Big Umbrellas Good or Bad, what's a good size?

[ChrisAdval]

This is 2 questions that relates to products and portrait photography... Which is better, a medium softbox or an umbrella? Would I create more interesting lighting by increasing the size of the umbrella used? (like 6' or 7' which is the only two sizes I see listed on B&H that don't look like a normal size which to me is 60" looks normal)

Budget: no higher than $100

I only found Westcott in my price range and 4 to 5 star ratings on B&H


Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black) 4634 B&H Photo


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...lla_White.html


Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (Silver) 4633 B&H Photo Video

[zona5101]

Umbrellas vs. Softbox considerations:
1) Price - Umbrellas - a 7' soft box is spendy!
2) Light Quality - Toss Up
3) Light Efficiency & Control - Softbox

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/12/2...x-vs-umbrella/

And there is a darn fine photographic illustration of the fall off and spill of umbrellas here on DPS but I can't seem to locate it this morning (need more coffee)

Of your 3 umbrellas
You have a white, a shoot through and a silver...each will give you slightly different results in efficiency and specular highlights. With the silver being the most reflective with greatest specularity. The white reflective vs white shoot through is a toss up for light quality but there will be more spill with the shoot through and therefore lower efficiency.

On umbrella size: bigger is better. softer light, more wrap...but at the cost of efficiency and portability/manageability. Even on a slightly windy day a 60" umbrella will be fun to keep in place. Inside a 60" or bigger umbrella will require a high ceiling as you won't get the elevation and angle you want in a standard 8 or 9' ceiling height. Smaller umbrellas are worth considering for those reasons.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Umbrellas vs. Softbox considerations:
1) Price - Umbrellas - a 7'
2) Light Quality - Toss Up
3) Light Efficiency & Control - Softbox

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/12/2...x-vs-umbrella/

And there is a darn fine photographic illustration of the fall off and spill of umbrellas here on DPS but I can't seem to locate it this morning (need more coffee)

Of your 3 umbrellas
You have a white, a shoot through and a silver...each will give you slightly different results in efficiency and specular highlights. With the silver being the most reflective with greatest specularity. The white reflective vs white shoot through is a toss up for light quality but there will be more spill with the shoot through and therefore lower efficiency.

On umbrella size: bigger is better. softer light, more wrap...but at the cost of efficiency and portability/manageability. Even on a slightly windy day a 60" umbrella will be fun to keep in place. Inside a 60" or bigger umbrella will require a high ceiling as you won't get the elevation and angle you want in a standard 8 or 9' ceiling height. Smaller umbrellas are worth considering for those reasons.

Thanks for the help! So a softbox is best overall I do not have a high ceiling right now so that would be best for me.

[Rentham]

Since you're considering those Wescotts, this tweet from @strobist may (or may not) be of interest:

Twitter

Those are cheap rebranded knockoffs of Paul C. Buff PLM umbrellas. The Paul C. Buff versions are sub $100 as well, it looks like.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by Rentham

Since you're considering those Wescotts, this tweet from @strobist may (or may not) be of interest:

Twitter

Those are cheap rebranded knockoffs of Paul C. Buff PLM umbrellas. The Paul C. Buff versions are sub $100 as well, it looks like.

Really? wow, I just went on B&H and looked for highest ratings with cheapest prices, they seem popular on there.