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Posts Tagged ‘Westcott’

Has Wescott Out-Godoxed Godox with the Westcott FJ400 Strobe?

02 Oct

The post Has Wescott Out-Godoxed Godox with the Westcott FJ400 Strobe? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Carl Spring.

The FJ400 flash and trigger

Wait? How Much? Did Westcott just outdo Godox?

Westcott has just announced the FJ400 Strobe, which on first glance is not that exciting. Then you see the price, only $ 569! That is $ 80 cheaper than the ultra-popular Godox AD400. That’s before you get to the universal trigger system. Has Wescott done the impossible? Has Westcott out Godoxed Godox?

Specs

Let’s get this stuff out of the way. If you want the headline numbers, here they are:

FJ400 Strobe

  • 400 watt-second AC/DC strobe
  • 9 F-stop range in 0.1 and 1.0 increments
  • Mains power adapter included
  • 0.9 recycle time at full power
  • 480+ full-power flashes per strobe
  • 0.05 second recycle time at the lowest power setting
  • 20 watt LED modeling lamp (Daylight balanced)
  • High-Speed Sync up to 1/8000th second, TTL and rear curtain sync
  • Bowens Mount
  • Series of gels (full CTO, has CTO, window green and diffusion) included. These attach by magnets
  • Color Screen

X2-M trigger

  • Universal wireless radio trigger for FJ400 strobe
  • Compatible with many Canon, Nikon, Sony (with adapter), Fuji, Panasonic Lumix and Olympus cameras (more are being tested by Westcott)
  • Integrated long-lasting lithium-ion battery
  • Up to 200,000 flashes per charge cycle
  • Wireless communication range of up to 985 feet (300m)
  • Bluetooth compatible with free mobile app
  • USB Type-C to USB-A cord for quick charging and firmware updates
  • 6 groups and 16 wireless channels
  • Color LCD screen

This is a serious specification list that clearly shows that Westcott is after potential Godox users. 

The Flash

westcott-fj400-strobe-Wescott FJ400 flash with bag and filters

The headline specs on this are huge. Not only is the flash cheaper than the Godox AD400, but it has a larger battery allowing for more flashes (480 for the Westcott vs. 390 for the Godox). This is at the expense of size, with the Westcott being slightly larger than the Godox. I would personally happily trade the size (and accompanying weight) difference for the extra flashes. 

The other really impressive feature is that the Westcott includes a mains cable, allowing you to plug in the Westcott FJ400 Strobe and use it as a standard studio strobe. For the Godox this is an additional extra. 

Lastly, the mount is Bowens (as is Godox), which allows you to use several different modifiers at all different price points. It also has an adapter for the Rapid Box system, meaning you can easily use the excellent Westcott modifiers

The Trigger

westcott-fj400-strobe-Westcott X2-M Trigger

The universal trigger is something that is going to be incredibly useful to many people. I shoot both Canon and Fuji and currently have two triggers that I have to remember each time I shoot. The fact that this system has a universal system is really exciting for those of us who shoot different brands. 

I also like the movement in the trigger. The fact that I can flick it up when setting my lights, then flick it back down to keep a more compact footprint is exciting. The LCD screen size is nice and big meaning it will be easy to change settings. The included Li-Ion battery is good for 200,000 flashes. This is great, but I do like using AA batteries on my triggers. It’s the peace of mind that I can get batteries no matter where I am. 

For those of you who use Sony cameras, you will need to buy an adapter. However, this is only $ 20. 

Isn’t this just a rebadged Jinbei?

It certainly looks like these strobes are based on the Jinbei. It is not totally surprising that the FJ400 Strobe has been based around an existing system. The price point Westcott has brought this unit out at would be incredibly difficult if they had to create the whole system from scratch. 

I am not an expert on electronic engineering, so cannot comment on the exact differences, but I have a hunch that the Westcott FJ400 will be built to a slightly higher specification. How much, however, is to be determined. The filter system included with the Westcott is more practical than those I have seen included with the Jinbei system. 

Also, Westcott has excellent customer service. You get to talk to a real person on the phone and things are US-based.  For many photographers, and especially professionals, great customer service is worth its weight in gold.

When can I get it?

Westcott expects to be shipping the FJ400 Strobe for the end of October. 

If you want to get yourself more excited, you can check out the announcement video below.

