Reflector recommendations?

tbarker13

tbarker13

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I'm thinking about buying a reflector of some sort to take with me when I shoot portraits on location. I don't use a flash, but a reflector would seem to offer me a bit more control over the available light.

Wondering if anyone might have suggestions on type and size. Most of what I do is B&W, but occasionally I'll toss in some color if requested.
Do you attach the thing to a tripod or some other stand? I'm really going for simplicity - I don't want to lug a ton of gear around.
 
I found some cloth material at a fabric store, white on one side and silver on the other, and it was about $8/m^2. Over the years I've clothes-pinned it around a hula hoop and to collapsable curtain rods and even just thumbtacked it to a wall.

Outdoors in full sun, I've used it with the hula hoop held high to diffuse the sun so the subject isn't squinting.
 
How much will you be using it and what's your budget? You can get creative and make something decent for low money. For example, a frame made of PVC pipes with homemade reflector material of aluminum foil bonded to cotton fabric with 3M spray adhesive. You'd be amazed how well that works. Foam-cor also works very well, on its own or with the addition of reflective material.

If you actually want to put some money into it and get a solid, professional lighting tool, I recommend either Scrim-Jim or California Sunbounce. IMO, California Sunbounce panels are hands-down the best made, though pricey and perhaps harder to find a dealer for. Scrim-Jim panels are industry standard, durable, versatile, etc. Also expensive, but worth the money if it's something you'll use a lot.

Unless you will only rarely use it, I recommend against collapsible reflectors - the kind with a band of metal sewn into the perimeter that you fold up into a smaller circle. They are unweildy, not particularly durable, and a total pain in the *** to work with in even the lightest wind, especially without an assistant. Some people seem to like them, though. If you go that route, consider getting a decent light stand for it as well as an arm to hold the reflector. There are a couple kinds of reflector holder arms out there. I recommend this kind specifically: Photoflex Telescopic Litedisc Holder. And I recommend against this kind in general: Wescott Reflector Holder. The bigger clips are more secure and are less intent on eating holes in your reflector over time.
 
Strangely enough!.....if you can buy a current copy of 'Amatuer Photographer' - they are giving a freebie! - small, but surprisingly useful (sets white balance too! ) I carry one in my bag, and now have three! ( from previous give-aways ) so if any one reasonably near - for shipping, wants one........
Cheers, Dave.
 
I don't want anything too elaborate. But portable is key.
Right now, I'm looking at some stands ( I am my own assistant) to hold the reflector. Looking at some made by Matthews.
In the end, I'd like to spend somewhere in the range of $150-$200 for a stand, reflector and holder.
Definitely need something that won't get knocked over by a light breeze.
And I'm thinking something in the 40-inch range would probably suffice for portrait needs.

A couple stands at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/502683-REG/Matthews_B387486_Reverse_Stand_7_.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/33465-REG/Matthews_B389788_Medium_Duty_Black_Kit.html#reviews

A holder:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/17725-REG/Flexfill_FH1_Holder_for_Reflectors.html
 
The reflector holder linked post #7 is a pain in the a**. Hard to set up and the slightest breeze will move it because it only holds the reflector at two points. I am die-hard available light person and I can always tell when reflector was used - I don't like the look. Too soft and fashion-photography like. But that's just my taste. I do have experience with this specific reflector holder in the studio and I can't recommend it.
 
David R Munson said:
How much will you be using it and what's your budget? You can get creative and make something decent for low money. For example, a frame made of PVC pipes with homemade reflector material of aluminum foil bonded to cotton fabric with 3M spray adhesive. You'd be amazed how well that works. Foam-cor also works very well, on its own or with the addition of reflective material.

If you actually want to put some money into it and get a solid, professional lighting tool, I recommend either Scrim-Jim or California Sunbounce. IMO, California Sunbounce panels are hands-down the best made, though pricey and perhaps harder to find a dealer for. Scrim-Jim panels are industry standard, durable, versatile, etc. Also expensive, but worth the money if it's something you'll use a lot.

