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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.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Most Liked Positive Review
Excellent Buy
I am a teacher and a hobbyist. I bought 2 umbrellas after reading the reviews and watching Zack Arias' One Light DVD.
I mainly use them to shoot family/baby/individual port...Read complete review
I am a teacher and a hobbyist. I bought 2 umbrellas after reading the reviews and watching Zack Arias' One Light DVD.
I mainly use them to shoot family/baby/individual portraits and they do a good job. I own a Westcott 28 Inch Softbox Apollo as well, but these umbrellas trump it on versatility and convenience.
For those of you who are concerned with the black backing and the easy of which they are removed/put back, don't worry. it is EXTREMELY easy to do either, just make sure that the umbrella is in a half-closed position.
Built wise, not the best built for 40 dollars. I expected the seams to be at least well hemmed, but there were some loose threads throughout. I sincerely hope they do not come apart. Mine came with some stains on the white part of the umbrella but it didn't affect light quality so I decided that I could live with it.
OH! the umbrellas i got had SOLID shafts, as opposed to the hollow ones many complained about on the collapsible ones, so i was pretty happy about that.
Overall, a good buy. I would definitely recommend anyone who is into strobing or beginning to explore studio/portrait photography to check this out. Spending a little more on quality products can go a long way. I love the size, huge huge umbrella, so it does give you a fantastic soft light source.
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Most Liked Negative Review
Decent umbrella
I use this with 400 dlite. The black removable cover is good and the umbrella look strong enough. But my bad luck, first time when I received it was broken by UPS. I ...Read complete review
I use this with 400 dlite. The black removable cover is good and the umbrella look strong enough. But my bad luck, first time when I received it was broken by UPS. I returned that. The next one I got had one of support connection broken. I use it as it is. I can live with that until the Octo.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 85 customers
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
The 60" umbrella worked very well for group pictures. Exposure was uniform. Remember that 60" applies to the distance along the ribs. The diameter from one end to the other is ~48". Have not tried to use it without the black cover yet.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
This umbrella is lightweight and works well. The construction is decent- not heavy duty, but not flimsy either. Like anything else, treat it with care and it will last indefinitely. I used it for a wedding where I had to make high quality portraits of families in very little time. I bounced two speedlights into the umbrella. The quality of light was very good. The plastic sleeve is good for protection from lightstands in my travel case.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
Great for spreading the light, easy to use.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
This 60 inch umbrella measures 56 inches across the "face", much better than the Westcott 60 inch's 50 inch width (they're both 60 inches over the arch. It's also better built than the Westcott IMO, with fiberglass ribs. It's a great big soft light source.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
Just what I needed to spread the light!
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
This is great for shooting groups of people of full body portraits. It is easy to set. I primarily use it as a shoot-through. The cover is easy to remove.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
Excellent product at a good price, highly recommended
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
take off the cover, use it as a shoot-thru, and you can get really, really close for great, soft light that wraps around your subject.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
I've used it with the black cover and shoot-through using the Canon Speedlite 430EX wirelessly. It works just as well as I expected it to. I decided to pick one up after watching the OneLight Photography DVD. I've tried out the various ways and have no complaints about it.
Using it outside, I would recommend weighting it down with a sandbag. Mine toppled over on the first day and two of the umbrella "arms" bent and can't be fixed. Surprisingly it still works.
No complaints. Considering getting another just because it's a pain sometimes to switch from shoot-through to the black reflective mode.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
I had been contemplating purchasing light modifiers but was overwhelmed and confused by all the choices available. Going back and forth for almost a year I finally decided on Westcott 60" umbrella. Super easy to use and extremely versatile.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
This umbrella has nice soft coverage with a hotshoe flash, but mine showed up damaged. I needed to use it right away, so I didn't have time to send it back. The shaft bends under it's own weight, and the quality is subpar.
If I was to order another umbrella, I'd go with the Photoflex.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
I love this umbrella for quick setups. It's big, lightweight, and easy to convert for shoot-through applications. Seems to be built well enough to withstand a fair amount of use.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
Just completed my first shoot with this umbrella, and it worked exactly as expected. Nothing fancy, but good quality for the price.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
Perfect for studio or on location
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
I use this in my studio, and very pleased with the quality.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
This thing is just the right size for bounce or shoot-though work. Sets up quick and no concerns about it falling apart on me. If you take care of your equipment, it will last a long time, and this is no exception. When working outdoors, sandbag the light-stand very well or you will have a flying umbrella in a moderate breeze. Much better quality of light than the 45" umbrellas.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
I was surprised at the build quality of this umbrella for the price. The shaft is solid, unlike the smaller, double-fold 43" umbrellas.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
After about 5 uses a cap holding the black cover fell off. After about 8 uses a support arm fell off. Not worth the money! I would not have given it a single star, but the program would not let me give it zero stars.
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
If your budget only alloy for one umbrella, this is the one you should get
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Comments about Westcott Umbrella - White Satin- Black Cover-60":
This umbrella is big. And big is good because it softens the light. Material is good quality and will hold up for a long time. The black backing can be easily removed to make it a shoot through which is a nice feature to have.
My only complaint is that the shaft isn't as strong as I'd like it to be. The weight of the umbrella does bend the shaft a little. It is sturdy enough not to break but is does wobble around a little.
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