Elinchrom

Elinchrom EL26359 Shallow 2-in-1 White/Translucent Umbrella - 105cm/41in

3.7 (4 reviews)
41in

Two umbrellas in one chassis — the Elinchrom 105cm Shallow 2-in-1 lets you shift from warm, wrapped reflected light to wide-spread shoot-through without swapping modifiers.

$100.95*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 27, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Elinchrom Shallow 2-in-1 is a portrait photographer's practical solution to a common kit dilemma: reflected or shoot-through? Rather than choosing, this 105cm umbrella lets you work both approaches from a single modifier by attaching or removing the black outer cover. In reflected mode, the highly reflective white interior and shallow bowl geometry combine to deliver slightly warmer light tones with smooth, gradual shadow transitions — the kind of forgiving key light that flatters a wide range of subjects. The shallow profile means the light source remains efficient and forward-focused, behaving more predictably in small rooms than a deep parabolic that throws light in wider arcs. In shoot-through mode with the cover removed, the translucent canopy spreads light broadly, producing a cooler, more neutral quality that works particularly well when you want to wrap light around a subject or fill a small space evenly.

Build quality is consistent with Elinchrom's accessory line — the canopy construction handles regular assembly and travel without the stress points that cause cheaper umbrellas to degrade at the shaft joint or along the rib structure over time. The 7mm central tube is the brand's standard and fits most umbrella brackets cleanly. At 1.21 pounds and with a compact folded profile, it earns its place in a location kit where every gram and every centimeter of bag space matters. Elinchrom's design philosophy of combining affordability with professional-grade light quality is well represented here — this is a modifier you can take from a controlled studio session to a location shoot and get consistent, reliable results from both setups. Paired with even a modest monolight, the 105cm Shallow 2-in-1 produces light that looks considerably more expensive than it is.

Key Features

The shallow white umbrella with its highly reflective cover is often chosen for its slightly warmer tones and softer shadow transition.

When the reflective cover is removed this converts into a translucent umbrella offering a choice between shoot-through and reflected use.

Combined with Elinchrom's unique central umbrella (7mm) tube location, these elements together deliver an affordable quality of light.

Shoot with the white for a nice soft look or use as a translucent for a wide light spread.

Highly efficient bounced light source when used with the cover.

Specifications

Size
105cm / 41 inches
Type
2-in-1 (White Reflective / Translucent Shoot-Through)
Interior Color
White (reflective)
Exterior Color
Black (removable cover)
Shaft Diameter
7mm (Elinchrom standard)
Folded Dimensions
28.74 × 2.76 × 2.76 inches
Weight
1.21 lbs
Brand
Elinchrom
Model
EL26359

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The removable cover genuinely transforms this into two distinct modifiers — the reflected mode's warm, wrapped quality and the shoot-through mode's wide, neutral spread cover the two most common umbrella use cases without carrying two separate umbrellas.
  • At 105cm, the light source is large enough to produce genuinely flattering softness for portrait and headshot work, with shadow transitions that are smooth enough to minimize retouching needs.
  • The shallow profile produces efficient, forward-directed bounce light — less light spills behind the reflector compared to deeper umbrellas, which is useful when shooting in small spaces with light-colored walls.
  • The 7mm shaft ensures broad compatibility with standard strobe umbrella brackets, making it easy to integrate into an existing Elinchrom or mixed-brand lighting kit.
  • At 1.21 pounds, it is light enough to travel comfortably and mounts quickly — the kind of modifier you grab for a location portrait session without adding meaningful weight to a kit bag.

👎 Cons

  • The shallow bowl profile produces less dramatic wrap and falloff compared to a deeper parabolic umbrella — photographers who want pronounced dimension and directional shadows from a single source may find it too flat for their look.
  • Shoot-through mode with the cover removed exposes the strobe to the subject's environment — in dusty or wet outdoor locations, the unprotected translucent canopy is more vulnerable to contamination and damage than a closed softbox.
  • The white reflective surface, while versatile, does not produce the specular quality or snap of a silver interior umbrella — it's a soft, matte look by design, which limits its use for high-contrast editorial or product work that benefits from harder light.
  • At 105cm, the umbrella is too large to fold down small — it requires a dedicated carry tube or bag slot, which is a real consideration for photographers already traveling with a full kit.
  • Umbrella modifiers in general allow more light spill than enclosed softboxes, and the Elinchrom Shallow is no exception — when shooting in tight spaces, ambient spill onto backgrounds and walls requires flagging or careful positioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Remove the black reflective cover to expose the translucent white canopy for shoot-through use. Reattach the cover to return to reflected mode. The conversion takes seconds on set and requires no tools — the cover is designed to be removed and reattached repeatedly without damaging the canopy.
With the cover on, the white interior bounces light back toward the subject — this produces slightly warmer tones and a softer shadow transition characteristic of the shallow bowl profile. Without the cover, the translucent canopy allows light to pass through for a wider spread with cooler, more neutral quality. The shallow geometry affects both: reflected mode wraps less than a deep umbrella; shoot-through spreads more broadly than a narrow umbrella.
Yes — Elinchrom uses a 7mm central tube, which is a common size that fits most strobe umbrella brackets and many third-party light stand receivers. Verify your specific bracket's shaft diameter before purchasing if you're mixing brands.
At 105cm (approximately 41 inches) across, this umbrella produces noticeably soft light for subjects at distances of 1–3 meters. The larger the source relative to the subject, the softer the light and the more gradual the shadow falloff. At 105cm, it is well-suited for single-person portraits, headshots, and product work where you want a dominant soft key light.
Yes — the shallow profile concentrates light more efficiently in the forward direction compared to a deep parabolic umbrella and produces a slightly different quality of light than a standard mid-depth umbrella. Shadows from a shallow umbrella transition softly but with a bit more directionality than a very deep modifier, giving portraits some dimensionality while still retaining flattering softness.