Muslin Backdrops

I'm puchasing a black and a white muslin backdrop for us to take on location for portraits. Seemless paper was just too hard to transport.

The problem is that the array of choices is entirely too staggering. I could spend $50-$60 each for them from a vendor on Amazon, Amnova, or Ebay or.... I could spend $130-$160 for one from backdropoutlet, B&H, or Adorama.

The last thing I want is to get one that is entirely too thin, but at the same time, I can't see spending more than twice the price if there is not a quality difference.

Any positive or negative feedback about any of the muslin from the common dealers? Do you get what you pay for with Muslin or are the big names just over priced?

I got some from ebay (actually, from the same seller I got my backdrop stands/supports from).

It's basically bedlinen, so it's quite thin. The white is fine, whereas the black you *can* just about see through - it doesn't matter in the scheme of things though.

The *real* pain is getting the damn creases out. When they came they were folded into a small square, so the creases were pretty severe. I ironed both sheets (which took forever) and got much of the hard creases out, but it was still pretty wrinkly. To do any better, you need to wash and hang dry them.

The further in front of the backdrops you can get your subject, the more you can lose the wrinkles with a small DOF, but if you have a small space, and are used to seamless paper, you're in for long laundry sessions..!

But bottom line - the stuff I have is quite thin, was reasonably priced, and in practice it's fine.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm afraid of getting the very thin stuff. Or.... is it all that way? I noticed that backdropoutlet has something called blackout cloth. Has anyone used it?

I bought two 12'x16' drop cloths and died one black, total cost for both about $120.

I bought two muslins on ebay and they are the very thin ones. I agree with a PP that they are almost see through. Also, I am not an ironer so I don't care for them...the wrinkles are very noticable. I am going to purchase some seamless paper and see if that works out. I have also seen the diamond cloth which is supposed to be almost wrinkle free.