Umbrellas

I need to replace some old umbrellas. Can any one tell me what the big difference is between white, silver, and black backed. I want to have a good all around set.

Thanks

And while we're on the subject, how about "shoot-thru" umbrellas, and "brolly boxes", like these:

http://www.white-lightning.com/utwb.html

and these:

http://www.white-lightning.com/brolly.html

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net

Hi Tad and Nill.

The differences are as follows:

White, is softer and has higher loss of light.

Silver, has more contrast and has less loss of light.

"Black Backed" umbrella, prevents light from spilling/going somewhere you do not want it to and usually will double as a "Shoot-Thru" umbrella.

"Shoot-Thru" umbrella, is softer and has less loss of light than the white.

"Brolly Boxes", are a cross between a "Shoot-Thru" umbrella on the front, a "Black Backed" on the rear, sort of a poor mans soft box.

The "black backed" sounds like the most useful or at least most versatile overall choice then, no?

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net

I have seen white with removable black backs to be used as shoot thru or reflector. That's probable what I'll llok for so they will be more versatile. I guess the next question is how big?