Unless you will only rarely use it, I recommend against collapsible reflectors - the kind with a band of metal sewn into the perimeter that you fold up into a smaller circle. They are unweildy, not particularly durable, and a total pain in the *** to work with in even the lightest wind, especially without an assistant. Some people seem to like them, though. If you go that route, consider getting a decent light stand for it as well as an arm to hold the reflector. There are a couple kinds of reflector holder arms out there. I recommend this kind specifically: Photoflex Telescopic Litedisc Holder. And I recommend against this kind in general: Wescott Reflector Holder. The bigger clips are more secure and are less intent on eating holes in your reflector over time.
Click to expand...


That photoflex model looks promising. Do you think it's better than the one I linked?
 
Pablito said:
The reflector holder linked post #7 is a pain in the a**. Hard to set up and the slightest breeze will move it because it only holds the reflector at two points. I am die-hard available light person and I can always tell when reflector was used - I don't like the look. Too soft and fashion-photography like. But that's just my taste. I do have experience with this specific reflector holder in the studio and I can't recommend it.
Click to expand...

A reflector isn't something I plan to use very often. But I can see situations where it might come in handy.
 
tbarker13 said:
That photoflex model looks promising. Do you think it's better than the one I linked?
Click to expand...
Definitely. It's just a more secure, and IMO logical method of holding the reflector than a lot of others out there. Little funky clips that only hold the very edge or rubber things that hold the edge of the reflector by friction alone work OK, but are quick to break down or start doing things you don't like as soon as the wind blows.

I've worked with a lot of different equipment like this in the course of commercial photographic assisting, and the Photoflex one works better than most other holders I've used.

EDIT: There are a lot of different things you can do with a reflector in terms of look. On one long fashion shoot for a wholesale clothing company, 95% of what we did was a combination of a big sunbuster umbrella to shade the subject, and a 6x6' Scrim Jim to fill. All of it on location, most of it outside, the results look like this and this. A commercial look, yeah, but it's nice, simple, and extremely effective. Another thing to look at is Jock Sturges' work, as I believe he uses a reflector for at least some of his work. The look you get with a reflector varies immensely based on the size, distance, and surface of the reflector. A soft white reflector is going to be far, far more subtle, for example, than a hard gold or silver reflector.
 
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Aluminium foil (the type used for food) - you can fold it to an extremely compact size, can use it to cover the windshield of your car in summer, if it rains you can use it to protect your camera, can use it for cooking if you're camping as well… ;)

I guess to keep it sturdy you could either have some people holding it, or tape it to your car/a tree and use a weight to stop it flapping about.
 
I use the Photoflex reflectors, stands and clamps and can recommend them highly. If you are going to use these things outdoors a lot, be sure to get a couple of the sand bags to weight the stands down. Otherwise, the wind will drive you crazy. :)
 
Before yu buy a round reflector, hold it with one hand vertically, if it bows return it ;)the reflected light will be uneven:bang:.
 
I recommend the Photoflex lite disk - silver/white. I've clipped to my tripod at times, but the can be wind an issue. I really like the bit of fill it adds, soft and more subtle with white, harsher and brighter with the silver.
 
I have two Photoflex Litediscs I carry depending on shoot and if I need them at all. I dont use a holder as that just adds more gear to haul.

One is 42" white/gold; the other is 52" white/translucent. The smaller kicks up the light, while the larger softens it. I'd recommend the 52" sizes as it controls more light.
 
Dave Wilkinson said:
Strangely enough!.....if you can buy a current copy of 'Amatuer Photographer'
- they are giving a freebie! - small, but surprisingly useful (sets white balance too! ) I carry one in my bag, and now have three! ( from previous give-aways ) so if any one reasonably near - for shipping, wants one........
Cheers, Dave.
Click to expand...

I bought two copies of Amateur Photographer that week, one for the reflector and one for the diffuser. Haven't had much use for one yet, but I'm sure it will come in handy, as they are small and portable.
 
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