So what's the difference?

Mentalblock

Mentalblock

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I'm looking at putting together some studio kit to test the waters of portrait photography.

I have a flash unit and probably need a second, but for the time being I'm going to buy a light stand and a shoot through umbrella. The problem is the price differences between shoot through umbrellas.

Why are some a few £ on ebay and others much more?
Am I paying for a brand or is there really a difference?

Right now, a couple of quid on an umbrella sounds great, but I'm happy to pay more if the results are vastly different and worth the money.

Any comments anyone?

Thanks
 
size, buid quality, shape and quality of material will all make a difference. Try a cheap one - not a lot to lose :)
Like most things, you get what you pay for.
 
EOS_JD said:
size, buid quality, shape and quality of material will all make a difference. Try a cheap one - not a lot to lose :)
Like most things, you get what you pay for.
Click to expand...

I suspect build quality would be an issue, but would the quality of the material affect the light quality/ tone?
 
Unfortunately, sticking a shoot through umbrella on a flash head and sticking the flash head on a stand won't really help you "to test the waters of portrait photography."

Portrait photography is about using light to create shadow. Shoot through umbrellas spread the light literally almost everywhere, and unwanted light from nearby walls, ceiling etc just kills shadow by creating uncontrolled light.

If you really want to start off that small, get a white reflective umbrella instead - the light will still be uncontrolled but it will be a lot less uncontrolled than from a shoot through, which IMO is really only ideal for on-axis fill.

Is there a worthwhile difference between decent ones and the fleabay specials? Yes, a massive difference. Partly build quality of course, but mainly the way that the shape of the umbrella and the material it's made of diffuses, shapes and directs the light - or doesn't.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Unfortunately, sticking a shoot through umbrella on a flash head and sticking the flash head on a stand won't really help you "to test the waters of portrait photography."

Portrait photography is about using light to create shadow. Shoot through umbrellas spread the light literally almost everywhere, and unwanted light from nearby walls, ceiling etc just kills shadow by creating uncontrolled light.

If you really want to start off that small, get a white reflective umbrella instead - the light will still be uncontrolled but it will be a lot less uncontrolled than from a shoot through, which IMO is really only ideal for on-axis fill.

Is there a worthwhile difference between decent ones and the fleabay specials? Yes, a massive difference. Partly build quality of course, but mainly the way that the shape of the umbrella and the material it's made of diffuses, shapes and directs the light - or doesn't.
Click to expand...

Hi Garry, thanks for the post.
So a soft box would be an even better option than a reflective umbrella?
 
Assuming that you're talking about a studio flash head, not a hotshoe flash, yes.

Basically, the one advantage of a shoot through umbrella is that it can produce soft light if required, because you can put it as close as you like to the subject. You can't do that with reflective umbrella because it faces the 'wrong way' with the flash head itself stopping you from placing it close. And, if a light isn't as close, it isn't as soft.

A softbox combines the best of both - it can be placed as close as you like, and all of the light goes forwards, not sideways or backwards.

But, a word of caution - it doesn't pay to buy softboxes on price either.
 
To answer your first question about pricing of umbrellas.

I first bought 2 of the cheap eBay umbrellas, they are perfect for indoor work and casual use. I used mine for a couple of weddings and that was it as soon as some wind had them or if they fell over they broke. I now use the Lencarta shoot through and reflective in one. It was around £30 but I've used them both now for over a year and they've been through it all.

And like they say you get what you pay for :p
 
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