Westcott X-Drop Reviews
Not a smooth fabric
By Dan
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2023-01-28
I want to love the X-drop because it is delightfully light weight and packs to a very convenient size. Given what most photo gear costs, I can appreciate the relatively low price tag as well. This is where my love ends, and my actual needs as a photographer have made this my last resort instead of my first...
I have used both the white and the gray fabrics, and both create texture that requires a lot of work to get rid of in post. I am not talking about the kind of text that you get from uneven stretching. I am talking about vertical lines that appear from the pattern of the weave of the fabric. See example photo attached. It is pronounced enough to even show up at f4 with the backdrop 6ft behind the subject.
So, the white gets two stars because if you want it white, the lighting will hide the texture. If, however, you want to just let the white fall off to gray, there will be vertical stripes. Gray gets one star. It is completely unusable for anything other than wrapping gear to keep it from getting damaged. I haven't included black in my consideration because the occasion to use it has not presented itself yet.
As for build quality, you would think this thing was going to collapse under its own weight, but I have seen these in use for years by other photographers without issue. I might not make it the first thing I load in the trunk and willy-nilly throw things on top of it as one might a c-stand, but I would also rather carry three of these in for large group sessions than 6 tripods, three crossbars, and three rolls of paper. Except i WOULD rather carry all that stuff in because it's easier than getting the stripes out of the background in post.
Easy and clean
By Wendy
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-12-12
Easy to set up, creates a great clean backdrop.
Best $175 I ever spent!
By Donald
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-11-26
I can change backgrounds in under 2 minutes by myself. Now I can do white AND gray in the same 10 minute session.
Previously, I would ask if the client wanted gray OR black. Now I can shoot both. I start with speedlites on the white background and a more powerful cordless for my main light. Then I install the gray background and turn off the speedlites.
No more heavy rolls of seamless paper. No background stands and poles, requiring two people.
I just love it.
GREAT portable product
By Anonymous
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-09-30
got this for a portrait shoot i had. my shots were from the waist up but that is only because i didnt have enough room in the persons home to get back farther. very light, very portable. just a touch on the flimzy side but if you dont throw this together like the Incredible Hulk, it will last a long time. i would recommend.
Easy to set up
By Melanie
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-09-14
Wry lightweight and any to set up. I just wish the backgrounds weren't so fuzzy
Westcott X-Drop 3-Pack Backdrop Kit (5 x 7')
By Paul
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-06-02
I love my Westcott backdrop Kit! I have been using it for a long series of Still life photos and for portraits. I have even been using it outside for my Pet Photography photographs, along with my Westcott FJ400 monolights! It is fast and easy to set up, portable and the 3 different colors gives me instant options. Using Blend modes in Photoshop, I can instantly drop in textured backgrounds to all my photos!
So close. But ultimately comes up short.
By Derek
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2022-08-28
I wish they'd release a pro version of this with a bit better engineering. It's a great idea, but just poorly executed in the name of keeping it as lightweight as possible. Being lightweight is great and all, but this thing is so lightweight, I think most users would agree that adding 3-4 more pounds in the name of quality and durability would be a very welcome feature. Here is my list of issues:
First off, the backdrop fabric is very thin and translucent, meaning if you are using this as a portable backdrop to bring on locations (which is what it's designed for), then the places you can actually set this up are limited unless you double up on the fabrics. Because if there is any light source sitting behind the backdrop (such as a window, etc) you can see the silhouette of the X frame clearly in the backdrop. If you are shooting interviews/photos at an uncontrolled location, you really need multiple X-Drop fabrics so that you can layer them and cut out any light from bleeding through the backdrop. I would never purchase the single backdrop package for this reason. Stacking a black backdrop under the white backdrop works well for making it less translucent (see my photos)
Second issue, the X-Drop frame will not tolerate even the slightest bit of abuse. The aluminum tubes seriously feel like they're made out of plastic straws, and the plastic locking connectors feel like they were made out of recycled Happy Meal toys. Seriously Westcott, it doesn't need to be soooo lightweight that a 4 year old can carry it. Can we beef this thing up a bit?
And lastly, I don't feel the fabric is stretched taught enough on the frame to create a nice, tight backdrop (see photo). It's a little loose and doesn't fully make use of the X design like it should. For example, even the slightest bit of breeze from a fan, an AC vent, or even someone moving close to the backdrop, will blow the surface like a loose sheet. The sad thing is, it doesn't have to be this way. The X-Drop design is honestly a great idea, but the execution really fell short. I think the reason why the backdrop fabric isn't pulled as tight as it could be, is because if it was, it would just bend the weak frame. Again, if they'd beef up the frame, they could make the fabric a little thicker and a little smaller, so that it stretched tighter on the frame and wasn't so translucent.
I can't decide whether I'm going to keep this thing or just get a couple of the Impact Pro Rapid Portable Backgrounds, which are much heavier but much, much quicker to set up and seem to be a much cleaner and tighter backdrop than this loose, flimsy X-Drop. Westcott, can we put out a PRO version of the X-Drop please??? In its current state, it feels like a balsa wood bird skeleton holding up a big piece of tissue paper. And who wants that??? If I'm gonna spend my money on a big, portable skeleton, I want it to be a durable robot-dinosaur, made out of carbon fiber bones, and metal joints. Built with brawn and muscle! Stuff that will last! Because as it is now, if you breathe too heavily on this X-Drop thing, it's gonna end up in a tree, or in New Jersey.
Unique but really under built
By Michael
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2022-02-02
The concept is solid but to either minimize the cost or weight this unit is very under built and I don't foresee it lasting when used frequently on location for client shoots. The footprint of the stand is far too wide and makes any location setup much larger than a standard background stand and cross bar. I may use it from time to time but it will not be my preferred background option. The material used for backgrounds themselves unless carefully folded at the end of every use do wrinkle and I feel this was misrepresented as well.
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