Customer Reviews

Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

Let's face it, this is a reflector. It really does everything I could ask out of it. It is solid and well made. The slip is easily reversed and I noticed no problems with the zipper, as I had read in other comments. I say that this is a very nice product. The reflectors give a nice bounce and the diffuser works great outdoors, or even as diffusion in front of my studio lights. I think this is a great price and I would recommend it. The only other thing I would say is that being a bigger piece, you really are going to want someone to hold it for you, as it may prove difficult to shoot and hold, but you can always lean it against stuff or get a good c-stand. But I like the size, because it gives you a good surface area for bounce and you can shape it any way you see fit. I have not come across any issues or regrets, it's a good choice.

I just received this today and am impressed with it. Very good value for the money. Folds down to a nice size and seems very large when open. I'd recommend this to someone who is looking for a decent reflector at a good price.

I got this reflector kit after reading about the usefulness of using reflectors and how it improves the quality of photographs... I've tried it once so far and have found it to be very useful...

Pros:
(1) Light weight and compact size when folded
(2) It's size is very good, have used for a group photo of 5 people and it worked fine

Cons:
(1) Turning it inside out to change the colors from silver to gold (or vice versa) is a bit challeging when it come to closing the zipper
(2) Could be seen as over priced since you could perform the same function using the regular shades used in the car, but I wanted to get the professional look and I was willing to pay for it...

Note:
The stand in the product shot is sold separately. I knew that before hand, but thought it's important to mention this in case anyone is confused.

material seems fine but the zipper is very difficult to work with. making this thing reversible is easier said than done.

Great light reflector after you get the darn zipper to work. The zipper is constantly getting caught or stuck. Great price and value for the lighting element so it's worth the money. Just know you WILL have hassles with it.

Easily use and has multiple functions, can reflect light and also can be used as a background, and can be folded easily to a small size and loved it

This product has a reversible liner that acts as a slipcover that slides over a diffuser panel. If you aren't really, really careful when changing the cover (turning it inside out and re-covering the diffuser), the zipper gets stuck. While still functional, it looks sloppy and unprofessional. My solution is to have the color reflector I need already on there BEFORE you arrive at the photo shoot. #1 to avoid an unprofessional appearance and #2 to save time - if the zipper gets stuck it takes some time to guide the zipper back and forth properly to fix the problem.

Honestly, if you are looking to get better results from natural lighting or even add some fill light from a strobe, you can't go wrong with the Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40 inch 5-in-1 Reflector. The fact that it's 5 in one gives you a lot of options. My personal favorites are the silver reflector and the diffuser. This is a perfect tool for shaping light without spending a lot of money. This is a absolutely great price. I would actually buy two if you are serious about your photography. The Westcott Reflector is a great for both working pros and novices alike.

The Westcott 301 5-in-1 Reflector is simple to use and comes with a convenient carrying bag. You can either have an assistant hold it, or you can mount it on a stand (sold separately). It's very durable looks way more professional than using a sunshade from the automotive department in Walmart. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, they work as a reflector too).

Here's how it works:
-The silver side is very reflective, and only casts the color of the light being thrown into it.
-The gold side will give you warmer skin tones in situations that you desire warmer light.
-The white side can be used when you need some fill light, but you don't need as much output as the silver side would give you. The white is not as reflective and it's softer.
-The black side will subtract light. If you are in a situation where you want to take away light, you would use this side of the reflector
-The diffuser, is great for sunny days where you want to soften the light on your subject. I recommend buying 2 of the Reflectors because you can use one to diffuse the light and one to use as a fill

Great product from Westcott and you just can't beat this price. It's a great tool for pros and novices alike.

Brian Rodgers Jr.
Photographer/Digital Artist
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National Association of Photoshop Professionals

i bought this a month ago and i'm very pleased with it. it does an amazing job.