So, are you excited by the FJ400? Is it enough to persuade you to look at the switch from Godox? As always, let me know in the comments! 

The post Has Wescott Out-Godoxed Godox with the Westcott FJ400 Strobe? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Carl Spring.


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Westcott FJ400 is a sleek 400ws portable flash head with cross-platform radio trigger

30 Sep

Lighting and accessory manufacturer Westcott has announced a studio-style battery operated portable flash head that it claims has a recycle time of less than a second at full power, and which can be triggered by a wireless controller that’s compatible with the TTL flash system of ‘virtually any camera brand’. The Westcott FJ400 is a mono-block style head that takes Bowens S mount modifiers and which is powered by a 4400mAh lithium polymer battery that is said to deliver more than 480 full power bursts per charge. The heads also come with an AC power lead.

A dial on the side of the unit allows the power to be adjusted over a 9-stop range in full or 1/10th stop increments, and flash duration varies between 1/1280sec and 1/19,000sec depending on output levels and the mode set. The head can pulse to match a 20fps camera drive and allows high speed sync with shutter speeds as short as 1/8000sec. The wireless system in driven by a particularly powerful 2.4GHz radio communication network that the company says has a range of 300m/985ft, and heads can be organised in 10 groups over 16 channels.

A large display panel on the side of the flash allows users to see at the glance the unit’s settings and a 20W LED modelling lamp helps to preview the look of the light before the shutter is pressed. Westcott has mounted the flash tube well away from the body of the housing to push light out at a wide angle and a diffuser dome is supplied in kits as an accessory to soften the light before it enters the modifier.

Westcott has also introduced wireless controller for the head that it says is compatible with a wide range of flash systems from different camera manufacturers. Each Westcott FJ-X2m Universal Wireless Flash Trigger is said to work with Canon, Nikon, Sony (with adapter), Fuji, Panasonic Lumix, and Olympus cameras, as well as the Canon RT flash system. It is powered by its own lithium ion battery that is good for over 200,000 triggers per charge, and sits in the camera’s hotshoe. The controller is also supplied with a Bluetooth connection that allows it to be adjusted remotely using a smartphone app.

The Westcott FJ400 basic kit costs $ 569.90 and the FJ-X2m controller costs $ 99.90, and both are due to ship in late October. For more information see the Westcott website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits

16 Jul

The portrait and headshot industry in photography is likely the craft’s most popular niche. As such, it isn’t a stretch to say that there is a multitude of headshot and portrait photographers in every state and country. So, you need to find a way to stand out from the herd. The Westcott Eyelighter is one such way to differentiate from the masses, a unique reflector unlike any other I’ve seen before.

Review of the Westcott Eyelighter 2 - studio portrait of a model

What is the Westcott Eyelighter?

Much like the name implies, the Westcott Eyelighter is curved to mimic the shape of the human eye and illuminate the bottom part of the iris (something that many photographers tend to add in post-production). The eyes are the windows to the soul, and often the very first thing most viewers notice about an image. This highlight creates an eye-catching image (no pun intended).

As all working photographers understand, the more time you spend in front of a computer screen is less time out there shooting. So taking advantage of a tool that creates a commonly edited effect is grand. This product certainly diminishes the time spent at the computer.

portrait of a model in a black and white dress - Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits

What’s in the box?

The Westcott Eyelighter kit features the reflector itself and a carrying case, with additional accessories sold separately. The physical makeup of the Eyelighter includes a durable aluminum frame and a highly-reflective silver surface. Tension rods are utilized to pull this material taut, maximizing the light cast on the subject.

I was quite impressed by the durability and quality of the Eyelighter’s build, this is not an addition that will snap or break easily.

Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits - b/w of a model in the studio

Assembly

Assembling the Westcott Eyelighter is not much of a task on paper, but can be a bit of a handful in practice. Myself, as a 5’ 5” 98lb female, did struggle to put the Eyelighter together with no help, but it is most certainly possible.

Westcott released a very helpful YouTube instructional video (see below) on how to properly assemble this reflector for those that don’t find the instruction manual helpful. The real difficulty comes from the tension rods as I found it requires quite a bit of strength to put together.

?

Had there been a second pair of hands to help, the assembly would have been more of a breeze (so photographers that have studio assistants, there won’t be much concern there). On average, after practicing the assembly process several times, it finally took me 10-15 minutes to put together.

Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits

What’s included with the Westcott Eyelighter.

