Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36"

  • Price: $36.70
  • B&H # BOU36SW
  • Mfr# BW-4036

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Umbrellas soften, broaden, and diminish the light output of any tungsten or flash light source. Umbrellas with a white interior will soften and weaken light more than an umbrella with a silver lining. A white umbrella without a black backing may also be used as a makeshift softbox, although the use of the light will not be as efficient as with a lightbox.

Choosing umbrella size is determined by the size of the subject, and the strength of the light supply being used. Choosing an umbrella surface is as subjective as choosing a paint and brush.

Triple-use umbrella is translucent white, with removeable silver backing.
Use the translucent white as a sunlight diffuser, or with a strobe as a makeshift softbox.
Use the silver backing to add a slight specular highlight when bouncing the light output of a strobe, or small tungsten-halogen light head.

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36"
 
4.9

(based on 15 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (13)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (2)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (0)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Easy to setup (12)
  • Lightweight (10)
  • Reliable (9)
  • Consistent (7)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Portraits (11)
    • Photography (10)
    • Strobe lighting (10)
    • Artificial lighting (7)
    • Weddings (7)
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Semi-pro photographer (8), Pro photographer (6)
      • Was this a gift?:
      • No (9)

    REVIEWS

    Reviewed by 15 customers

    Sort by

    Displaying reviews 1-15

    Back to top

     
    5.0

    Great product

    By Morticia Addams

    from Baltimore, MD

    About Me Semi-pro Photographer

    Verified Buyer

    Pros

    • Durable

    Cons

      Best Uses

        Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

        Well made. Does the job.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

         
        5.0

        Versatile Umbrella

        By Lonzo

        from Temecula, CA

        About Me Semi-pro Photographer

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Comes with cover
        • Easy To Setup
        • Lightweight

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Photography
          • Portraits
          • Strobe Lighting

          Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

          Used in home studio. Good size for my needs and like the silver lined black cover. Very versatile product.

          • Was this a gift?:
          • No

          Share this review

           
          5.0

          Quality

          By Markatect

          from Charlotte, NC

          About Me Semi-pro Photographer

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Easy To Setup

          Cons

            Best Uses

              Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

              Paid a little more for this brand, but the quality is evident.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Share this review

               
              5.0

              PERFECT!!!

              By CC

              from Illesheim, Germany

              About Me Pro Photographer

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Comes with Travel Bag
              • Easy To Setup
              • Lightweight

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Artificial Lighting
                • Photography
                • Portraits
                • Strobe Lighting
                • Studio Lighting
                • Weddings

                Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                I already had just shoot through white umbrellas, but needed some bounce umbrellas. These are absolutely perfect! These are now in my travel studio bag because they can be used for bounce or you can remove the black/silver outer cover, and have shoot through white umbrellas. Very nice! And they come with a nylon travel bag to protect the umbrella, which is even nicer!

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

                Share this review

                 
                5.0

                Bowens 36" Umbrella

                By Bob

                from New Hampshire

                About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Consistent
                • Easy To Setup
                • Lightweight
                • Reliable

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Artificial Lighting
                  • Photography
                  • Portraits
                  • Strobe Lighting
                  • Weddings

                  Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                  This umbrella is versatile, portable and a great value for the price. It's well made and in a strobist set-up, provides good quality of light with both the back in place or removed for shoot through diffusion.

                  I can also see a use for these for fills and accents in the studio.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

                  Share this review

                   
                  5.0

                  Very Impressed!

                  By dmarshallphoto

                  from Conover, NC

                  About Me Pro Photographer

                  Verified Buyer

                  Pros

                  • Consistent
                  • Easy To Setup
                  • Lightweight
                  • Reliable

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Artificial Lighting
                    • Photography
                    • Portraits
                    • Strobe Lighting

                    Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                    Heavy duty construction, purchased for location shooting, came with a nice protective sleeve. Very surprised at the quality for the price!

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

                    Share this review

                     
                    5.0

                    Great umbrella!

                    By Zigomar

                    from Rouyn-Noranda, Québec

                    About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Easy To Setup

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Photography
                      • Portraits
                      • Strobe Lighting
                      • Weddings

                      Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                      I am using this umbrella for hair lighting. It performs very well.

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Share this review

                       
                      4.0

                      Versatile Umbrella

                      By [@]

                      from Az.

