umbrella choice with sunpak flash

[rx7speed]

figured I would ask before I did anything here that ends up shooting me in the foot here. I have a single sunpak 383 flash that I am using right now and have been using it on camera for a while and figure now is a good time to get it off camera. have a cheapy lightstand on the way as well as one of the dealextreme wireless triggers. only missing the umbrella mount and the umbrella itself.

with the umbrella I see that I am able to get a cheap 33inch vs a 45 inch for about the same price. my worry though is would my flash be stong enough to handle that much larger of an umbrella? in all honesty I don't really believe I would need it but just thinking if that reason came up would it come in handy to already have one. if nothign else would it cause any ill effect if I choked up on the handle to reduce the effective diameter of the umbrella?
also as I know the difference doesn't seem like a whole lot between them in size I am curious though is it enought o really make a difference though in actuall use of the umbrella adn getting in the way or beign a tight fit at times.


then as far as the type of umbrella. I was hoping to get one that I can use as either shoot through or bounced. with that is there any difference between an umbrella that has the black backing as far as bounce efficiency or no? it doesn't seem like it as I would think black would absorb. if nothing else woudl there be any harm done by doing a ghetto tin foil and glue mod to the backing to make it a reflective surface or would that cause issues with heat or lighting? yes I am that cheap right now :D


thank you guys.

[Icediamond]

to further add to this thread, I'm wondering what kind of umbrella to get right now (size= 28, 35, 48+inches, colour =silver/white, white/black, white, silver) for general purposes and good ideal portrait work

[Headcase650]

Ive got a couple 33" shoot through/bounce with black backers and two 45" silver bouncers. For up close with a lot of light fall off the only thing better than the shoot through is probably a soft box. For bouncing I really cant tell enough difference between the white and silver except I pick up about 1/3 of a stop with the silver.
Just starting out I would go with a 45" white with a black cover. Use it for bouncing on larger subjects or shoot through up close. More versatile then just a plain silver bouncer.

[rx7speed]

I was at least figuring on getting one that I could use both ways as right now I'm broke as can be. the silver part was more on the removable backing. figured I would put some sort of foil on the backing but if it doesn't make much difference then I might not worry about it.

as far as size though is 45" going to be too much for the little flash I have?

[tenoverthenose]

For portability, I have a 43" Westcott double fold convertible umbrella which I love. It can do everything that you need to. I also have a 60" Eclipse umbrella which is bigger (if you're into that). The Eclipse does not fold up as small, but has the option of being a much larger source - if its too big, just choke up on it.