Transporting the Eyelighter and portability

The Eyelighter is a rather large piece of studio equipment and really is intended as a permanent addition to your studio. As I did not want to assemble and disassemble the kit every time, I wanted to test to see if I can transport the reflector in its fully assembled state.

From personal experience, I can attest that this product can fit into a car fully-assembled (minus the tripod). I drive an SUV, and I did not need to place the seats down to fit this reflector in horizontally across the backseat. Seats may need to be put down for smaller vehicles, but the height of the kit poses no issue fitting inside of a car.

The Eyelighter does come with a carry case and can be disassembled and assembled, but the assembly does take a bit of time. At least, for me it took a significant amount of time, so I would rather transport the reflector fully-assembled.

Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits - studio setup showing it in use

Using the Westcott Eyelighter

Using the Eyelighter is rather simple and doesn’t require any advanced studio knowledge. Like any reflector, the Eyelighter works by bouncing light off of its reflective panel.

The Eyelighter is already tilted upon attachment to a tripod (which must be purchased separately). As such, all you need to do is take a large softbox (I personally use an octagonal one for this but a square or rectangular softbox is just as valid), place it directly above the Eyelighter, and aim downwards.

It may take a bit of maneuvering and brief trial-and-error test to find the correct placement of the reflector underneath your subject, but the general consensus is that it belongs below the chest area of your model. This piece of equipment will not affect your additional lighting setup, which allows you the freedom to light the rest of the subject in any which way.

Unique catchlights

Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits - dramatic b/w portrait

The Eyelighter reflects light toward your subject, leaving a catchlight that follows the natural curve of the eye. If the silver reflector is too bright or causes too stark of a reflection, Westcott has a white sheet available for purchase that will cover that whole panel and soften the effect.

My favorite aspect of this is how seamless the catch light is, there are no odd or unflattering gaps. As well as this, it really does soften the light on the neck and chin. Paired with your other studio lighting kits, this is a must-have for anyone looking to add something fantastic to their collection.

That being said, it is important to keep in mind that due to the necessary position to create the effect, this reflector really is for portrait and headshot use only – you won’t be able to catch a whole body image with this.

Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits - white panel

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Westcott Eyelighter is a fun, eye-catching, and simple to use reflector that can really help you stand out from the competition.

With a retail price of $ 299, this isn’t the absolute most expensive item in your photographic arsenal but can make a huge difference to your portraits and headshots.

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Westcott introduces one-of-a-kind Omega 360, a 15-in-1 reflector

09 Feb

Photography lighting accessory company Westcott has introduced a new Omega reflector product, the 15-in-1 Omega Reflector 360. Unlike the previous Omega reflector, this model offers 15 different usage scenarios, a world’s first according to Westcott. The reflector features a removable 13in / 33cm center disk, as well as multiple diffusion fabrics (white, silver, sunlight, black and 1-stop), a hanging hook, and a carrying case.

The Omega Reflector 360 is a 40in / 102cm ring-shaped reflector made with a spring steel riveted frame, pure white and black nylon, and double-laminated reflective cloth. The unit weighs only 2.5lb / 1.1kg, and can be collapsed down to a third of its open size. The 13in inner disk attaches to the reflector ring using Velcro.

Westcott is offering the Omega Reflector 360 now through its website for $ 130.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review: Westcott Rapid Box 10×24? Strip Light

26 Sep

One of the best, and easiest ways, to modify your studio lighting is to use a soft box. There’s nothing like a soft box when it comes to providing soft, diffused light, for any style of photography. But among the chief concerns of soft boxes is their size, especially when shooting on location. Enter, Westcott!

The legendary lighting brand, probably best known for their solid Apollo Orb soft boxes, has a slimmed down lighting solution known as the Westcott Rapid Box series. Available as an octabox, strip light, or the mega 32″ octabox duo, the members of the Rapid Box series are solidly built, very compact, and compatible with most speedlight flash units. This particular review is of the Westcott Rapid Box 10×24″ strip light.

