Hello,
I'd like to buy a reflector panel. I'll use it mainly for portrait - both indoor and outdoor - and for product shots.
I was interested into a 5in1 reflector (Lastolite makes a nice one at a reasonable price), but I just saw the trigrip that looks interesting. I'd buy the the 38" or 48" reflector or the 30" or 4' trigrip (or the new 30" triflip 8in1). Please note that I often shoot alone and maybe the trigrip would help me. What do you suggest?

Hi, Simone. I have not tried the tri-grip, so someone else will have to help with that one. Does look like a good idea, but so do a lot of things that turn out not to be as great as they look. I just don't know. However, I can talk about the colors.

Concerning the 5-in-1 or 8-in-1, you may want to try before you buy, if that's possible. I went that way first and found that:

I don't use the gold. Gold reflectors tend to warm too much and to be harsh. I can achieve the same (or better) effect in Photoshop by controlling the color temperature and I have more control. Your milage may vary.

I don't use the silver; it produces specular highlights and tends to be fairly harsh. I prefer white - smooth and even.

What I have found myself using are white, black and translucent. The translucent is mandatory outdoors. Here in Florida, we have clouds zipping over all the time and your subjects are light - dark - light - dark. Argh! Translucent, used as an overhead scrim, knocks off 2 to 4 stops from direct sunlight and makes for happy portraits.

Consider getting help when you're pretty sure you'll be using reflectors. Sometimes, I'll invite a friend along or pay some kid a few dollars to hold a reflector or a scrim for some minutes while I get the shots. It beats wrestling with this stuff by yourself. Hope this helps.

-Les

Trigrips are great. I only have the normal 2-in-1 models, but I assume the 5/8's are pretty swell, too. You can definitely use it on your own if you've got a decent grip on your camera with a relatively small/light lens.

Tri-Grips are great. Easy to hand hold, even my assistants like them because they put the surface area where you need it the most, near the subject. Also because of this design, the 38' seems much bigger than a 40" round. The 48" is massive, I use it more as a scrim than a reflector. The Tri-Grips are also very well made, the newer ones epecially with the new handle. They can be used with a grip arm as well as a standard reflector arm. Another nice thing about the triangular shape is their corners can be used very effectively in tight spots or for accent. I really liked the Westcot squares too, but I think the Tri-Gips are even better.

I'm with Para on the fabrics: white, black and trans. Too bad you have to buy a set to get the black. I guess B/W reflectors are just too old school anymore. Hardly anybody makes them anymore. I have some old B/W Lastolite panels, but alas they don't make B/W TriGrips to my knowlege.

Good luck.

Hey Carmen, when did the handle change? I got all of mine about 12-15 months ago, the handle's rigid plastic with two velcro strips on each side.

Thank you everyone for the answers! I think I'll go with the tri-grip. Here's the new tri-flips (http://www.lastolite.com/triflips.php), the 8in1 tri-grip. It has a very interesting price, and since I'd have to buy at least 2 tri-grips (translucent and white-something) the 8in1 is definitely cheaper.