Does it matter where I shoot the strobe in the umbrella?

Just got some new toys yesterday, some Phottix Odin II Transmitter and Receivers

So far I mainly shoot with umbrellas. And found out yesterday that when I put the HotShoe strobes on the receivers the get kind of high up.

Without receiver (already kind of far up)

I use the same type of setup with 580EX II/YN-622c. On the 580 I can tilt the flash head down 7 degrees. I also deploy the diffusion panel. Both together help cut down the 'hotspot'. This is one situation where a Sto-Fen diffuser may actually help. Looks like you are shooting reflector umbrellas. I find these generate less of a 'hotspot' than the shoot-through style.

EDIT:
I did once try laying the flash down and rubber-banding it to the flash stand. Awkward, looks stupid, didn't appear to help.

Bassat wrote in post #18249043
I use the same type of setup with 580EX II/YN-622c. On the 580 I can tilt the flash head down 7 degrees. I also deploy the diffusion panel. Both together help cut down the 'hotspot'. This is one situation where a Sto-Fen diffuser may actually help. Looks like you are shooting reflector umbrellas. I find these generate less of a 'hotspot' than the shoot-through style.

EDIT:
I did once try laying the flash down and rubber-banding it to the flash stand. Awkward, looks stupid, didn't appear to help.

Yes, I can also tilt the head down, but it seems that it still shoots in the wrong "spot".

I also have some shoot-through umbrellas that I use sometimes.


/Jocce

There are several commercial umbrella bracket in the market that will position your flash head close to the axis. For DIY ones, these are some setup options, found on internet.

nixland wrote in post #18249072
There are several commercial umbrella bracket in the market that will position your flash head close to the axis. For DIY ones, these are some setup options, found on internet.

Hosted photo: posted by nixland in
./showthread.php?p=182​49072&i=i37524641
forum: Flash and Studio Lighting

Thanks. I will have a look at this!

But the main question still is:
Does it matter? Does it change the light?


/Jocce

Jocce wrote in post #18249074

nixland wrote in post #18249072
There are several commercial umbrella bracket in the market that will position your flash head close to the axis. For DIY ones, these are some setup options, found on internet.

Hosted photo: posted by nixland in
./showthread.php?p=182​49072&i=i37524641
forum: Flash and Studio Lighting

Thanks. I will have a look at this!

But the main question still is:
Does it matter? Does it change the light?


/Jocce

I use silver reflective umbrella sometimes with speedlite and it does matter.
White reflective umbrella could be more forgiving, but still I believe it matters do to the design shape of umbrella.

This is one of the example on the internet that might show you the problem.

http://www.bokehblog.c​om …-Umbrella-or-Softbox.html

Even for a white umbrella, uniform distribution will improve speculars on glossy surfaces. On glass and chrome surfaces, the improvement will be obvious (not that umbrella reflections are pretty). The ubiquitous Manfrotto umbrella mount has your problem, so I use ordinary grip gear for complete flexibility. I could position the flash right on the umbrella shaft if I wanted:

Its relatively easy to do your own test.

turn the power down on the speedlite, then use a low ISO and F stop so you get the light pattern on the umbrella created by the speedlite.
If you don't have one of the centering brackets just use a big rubber band or a velcro strap to hold the speedlite head on the center shaft of the umbrella for the second test.

Its also important to select a zoom setting and position the speedlite so it fills the whole umbrella rather than just part of it.

Once you've seen what the light pattern is on the umbrella using both mounting options use the setup to make some pictures to see how the light looks on a subject.

You should be able to see the difference.

https://www.amazon.com …sr=8-1&keywords=s-bracket

Here is another bracket that a lot of us use that help this situation. It also doubles as quick box mount and bowens/elinchrom mount.

dmward wrote in post #18249205
Its relatively easy to do your own test.

turn the power down on the speedlite, then use a low ISO and F stop so you get the light pattern on the umbrella created by the speedlite.
If you don't have one of the centering brackets just use a big rubber band or a velcro strap to hold the speedlite head on the center shaft of the umbrella for the second test.

Its also important to select a zoom setting and position the speedlite so it fills the whole umbrella rather than just part of it.

Once you've seen what the light pattern is on the umbrella using both mounting options use the setup to make some pictures to see how the light looks on a subject.

You should be able to see the difference.

I'll try to do a test some day


/Jocce

smaeda wrote in post #18249209
https://www.amazon.com …sr=8-1&keywords=s-bracket

Here is another bracket that a lot of us use that help this situation. It also doubles as quick box mount and bowens/elinchrom mount.

That's a nice solution, though it adds quite a volume to the "on location-kit". But it seems to be a nice solution though

Seen any Ebay-knock offs?


/Jocce

Jocce wrote in post #18249074
Thanks. I will have a look at this!

But the main question still is:
Does it matter? Does it change the light?

/Jocce

i've been doing research now that im trying my hands at portrait and I remember this video which warns about your issue.

Take a look - https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=T0fpgzWxppc

smaeda wrote in post #18249209
https://www.amazon.com …sr=8-1&keywords=s-bracket

Here is another bracket that a lot of us use that help this situation. It also doubles as quick box mount and bowens/elinchrom mount.

Jocce wrote in post #18249212
That's a nice solution, though it adds quite a volume to the "on location-kit". But it seems to be a nice solution though

Seen any Ebay-knock offs?


/Jocce

I was going to suggest the same.
They can be had for about $19.00 on Amazon. I've not seen them any cheaper on Ebay, there are already multiple brands on Amazon. It used to be that the "Neewer" version was the lowest price, but I am seeing the Godox units down at $19.00 now too. they are all one and the same (I have two Godox and two "Neewer")

RicoTudor wrote in post #18249202
Even for a white umbrella, uniform distribution will improve speculars on glossy surfaces. On glass and chrome surfaces, the improvement will be obvious (not that umbrella reflections are pretty). The ubiquitous Manfrotto umbrella mount has your problem, so I use ordinary grip gear for complete flexibility. I could position the flash right on the umbrella shaft if I wanted:

Kind of weird set up to me. Big money in great stands and then speed lights instead of strobes?

I actually run something similar. When I do backlighting of subjects using black backgrounds, I use speedlights and reserve my strobes for the front of the subject material. Nothing wrong with 580EX units and umbrellas, they work pretty good.

I need to get some Godox S-Type mounts for my flashes and strobes, to get the light down closer to the center, as well as have a more stable setup than the flash stands I am using now.

The AD200 looks interesting... But I should be set on lighting for now, I cannot look at any more toys.