Westcott Rapid Box Strip Light product review

What’s in the Box

The Westcott Rapid Box 10×24″ Strip Light arrives in a beautifully packaged box and comes with:

  • A 10 x 24″ narrow rectangular Rapid Box modifier
  • A Height and depth adjustable aluminum hotshoe-mount tilt/swivel bracket
  • A diffusion panel
  • Compact carrying case with shoulder strap

All pieces of the product are constructed of durable, high-quality material, that is also very lightweight. The modifier opens and closes like an umbrella, and has a reflective silver interior. Even the one stop diffusion panel is made of the same high-quality material as all of Westcott’s other current soft boxes. You don’t need any extra rods or adapter rings to set up the Rapid Box. The only extra parts you’ll need are a light stand and hot-shoe mounted flash, and you’re good to go!

Westcott Rapid Box Strip Light product review

Gear Used

Since the speedlight mount is held in place by the adjustable bracket outside of the soft box, the Rapid Box is compatible with just about any hot-shoe flash and any speedlight radio triggers or sync cords. For this product review test, I used the Rapid Box 10×24″ Strip light, Manfrotto Nano light stand, Canon 430 EXII flash, and a Yongnuo RF-603 II wireless flash trigger. Everything was compatible, and was easy to assemble and sync.

Why a Strip Light?

Given the fact that Westcott offers both a 26″ and 20″ octabox, choosing the narrower strip light may seem like an odd choice. But with the Rapid Box Strip’s narrower 10 x 24″ frame, this modifier’s shape makes it a perfect for lighting subjects in tight spaces, such as food photography in a small restaurant. Speaking of food photos, the strip light’s long shape can also help create a long, elegant strip on objects with reflective surfaces such as wine bottles. When paired with other lights, the strip light also lends itself to use as a back light, hair light, or rim light to help separate the subject from the background.

Westcott Rapid Box Strip Light product review

Con: Semi-Complicated Setup

Unless you are already familiar with Rapid Boxes, the initial setup work might be slightly more complicated than expected. Despite the lack of moving parts, there may be some difficulty figuring out how to set up the aluminum bracket, which feels so solid and tight that it’s not intuitive how to adjust it to fit the hot-shoe mounted flash. The initial set up time took me about 45 minutes toying with all the pieces before understanding how they fit together. However, with practice, I found that setup could be completed in under five minutes.

Westcott Rapid Box Strip Light product review

Pro: Beautiful, Flexible Lighting

Once you get over the initial hurdle of figuring out how the Rapid Box functions, it starts to live up to its name and is a speedy, flexible, lighting modifier. Lightweight and especially compact as it is a strip box, this little 20-inch light performed particularly well for on-the-go portraits and on-location restaurant shoots, when shooting in notoriously tight dining room spaces. The image quality was superb, likely thanks to the Rapid Box’s solid silver interior which adds a bit more of a kick when the flash is fired.

Westcott Rapid Box Strip Light product review

IMG_9798-750px

 

Westcott Rapid Box strip light review

Conclusion

As an on-the-go photographer, I have yet to find a more compact lighting modifier than this handy Rapid Box strip box. Even though initial set up can be a pain, I wouldn’t hesitate to stick this strip box into any of my travel photography kits, and rely on it for shooting on the road or in tight spaces.

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The Ice Light by Westcott – Product Review

22 Jul

Having easy access to the right light at every photo shoot is essential to any photographer, and in this case made possible by the Ice Light. A portable and brightness adjustable, continuous LED light source, the Ice Light is a lightweight and simple on-demand lighting solution. If anything, its similar build to that of a light sabre, will almost always be a conversation starter between you and your photo subject. This review will discuss the pros and cons of the Ice Light, as well as some photo shoot scenarios where it shines the most.

History of the Ice Light

A relatively new product, the Ice Light was developed in 2012 by world-reowned photographer Jerry Ghionis and manufactured by Wescott. The Ice Light’s main attributes are its ability to transmit daylight-balanced LED lighting via a long, handheld device, and the fact that is is powered by a rechargeable battery. Despite its relatively simple function, the Ice Light was groundbreaking as the very first daylight-balanced, handheld LED light on the market. It has quickly become a favorite light source for on-the-go photographers and videographers.

Ice-Light-Kit-b

 

The Ice Light Specs

The Ice Light’s long light bulb emits a perfect 5,200K color temperature through a frosted diffusion panel, helping your camera find the best white balance in the scene. With an outer encasing of aluminum, the Ice Light is durable, yet transportable. It stands about 24 inches long, weighs a mere 1.3 pounds, and it fits inside most regulation carry-on luggage. In fact, a slim carrying case is included with the light, making it easy to swing over one’s shoulder, or clip to a belt while on a photo shoot. The Ice Light has a very comfortable hand grip on one end, but also has mounting threads on both ends so it can be easily mounted to a tripod or light stand.

