Thanks Graham for posting your image. Helpful.
"what do you need it to do?"
I am trying gradually to build up a comprehensive, adaptable lighting kit made up of easily storable modifiers that take up minimal space and require minimal assembly. I have a largish softbox which fits those terms, but ideally at this point in time I personally don't want any more softboxes. An umbrella takes up a lot less space when storage is tight. Its also light and portable. It might also hopefully be an added 'look'. Whether that look is worthwhile or not is harder for me to estimate
I have not seen many images labelled as being done with a 'para' brolly. Mostly images posted are done with the massive deep ones from high end pro photographers who can afford such things and who have a load of space in the studio to house them. So such sample photos are family useless for my research purposes. I am not looking to replicate that look anyway as I realise the deep bodied modifiers are somewhat different in effect.
Gaps in my array are a big light source and also any coverage for groups. I used to assist someone who did quite a few groups or people in lines (dancers, stage, indoor stuff) and he used to use white shoot through 60" umbrellas His results were OK but I felt he lost a lot of light with it bouncing back from the umbrellas into the space behind the photographer. Any wall behind him would usually be a long way off as performance areas tend to be biggish. This meant he was still low on light that was 'usable' and quite often this lack could become critical and problematic I am thinking I would like to have kit to cover group shoots and had been thinking perhaps silvered umbrellas instead, to drive more of the light forward and get slightly more directionality.
Then as I wandered the internet pricing up and wondering if and where to go with this, I came across some affordable silver 'parabolics' that look more stoutly built than most umbrellas. The general internet view seems to be (fully parabolic or not) that the are sightly more controllable as the light spread is narrower to some degree, more than that of a standard brolly anyway.
I have also come across the idea that an elasticated diffuser can be slipped over the front, bringing them back to a more diffuse umbrella look or making them into something along the lines of an octobox. If this is true, then I would be getting along the lines of 3 modifiers in a very compact form when stored or moved to locations.
Its also a cheapish way of looking at larger light sources. I had thought if i go head with this, that I might also look at trying out a home made diffuser for the front as I have stuff kicking around here that I could try out the additional effect with initially, with no immediate additional expense on the cost of the brolly. If it seems worthwhile, maybe buying a formal proper diffuser later.
I thought I would ask people on here, despite my search of the internet, as I am more familiar with the people who post here and their standard of work.