                      About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                      Verified Buyer

                      Pros

                      • Easy To Setup
                      • Lightweight
                      • Reliable
                      • Versatile

                      Cons

                      • None

                      Best Uses

                      • Etc
                      • Photography
                      • Portraits
                      • Strobe Lighting
                      • Weddings

                      Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                      We use Bowens Umbrellas for our photography, we utilize both the 36" and 46" umbrellas daily they are very versatile. We love having the ability to fine tune our lighting by either using the umbrellas as reflective or shoot through and they are reasonably priced.

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Share this review

                       
                      4.0

                      Sturdy and seemingly durable

                      By Lurg

                      from Missoula, MT

                      About Me Pro Photographer

                      Verified Buyer

                      Pros

                      • Reliable

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                          Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                          I haven't used this product enough yet, but it seems to be much more durable, sturdy and long lasting that the dynalite umbrella that came with the lighting kit we use.

                          It is a nice simple umbrella for a really great price.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                          (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          5.0

                          Great portable location umbrella!

                          By Brenson

                          from Springfield, IL

                          About Me Pro Photographer

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Consistent
                          • Easy Setup
                          • Lightweight
                          • Reliable

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Artificial Lighting
                            • Photography
                            • Portraits
                            • Strobe Lighting
                            • Weddings

                            Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                            Great location umbrella for portraits or weddings. Use it with a camera top strobe and slave on a light stand. Easy to set up, easy to move!

                            Share this review

                            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            5.0

                            Simply good

                            By Benoit Lutz

                            from Pouembout, New-Caledonia, South Pacific

                            About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                            Verified Buyer

                            Pros

                            • Consistent
                            • Easy Setup
                            • Lightweight
                            • Reliable

                            Cons

                              Best Uses

                              • Artificial Lighting
                              • Portraits

                              Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                              I bought this small umbrella to use it with a flash cobra, in the " strobist's " spirit.
                              It is what I needed: the light is of quality, building materials are solid. I notice with this umbrella the continuity of the quality of Bowens's products.

                              Share this review

                              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              5.0

                              Great portable umbrella - Versatile!

                              By Alexis Stein Photography

                              from Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY

                              About Me Pro Photographer

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                              • Consistent
                              • Easy Setup
                              • Lightweight
                              • Reliable

                              Cons

                                Best Uses

                                • Artificial Lighting
                                • Photography
                                • Portraits
                                • Strobe Lighting
                                • Weddings

                                Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                                this is a great umbrella to have in studio or on location - flexible, versatile, reasonably priced!

                                Share this review

                                (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                 
                                5.0

                                AWESOME!

                                By smonson

                                from Benton, WI

                                About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                                Verified Buyer

                                Pros

                                • Consistent
                                • Easy Setup
                                • Lightweight
                                • Reliable

                                Cons

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Photography
                                  • Portraits
                                  • Strobe Lighting
                                  • Weddings

                                  Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                                  Easy to Use!

                                  Share this review

                                  (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  5.0

                                  Bowens 36

                                  By Bobe

                                  from Seattle, WA

                                  About Me Pro Photographer

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Consistent
                                  • Easy Setup
                                  • Lightweight
                                  • Reliable

                                  Cons

                                    Best Uses

                                    • Artificial Lighting
                                    • Photography
                                    • Portraits
                                    • Strobe Lighting

                                    Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                                    How I use this product -
                                    I purchased two of the 36" umbrellas for tabletop work. I will be testing them for lighting interiors to determine if I require a larger umbrella.

                                    What's great about them -
                                    - They are very well made with all components appearing of high quality.
                                    - They are dual-purpose featuring a white interior surface backed by a removable silver fabric with a black backing. The bounced light is very efficient.
                                    - The silver/black backing is easily removed. You can either use bounce light or shoot through them.
                                    - The umbrella come supplied with a nylon storage bag.
                                    - The silver/black backing is very easy to put back on.

                                    Whats not so great about them -
                                    I cannot make any negative comments about these umbrellas. They are a very good value for the money.

                                    Share this review

                                    (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                                     
                                    5.0

                                    Good Value

                                    By JohnH

                                    from Cleveland, OH

                                    Verified Buyer

                                    Pros

                                    • Good Value

                                    Cons

                                      Best Uses

                                        Comments about Bowens Umbrella - Silver and White, 36":

                                        Great for the price. Used with a flash I can use the umbrella as a shoot through and the removeable cover goes on backwards like a brolly making the light that much better!

                                        Share this review

                                        Displaying reviews 1-15

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