Powered by a single rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, the Ice Light can run for up to 60 minutes at full power, and be fully charged up in about 2.5 hours. Battery packs are also available to boost battery life by an extra 5 hours. There are also some light modifier accessories available including tungsten gels and barn doors to further modify the light.

Ice-Light-example-2b

 

Best uses

Given the Ice Light’s long shape, it can be likened to a rectangular strip light that operates according to the logic of the larger the light source is in relation to the photo subject, the softer the light will be.  As a result, the Ice Light really shines in these specific photography situations:

Achieving dramatic lighting

Due to the Ice Light’s long, narrow body, achieving a photo that is equally balanced with light requires at least two Ice Lights, or a single Ice Light and a reflector. However, if you’re aiming for a dramatically lit photo with lots of shadows, the Ice Light can give you just that!

Ice-Light-Buttons-2

 

When you don’t have a knowledgable photo assistant

If you consistently perform run-and-gun type of photography, or change locations frequently, you will likely be in need of an assistant to hold or set up your lights as you shoot. If you have a spur-of-the-moment need for lighting, the Ice Light’s easy-to-use interface makes it simple for anyone to operate. There are three simple buttons: an on/off switch, a button to increase light, and another to dim it. As a result, there’s less time required to futz around with light testing as you might have to with strobes, and you can use any Average Joe as a lighting assistant.

When you need continuous lighting

Another big advantage of the Ice Light is its ability to emit continuous lighting rather than strobes. This can be hugely beneficial for videographers or any other media specialists who need a constant, on-demand stream of daylight-balanced LED illumination.

Ice-Light-example-1b

 

Sold? Well, about that price…

All in all, the Ice Light makes a compelling case to be a photographer’s new best friend. There is only one potential downside: the cost. A brand new Ice Light runs roughly $ 400, while its newer, upgraded version the Ice Light 2 is priced at $ 549. Both Ice Lights include a battery charger, power cords, plug converters, gel clips, and a carrying case. Still, the price may seem steep to some.

Maybe try your own DIY solution – How to make creative images with a $ 12 LED light

What are your thoughts on the Ice Light?

Have you tried out an Ice Light? If so, would your recommend it to others?

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Westcott 7 Foot Parabolic Umbrella: Product Reviews: Adorama Photography TV

08 Nov

Adorama Photography TV presents the Westcott 7 foot parabolic umbrella for studio and outdoor use. This week Mark provides a hands-on review of Westcott’s durable and versatile umbrella. Mark highlights the features and demonstrates the umbrella’s use indoors and outside. Products featured in this episode: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II Zoom-Nikkor ED-IF Lens www.adorama.com Nikon D3S Digital SLR Camera Body, www.adorama.com Profoto Acute2R 1200 Generator (1200Ws) www.adorama.com Profoto Acute2 Twin Head www.adorama.com Feet White Diffusion Parabolic Umbrella www.adorama.com Westcott 7 Feet Parabolic Umbrella, White/Black www.adorama.com Westcott 7 Feet Silver Parabolic Umbrella www.adorama.com For related articles and videos, go here: www.adorama.com Visit www.adorama.com for more photography videos! Send your questions to: AskMark@Adorama.com Links Westcott 7 Foot Silver Parabolic Umbrella: www.adorama.com Westcott 7 Foot Parabolic Umbrella. White/Black: www.adorama.com Westcot 7 Foot White Diffusion Parabolic Umbrella www.adorama.com

 
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Weekly Photo Tips review of the Westcott 43″ Apollo Orb

07 Nov

You have heard us talk about the Westcott 28″ Apollo Speedlight softbox, and now it has a big brother, the Westcott 43″ Apollo Orb. And much like the smaller 28″ softbox, the new 43″ Apollo Orb shares many of the same features: 1. They are made to be used with Speedlights (or for you Canon shooters – Speedlites) 2. They are made on umbrella frames so they open and close quickly, easily, and are extremely portable 3. It’s 43 inches gives you an even bigger light and can easily accommodate multiple flash heads 4. You can rotate the flash inside the softbox 5. The front panel is recessed for greater (feathering) control of the light and something the little brother does not have: 6. You can purchase a 40-Degree grid accessory to further increase your lighting options

 
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