First off-cam flash set-up

Pretzel

Senior Member
Ok all... inspired by the Zach Arias OneLight videos, I'm going to start dabbling in off-camera flash with ONE light/stand/modifier and go from there. I've already got a decent 9' stand picked out, and an expandable hot shoe mountable trigger/receiver set, but wondering about the first umbrella.

Again, have it mostly figured out as far as wanting to get a 57" umbrella to start, but should I start with a silver lining (no pun intended) or white? My tendency is to lean toward the white, but it's just gut feeling without research.

Also, I'm intrigued by these white umbrellas with "black cover", so you can turn the umbrella around and use it as a pass-through filter as well, but I'm curious as to how well these covers last. Anyone use something like that? Hoping to pull the trigger this weekend, but wondered what those of you with experience would recommend. This lighting set will be mostly indoor, with some outdoor "in the shade" use. No outside direct light to compete with.

After I master the one flash set-up, I'll look at investing in another speedlight and stand, etc. to start working with 2 lights and such from there. After that, should business improve and warrant, I'll start digging into strobes. :)
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Wow, I just read that back to myself... that's a lot of words to say:

First umbrella purchase - would you recommend a white liner or a silver liner?

:cool:
 

WayneF

Senior Member
White for portraits of people, without doubt. The silver has uneven hot spots, but can help small flashes needing greater reflectance, and can be good for furry pets that you want to shine.

The white nylon material reflects about twice what can pass through. The black cover simply absorbs and prevents that rear spill, it does not change the reflected light in any way. You want them "close as possible" anyway (3 to 5 feet), to be relatively large and soft.

The black cover can't be used for shoot through of course, which will spill back about twice more than passes through. Normally that is not good, but you'd use shoot through when you need it closer than reflected can go... like 12 or 18 inches. In which case, the power needed is not much concern, and that inverse square law of that close distance overwhelms the relatively far distance to the room walls and back (several feet) so then the spill is not critically important. Shoot through normally has a center hot spot, you'd feather it off a bit to the side.

Maybe see Which is softer, Reflected or Shoot-through Umbrellas?

and Mounting Speedights in Umbrellas
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
White for portraits of people, without doubt. The silver has uneven hot spots, but can help small flashes needing greater reflectance, and can be good for furry pets that you want to shine.

The white nylon material reflects about twice what can pass through. The black cover simply absorbs and prevents that rear spill, it does not change the reflected light in any way. You want them "close as possible" anyway (3 to 5 feet), to be relatively large and soft.

The black cover can't be used for shoot through of course, which will spill back about twice more than passes through. Normally that is not good, but you'd use shoot through when you need it closer than reflected can go... like 12 or 18 inches. In which case, the power needed is not much concern, and that inverse square law of that close distance overwhelms the relatively far distance to the room walls and back (several feet) so then the spill is not critically important. Shoot through normally has a center hot spot, you'd feather it off a bit to the side.

Maybe see Which is softer, Reflected or Shoot-through Umbrellas?

and Mounting Speedights in Umbrellas

Great links, thanks! Gonna fire up Amazon and get some flash fun ordered when I get home, then a new session of learning begins...
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Yeah, go for the white umbrella. I have both....just white and the black/white combo. A 57" umbrella is a bit big to start off with, bud. :) Stay in the 30" to 40" range. And for the flash, I'd recommend the Yongnuo YN565EX or the YN568EX for TTL. But for manual, the YN560 III or !V. Can't beat them! To control those 560's, get the YN560-TX.

For stands, I have the 7', 2x9' and 10' stands for differing situations. I also use a boom stand for use with a beauty dish. Makes a huge difference!
 

PapaST

Senior Member
The Adorama FlashPoint speedlights look fairly promising. Not sure I like the propietary battery (AA works better for me). But I like the rest of what I see. You should check on those if you're looking at speedlights.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Pretzel ... I went a little different for my first modifier.

I was started down the path of umbrellas, but ended up starting with a Westcott Rapid Box softball. It still uses a speed light (mounted outside the softbox so can still use CLS without needing radio triggers). It is basically a silver umbrella, but has a white diffuser panel that can be installed over the front. Here's the link on Amazon: Amazon.com : Westcott Rapid Box 26" Octa Softbox : Photographic Lighting Soft Boxes : Camera & Photo

I got a few images with it over the weekend ... need to post for critique and advise.
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Yeah, go for the white umbrella. I have both....just white and the black/white combo. A 57" umbrella is a bit big to start off with, bud. :) Stay in the 30" to 40" range. And for the flash, I'd recommend the Yongnuo YN565EX or the YN568EX for TTL. But for manual, the YN560 III or !V. Can't beat them! To control those 560's, get the YN560-TX.

For stands, I have the 7', 2x9' and 10' stands for differing situations. I also use a boom stand for use with a beauty dish. Makes a huge difference!

Only going with one stand/modifier/flash set-up for now, and figured for the price, a 9' would get me short or tall as needed. Plus, looking over local shops, the taller stands are built to be sturdier (guessing as offset for the height/balance). Thinking it might go outside a time or two, that and a couple of sandbags made sense. As for the flash, the first set up will already by my SB700, but using it in manual mode. Future flashes, looking at either the Younguos or Lumopros, but that's a bit off into the future.

I've also got a large reflector I can work with, for now.

Any reason why you would suggest the smaller umbrellas, though? The 50" is only about 45" edge to edge, so isn't TOO huge, but I'm curious...

Pretzel ... I went a little different for my first modifier.

I was started down the path of umbrellas, but ended up starting with a Westcott Rapid Box softball. It still uses a speed light (mounted outside the softbox so can still use CLS without needing radio triggers). It is basically a silver umbrella, but has a white diffuser panel that can be installed over the front. Here's the link on Amazon: Amazon.com : Westcott Rapid Box 26" Octa Softbox : Photographic Lighting Soft Boxes : Camera & Photo

I got a few images with it over the weekend ... need to post for critique and advise.

Yup, been looking at soft-boxes too, but through I'd start with a shoot-through umbrella which can probably duplicate the effect somewhat. I've got my Fong for on-camera use, too, which does a decent soft-box imitation.

What stand did you end up going with?
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Yup, been looking at soft-boxes too, but through I'd start with a shoot-through umbrella which can probably duplicate the effect somewhat. I've got my Fong for on-camera use, too, which does a decent soft-box imitation.

What stand did you end up going with?

I went with the Manfrotto 1004BAC. I picked up for of them; two for supporting a backdrop, and two for lights. They all stack together which is pretty nice for transporting them, and they are air cushioned to support a heavier load if/when I get to putting strobes on them instead of speed lights.
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Nice! Thinking about making my own backdrop stand out of PVC. Can save a few bucks there, maybe, but that's a bit off for now...

That Manfrotto, it's a 12' stand, yes?
 
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