Westcott 2016 45-Inch Optical White Satin with Removable Black Cover Umbrella

It took me a while to decide between the Westcott 2016-45 Optical White Satin with Removable Black Cover (the one I'm reviewing) and the Westcott Compact 43 inch White Satin with Removeable Cover - Collapsible. Both were offered at $29.90 and both were assessed by some reviewers as being flimsy with very sharp tips with the cover removed. The 1016-45 was on sale from a regular price of $99, has a measured diameter of 42 inches from tip to tip when open, and a length of 29.5 inches when closed. Having now worked with the 2016-45, I can only conclude that one or more of the reviewers were confusing this product with the Compact 43. The sample I received has excellent build quality. It has eight ribs and no sharp rib tips. Light quality is excellent. The cover is easily removed. I have no experience with replacing the cover since I use it as a shoot-through but I have used the cover as a flag without difficulty.

Overall feels very solid and the shaft is solid metal. The arms seem like they can withstand some bending, the fabric is of thicker quality and has a Velcro strap to close. The end of the arms all have ball-tips rather than the needle-like ones another reviewer posted, so there's no ninja action on my version. Slipping the black cover on and off is very quick and easy - just make sure the umbrella is not extended, gently bend each arm and it pops right off. Only con is the clear plastic holder is cheap- as if it was designed to be thrown out after opening instead of a reusable holder I wish it came with. The opening of mine came torn out of the box from the workers stuffing the umbrella into it. All in all, it works great and the price is right.

I made the mistake of trying to go with the cheapest convertible umbrella I could find thinking that they are all kind of the same right? WRONG. I returned my previous purchase of some cheaper umbrellas and then ordered this product (which I debated on in the first place). WOW, am I super happy I bought this. It comes in a plastic sleeve, and the umbrella is miles better quality than my last purchase. This umbrella has solid materials, from the shaft, to the cover material, through to the FIBREGLASS construction of the support ribs. I couldn't be happier and the light it produces on shoot-through is wonderful. It does NOT have a silver reflective cover on the black portion which is removable, and I really haven't compared the bounce light to an umbrella that does have a black removable cover with a silver side... so I can't say if there is a difference. The white material has a nice sheen to it and it does bounce so I can safely say that it works very well in both types of configurations. If I need another umbrella of any kind in the future I will not waste me time trying to save a few dollars and just go with this brand from now on. Arrived in a timely fashion, exactly as described in perfect new condition.

I bought this umbrella to use for a wedding with my slaved flash units. It felt a little flimsy in terms of construction but mo more so than any other I have used. I believe if its handled with reasonable care it will hold up for sometime. The black cover is cleverly done and easy to remove. When its in place it blocks most but not all light out and makes the umbrella much more reflective. For the wedding I used it for the formal photographs of the party and the larger family portraits. It worked perfectly to diffuse the light and soften it. A bit of a hot spot near the center of the umbrella so I'd say that an extra thinking of material in the center might be in order for the next generation. Overall I have to say it was a great bang for the buck.

This is a great umbrella for shooting through or using as a reflector. I almost bought the cheaper one that is shoot through only, but I'm glad I didn't. I usually use this on one of my camera tripods and when using it for shooting through it doesn't allow you to aim it down as much. This has been an issue when shooting photos of my daughter who just turned one and so I started using it as a reflector. Whichever way you decide to use it, it allows for great lighting with a speedlight. I have been able to get some amazing studio quality shots of my daughter in our living room. I feel like it's a good value and works well and so it's great for an amateur or anyone just getting started as well as more advanced users.

I own a Photography and video company for many years and After using and destroying several of the regular metal frame umbrellas and seeing how NOT durable they are (can't resist a small drop without starting to bend and soon break) I decided to pay a few $ more for this Fiberglass frame umbrellas and I realized I should have done it from the start, the fiberglass frame of this umbrella makes it very flexible and durable, it has been blown down by strong wind to the ground while on my stand and didn't have any damage at all, the light quality is very smooth and flattering plus you have the option to remove the black fabric and use it as a shoot through umbrella. Personally I like better using it as a reflective umbrella and it does an awesome job of diffusing the Flash light. Get it and stop wasting money on replacing damaged metal frame umbrellas/softboxes. Highly recommended for professional use!

A good build. Solid construction at a fair price. I use mine for indoor studio shoots only, bought the Manfrotto adaptor for my stands and it works like a charm for the this umbrella. The 45 inch is a very easy size to work with gives all the light bounce you need for a cleans shadow free shoot. Larger sizes can be bought and I'm sure they have the same quality and a place for some photographers, but the 45 inch works fine for me. Overal this is a good and i recommend it for your collection.

I've had 2 of these over a year now. I use them monthly and the ribs are just as sturdy as the day they came. Maybe a travelling pro would have a different opinion after a year but for advanced amateurs these are perfect. The best part is the black backing that comes off and back on very easily. Changing from shoot through and bounce depending on your style or the space requirements is super easy. When used outdoors obviously 45 is a lot easier to catch a breeze and flip over than the smaller 36s so make sure you have good stands even though they don't weigh much. Pros: 1 Has held up for a year, mild use 2 Easy to be shoot through or bounce 3 Small, unobtrusive printed brand logo Cons: None so far PS To learn how to use umbrellas with your flashes "The Speedlighters Handbook" is a good choice IMO if you use Canon.