Umbrellas and Softbox... redundant?

[KevC]

Hey,

I currently just have a smallish sized softbox (70x50cm) and a reflector. I haven't played with it yet, but a single light with reflector setup I should be pretty happy with.

I'm thinking of getting a second flash (actually need to decide in the next couple hours). It should be nice for a backlight, hairlight or something similar.

Since I have the softbox, would getting a large umbrella be redundant? Or maybe two umbrellas? Two umbrellas may make it easier to shoot larger groups, since the softbox seems like an upper body only.

Should I be buying a shoot-through umbrella?

Thanks!

[DocFrankenstein]

IMO they are not redundant and the quality of light is different.

As analogy, it's like painting with different brushes. The effect is subtle, but visible. Silver umbrellas give somewhat harsh light and make the skin look somewhat sweaty. Shoot through umbrellas wrap around the subject and are truly diffused... White ones fall somewhere in between. It's hard to describe, but the "moods of the light" and the emotion they convey are a bit different.

There's also practical aspect - you won't be taking the softbox to location.

I'd get the brolly just to see the difference.

[Lorek]

I agree with the above