
Review Summary
2017-03-07T11:45:59
just used for the 1st time. Umbrellas are great for portraits or solo pics. Color looks amazing using this umbrella.
LARRY P.
2013-06-03T21:00:00
If you are looking for a high quality bounce umbrella, this is the one. The black fabric is very thick preventing light to leak. The metal rod is solid and very sturdy so when you attach it to your stand the tightening screw does not pit/dent the rod like cheaper hollow rod products. This product also comes with a cover for safe keeping. I use this product for studio and on location lighting and couldn't be happier with the results. I would highly recommend for the amateur and professional photographer.
RENEE S.
2010-10-11T21:00:00
First impressions, the durability of this umbrella. Compared to all the others I have. Nice feathered shadows like a softbox and of course lightning fast setup. Now I need the 56"
DAVID M.
2009-07-07T21:00:00
The umbrella is great as a shoot-through. The problem is with the removable back cover which is held in place by little pins stuck in the ends of the little extension arms of the umbrella. About half popped off the first time I tried pulling the back cover off. So, I'll end up using the umbrella as a shoot-through. In retrospect I wish I had bought 2 dedicated umbrellas--a shoot through and a reflective one.
Marlin
2009-06-11T21:00:00
I like the quality of light and for the price I was happy however, I haven't gotten the softness that I want.
NICOLE H.
2008-12-28T19:00:00
I have a 36" Bowens silver/white removable black back, and I wanted one more a bit bigger to throw more light on my subject/s. It is GREAT! I love the removable back option as sometimes a softer light is what I am looking for in my photos. It is heavy, but with the appropriate lightstand it has never been a problem.
KIMBERLY G.
2008-12-06T19:00:00
After reading a previous review of the 36" umbrellas bending/breaking on the first use I was a little nervous about trying a pair of these. However, mine seemed to be perfectly strong as umbrellas go. I should probably wait until I have shot a dozen or so events before making claims on their strength but let's face it, 90% of the stuff we haul around will break if you aren't careful with it so I guess if you handle your gear like a gorilla then anything will break. If you enjoy monkeying around with assembling/disassembling soft boxes before and after an event and spending the evening in Photoshop correcting the reflections in people's glasses then by all means, DON'T buy these umbrellas. If you buy these your set-up/tear-down times will be cut in half, your subjects will have absolutely no flash reflections in their glasses and your skin tones will be perfect. You'll also be able to come home after the event and have a drink and relax instead of dreading the post-production Photoshop work that lay ahead of you. I bought a pair of the umbrellas and the day they arrived I shot a corporate function with 300 couples. I just finished editing my images and I am very impressed with my results. Skin tones are fine, I have a nice drop shadow below the jaw lines to keep my subjects looking young and, as mentioned above, no reflections in people's glasses. I use octa-boxes in the studio and they are a royal pain to assemble at events. They are also cumbersome and top-heavy. A pair of these umbrellas cost less than just one of my octa-boxes so I am pleased through and through with this purchase. I haven't used them in the studio yet but I can't imagine them not working just fine in that application as well. If you are looking for a way to cut down your set-up/tear-down times at events without compromising your image quality I would highly recommend using these as opposed to soft boxes.
Zoom
2008-04-26T21:00:00
Great umbrella for the money, it is kind of heavy, so make sure you have a good light stand to put this on.
Eric
2008-01-20T19:00:00
Nice size for a quick portable set-up, but I bent the umbrella the very first time I used it. it bent back ok, but it was upsetting to break it on the very first set-up!
KARYN S.
Strong and nice feathered shadows
By DAVID M.
First impressions, the durability of this umbrella. Compared to all the others I have. Nice feathered shadows like a softbox and of course lightning fast setup. Now I need the 56"
great umbrella!
By LARRY P.
just used for the 1st time. Umbrellas are great for portraits or solo pics. Color looks amazing using this umbrella.
This 36" Bowen Silver/White is a dual-purpose umbrella. It features a white interior surface backed by a removable silver fabric with a black exterior. This provides a soft but highly efficient bounced light source. For close-up lighting, the silver/black backing can be removed, allowing you to get closer to your subject by lighting through the umbrella like a softbox.