Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector
by F.J. Westcott Co.
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List Price: Our Price: $39.90 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector
Customer Review: Wonderful product - you get a lot for your money!
Summary: 5 Stars
I wasn't expecting too much from this product considering the price (and the fact there are some highly recommended ones out there for double the price), but settled for this since I'm on a budget. Also, it's a very simple product - I'm not sure that a very expensive version would differ too much from a budget-priced one.
This thing is very impressive when popped out to full-size - it's large yes, but that's better than too small - you can do some amazing things with this reflector! This is a very professional-looking product as well.. sturdy and I personally didn't have any problems with the zipper. It seems a bit large for a smaller stand though, I just had someone hold it while taking photos. The gold side used outdoors makes a REMARKABLE difference to my photos!
I LOVE this reflector - this is all I will probably ever need and I'm excited that I decided to take a "middle of the road"-priced product for a try.
Specific notes about it:
1) So large that it's easier if you have an additional person there to hold it, especially if outdoors and it's a tad breezy
2) The gold side is incredible (if I had a choice between all of the colors, I'd definitely pick gold)
3) The zipper works fine if you are not haphazard with it... I can tell it'd get get caught on the fabric if you tried to zip it too fast. This may not be the product for someone who needs to flip the cover in a rush.
4) This is a large reflector, and even though it does collapse, it's still a bit larger than I expected when collapsed (I think it's around 20+ inches when it's collapsed). The case has a simple/little handle on it though that I wore around my wrist.
Customer Review: Updated: wasn't a bait & switch after all
Summary: 3 Stars
I ordered 1 of these a year ago--great reflector. So when it came up on sale for $8.99 (vendor was New Harbor), I not only ordered two more, but recommended it to several friends as a great bargain for a great reflector. They are now receiving the the same bait and switch product that I did. A much smaller, unbranded reflector. So, before you order this product, check to see who is the supplier--if it is New Harbor, beware. You likely won't get a real Westcott reflector.
It's a shame, really. The reflector New Harbor shipped is easily worth $8.99, and if it had been accurately represented, no one would be upset. But if you want THIS Westcott reflector, be sure the supplier is not New Harbor when you order.
UPDATE: New Harbor contacted me, explained that the (different) reflector was accidentally posted on this Westcott page for a few hours. They offered me a full refund, resolved the issue, and demonstrated that they really care about customer satisfaction and their professional reputation. As a result, I would not hesitate to order other items from New Harbor in the future. They resolved the problem, issued the refund within hours of receiving my complaint. Anyone who has dealt with companies who are hard to contact, slow to respond, and iteratively delaying resolution knows how frustrating that can be. New Harbor really turned my opinion of them around with their rapid, professional resolution.
Customer Review: Does what it says
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not sure why someone would rate this reflector low because "it's too big" since in the 21st century I would hope that people have figured out the concept of measuring length and it's not the fault of the reflector if they don't understand that 40 is bigger than 32, but truth be told, this is a nice large reflector and I am glad for it.
If you do portraits, you want to make sure you cover the shadows and with a smaller one it's a little harder to aim. I also like that the translucent part of this is big enough to cover a whole person without standing too close to them. Also the large size lets you use this as a background for a headshot or closeup.
The zipper IS kind of weird but pretty much all 5-in-1 reflectors are a little fussy when it comes to sliding the different reflectors in and this is not something you can do when you're in a hurry. you need a place to lay down the reflector and slide in the middle part and close the zipper. If this is a problem for you, it might be better to buy dedicated reflectors or a 2-in-1 type thing, but overall if you're on a budget, this product works well if you are patient.
FYI, I just use a tripod or light stand and home depot clips to hold this together and not the one that is sold for it.
Customer Review: it's huge
Summary: 4 Stars
At first I thought it's a reflector how big can it be. It is a reflector, read on. I did not realize how big this reflector was until I got it. It popped open into this massive disk. My first thought is it's huge. Since that first opening I've used it to bounce light into speckled shade around sunset from 50 feet on to 3 people. It covered them all. I've used it to fill shadows in tight spots from other distances that may not be possible with smaller reflectors. Because of it's size it does make a great diffuser, again, able to cover multiple people.
Because of it's size it does not pack up small. Yes, it does reduce in size to about 18 inches. Still it does require some shimming of gear in my on-location-bag to carry it. Since it does require an assistant to bounce light to the scene you may as well have your assistant carry it for you.
The quality is good. It's a Wesctott. I've seen this brand in my local photo stores selling for much higher prices.
Customer Review: Best item I have purchased for photography needs thus far!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a little nervous about ordering this online not knowing if the quality would be what I was expecting, but the minute I opened the package I knew I had a winner! I had called my local photo accessory story only to find out the Westcott they sold in their store was over $100, and it was smaller than this one! I can only say good things about this reflector. It is made very well, has all the colors I will ever need in one reflector, and stores into a small little case. I haven't had any problems with the zipper so far, and know I won't because you have to expect that something like this will take a little getting used to changing out! I would definitely recommend this to any of my friends, and the cost can't be beat! If you are hesitant about buying this reflector, don't be! It is fantastic! One more little extra bonus... I ordered mine on a Wednesday and had it to my door by Friday, and that is with the cheapest shipping! You really can't get any better than that!!!!!!