California Sun Bounce - micro mini w/flash bracket?

I shot most of my outdoor portraits this year with an umbrella off to the side. I'm very happy with this setup

except that I would like something that is faster to work with. A bit more spontaneous and mobile. I think the

California sun bounce in the micro mini size, with the flash bracket is exactly what I've been looking for.

Anyone use it? What do you think? Actually I already experimented this weekend with a home made version, and I

think the real thing will be great.

Not sure what the micro mini size device is but remember the smaller the light source, the harsher the light so you're sure to have much nastier shadows than you're getting with your umberella (unless it's one of those cocktail umbrellas you get in a Polynesian drink).

It's 2 feet X 3 feet, so not much smaller than the umbrella I use. They have all sizes, but I think anything

bigger and you need an assistant to hold the thing. Actually though, since you can move around

while holding it, even the smallest one has the potential to be a larger source than the umbrella as you move in

closer for tighter

shots. Farther away it will get smaller, but for full lengths soft light is not so important. I'm not sure,

though, if this will give enough light for full lengths. Certainly in reflector mode it is not advertised as so.

 

But it's also cool that you can both bounce off of it or use it as a reflector.

I've never used one, but I have bounced my flash off a Tri-Grip type reflector. See below.

 

http://www.lastolite.com/trigrips.php

 

Similar concept but the latter does not have a bracket for the flash, although you could probably rig one up. Actually, I bought a cheapie one off ebay for $15. Not as big as the Micro Mini. I've shot cakes with the flash bounced off the reflector, in rooms where there were no good bouncing surfaces, or outside at night. I just swivel the flash head around and aim for the panel.

 

I would think that for close-ups and up to head-and-torso, it would work OK. More than that and it would not be so effective. Plus, if used in your hand, you are limited by the reach of your arm. For close-ups, I'd think the flash bracket could be a limiting factor. And I am curious as to what makes it resistant to the wind knocking it over. There is no explanation on the website.

I think the reason it's a little better in the wind than an umbrella is that it's flat. It also has the support structure which a normal reflector does not. Thanks for the link, I will check out the lastolite videos.

Hmmm...flat doesn't seem particularly better. It would still blow over unless sandbagged, plus be hard to hold still in stronger wind. I thought maybe the material was porous or something. I've seen reflectors that have wind holes in them. As for the support structure, the pop up type ones have the frame, which, on a Tri-Grip is quite strong. I would guess that both would work equally well for what you have in mind. I'd say that it is probably easier to deal with a pop up type, as far as actually dealing with it while shooting alone. At a wedding, I can't see setting up the Micro Mini and taking it down repeatedly, which is the way one has to work at a wedding (alone, that is). With the Tri-Grip, it is conceivable to open it up, bounce a flash off it, close it down and hang it from your hip or bag, and off to the next shot. For portraits, it wouldn't make much of a difference.

I agree about the wind.

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Did you see this video?</a>

OK--I looked at the video. I would have liked to have seen more of what the shots looked like rather than the photographer shooting. The one shot that was shown did not look all that different from direct flash off camera flash, to tell you the truth. I do that anyway, with my Sunpak 120J parabolic flash reflector-ed unit on a stand, at weddings, or with my on camera flash hand held in my hand. I guess what I'm saying is the the very slight difference in softness of light from what I already do isn't worth it to me. I work alone, so the thought of dealing with the Micro Mini with the flash bracket when not shooting with it would be a problem. It isn't something you can sling over your shoulder and collapse easily. When I use my flash on a stand, I collapse the stand and carry it with me in one hand, or for portraits, I put it in a tripod bag that I can carry on my back. Also, I don't use a heavy camera, but holding and shooting it with one hand isn't that easy for me.

With my home made version it was clear that it is not so easy to hand hold, but I think the real thing is lighter than what I rigged up. I agree it is not a huge light source, but I kind of feel it is a good compromise between something larger and bare flash. The idea of getting good off camera light without being tied to a stand is very appealing to me. We'll see. Thanks for your thoughts!

I think there is some info on strobist about making your own sunbounce.

For outdoor portrait work the mini Sun Bounce with the flash bracket works reasonably well but does take a hand. I prefer a Quantum with bare bulb on a light stand when there is any amount of wind. The mico mini with the bracket for the strobe can easily be attached as a single assembly to a light stand for some shots with a Bogen Justin Clamp or similar device and then released for hand hold use.

 

For wedding formals outdoors the Quantum Qflash with either the standard metal reflector or the Quantum mini soft box works quite well and wind is not a consideration.

 

I shoot with an assistant who can either direct a reflector, position a scrim, or hold the Qflash on a monopod. If you are shooting solo than simple is important and something that will leave both hands free if at all possible. Seldom is the camera position the best position for the flash or a reflector, much less a scrim. Outdoors, even a 30" umbrella on a 6' stand would require 75 pounds or more in sand bags to keep it upright in a gust and lugging around sand bags is the least viable option I can think of for outdoor photography.

I use a G fuser on a stroboframe camera flip. Only because I prefer to flip the camera rather then the flash unit which is how most brackets work....and this could over time damage the lower portion of your flash unit.......the G fuser is a dome smaller then the Fong.......its rectangular and cost much less at 16 dollars which includes shipping.....its green and made by hand in the US.........its also small enough to fit on your camera bag without taking anything out of your bag or adding another bag to carry additonal equipment........I included the link for the product...check it out it may be just what you need

 

http://www.geoecordero.mysite.com/article.html