Westcott 7' parabolic umbrellas: all three on sale for $199

[studio460]

<p>Westcott 7' parabolic umbrellas are now on sale at B+H in a "Holiday Bundle" (although I'm not sure which holiday they're referring to). You get the white, silver, and shoot-though for $199. The white and shoot-through umbrellas were on sale a few months ago for only $50 each, but I missed that sale. This sale gives you the same effective price if you're wanting all three:</p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/897245-REG/Westcott_q42012b_7_Parabolic_Umbrella_Holiday.html</p>

<p> </p>

[studio460]

<p>Mini-review:</p>

<p>I took these sample images yesterday very quickly, so they're not all shot the same way, and therefore don't necessarily show the differences in their light quality, but for lack of any better samples, here they are:</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/images/west-white.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Westcott 7' white/black umbrella.</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/images/west-shoot.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Westcott 7' shoot-through umbrella.</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/images/west-silver.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Westcott 7' silver umbrella.</p>

<p>As what seems typical of such products, the Westcott "parabolic" umbrellas aren't very parabolic-ey. That is to say they don't appear to be very deep (like an Elinchrom deep octa, for example). The "double-walled" shafts do flex a bit, but the 16 inner fiberglass ribs seem sturdy enough. The shafts taper to 7mm to fit Elinchrom/Profoto 7mm umbrella receivers. The included "case" is rather cheaply made out of some kind of plastic with a top Velcro closure flap, and is the only-barely-big-enough-to-fit-the-umbrella kind. That said, the discounted price is very reasonable for umbrellas of this quality.</p>

[peter_cohen]

<p>In honor of Easter and Passover, no doubt! Your portraits are an example of keeping it simple for great results.</p>

[studio460]

<p>Thanks, Peter! I actually bought these to shoot full-length bridal shots (interiors), so the real tests are yet to be done (full-length).</p>

[twmeyer]

<p>The one I have is quite cool... slightly blue, actually, which matters mostly if you use it along with another light fitted with a different brand modifier, or bare (like a grid/snoot). I got it from Adorama a few months back for $50 (couldn't resist that price). I prefer the Buff PLMs since changing to Einsteins (neutral color and that on-axis option)... t</p>

[studio460]

<p>Yes, all of my Photoflex LiteDomes are warmer than my silver-lined Profoto RFi softboxes, too. The silver Westcott is definitely cooler than the white/black and the shoot-through (the photos above were slightly color-corrected). To me, silver reflectors produce more pleasing color rendition, whereas white softboxes tend to warm up the light somewhat more unpredictably.</p>