked a good 6 inches of the stem off so it can get close, but I plan to chop it right back and make the stem detachable so it can get really close.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dean I'll look forward to the fall off pic. If you are able to, would it be possible to do a side by side with the brollybox, same settings, that kind of thing?

Also, not touched my brollybox, happy with what it does generally. The only thing I don't like is the coldshoe adaptor which never seems strong enough to allow it to be at any other angle other than upright!
 
Garry Edwards said:
The falloff of light will depend on 2 factors...

1. The shape of the thing in the first place - a true parabolic will give a much sharper cutoff of light than a shallow dish.
2. The distance that the light has to travel before hitting the reflective surface. The greater the distance, the sharper the edge of light
Click to expand...

Thanks Garry. Tip 2 is a cracker and will have a play about with that.
 
Marcus Geezer said:
Thanks Dean I'll look forward to the fall off pic. If you are able to, would it be possible to do a side by side with the brollybox, same settings, that kind of thing?

Also, not touched my brollybox, happy with what it does generally. The only thing I don't like is the coldshoe adaptor which never seems strong enough to allow it to be at any other angle other than upright!
Click to expand...

You need the see Dav's thread!
 
42" Parabolic brolly = poor mans beauty dish?

I don't think parabolic and poor man should be in the same sentence,lol. I'm only familiar with parabolics costing £0000's or the cheap alien bee ones I guess...what alternative are you looking at?
 
Marcus, I'm hoping to do your test shots today.
 
Cannae do it, mate. Don't have enough room!
 
The23rdman said:
Cannae do it, mate. Don't have enough room!
Click to expand...

Ok mate no worries. Thanks for trying anyway. I'll have to eat the virtual mars bar myself that I was about to throw your way when I saw you had posted. :)
 
I have an 86" original Buff version.

With a backdrop at 10ft or so, I get a 1.8 stop difference between lit and shade over about 24 inches approx.

They are quite focusable.

But boy, do you need some room to use them - do not underestimate the size of the thing.
 
|I've got a 85" one arriving this afternoon. Looking forward to using it, I'll update you on my thoughts of the cotswold ones :)
 
Do these genuinely have any parabolic qualities? To be honest they just seem to be silver lined reflective umbrellas?
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Do these genuinely have any parabolic qualities? To be honest they just seem to be silver lined reflective umbrellas?
Click to expand...

My thoughts too.
 
T'internet research shows if the light is placed 'just right' then they do. But t'internet research also shows that, Kylie hasnt had plastic surgery, Elvis was seen in Milton Keynes ASDA last week, and that Prince William is an alien set to take over the world once he marries a human.
 
Wouldn't firing it straight at a wall from a correct distance show the spread/focus of light? A parabolic should focus the light (i.e the internal contruction of a spotlight), whereas an umbrella reflector will chuck it everywhere....

I suspect the latter is true with these to be honest.
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Wouldn't firing it straight at a wall from a correct distance show the spread/focus of light? A parabolic should focus the light (i.e the internal contruction of a spotlight), whereas an umbrella reflector will chuck it everywhere....

I suspect the latter is true with these to be honest.
Click to expand...

This was what I was hoping our kid Dean could show us, but maybe someone else with studio/space and time could fire one at a wall and compare it to a similair sized normal brolly or whatever they have to hand?
 
Marcus Geezer said:
This was what I was hoping our kid Dean could show us, but maybe someone else with studio/space and time could fire one at a wall and compare it to a similair sized normal brolly or whatever they have to hand?
Click to expand...

If it really does have any parabolic potential you should be able to get anything from mushy soft to focused depending on how it's set up.

I've been tempted by the PLM by p.buff but only because it's cheap
 
On Cotswold Photo ebay ad - 'Soon to be offering white (parabolic) shoot through versions.....'

What's the bliddy point in that then? :lol: :thinking:
 
DekHog said:
On Cotswold Photo ebay ad - 'Soon to be offering white (parabolic) shoot through versions.....'

What's the bliddy point in that then? :lol: :thinking:
Click to expand...

A white shoot through parabolic....yeah, I'm pretty sure that's BS lol.
 
kokakaste2 said:
I would be more interested in the white diffuser to cover the front of the umbrella (sort of making it in Softlighter like thing). :d
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yup, they're coming soon :)


Mine has arrived, I'll do some testing when I get a chance :)
 
Yep it'll throw light everywhere, that's why I called bullsheeeeeet lol
 
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