For a cheap umbrella this one is perfect. It lets light pass through and bounces very well. It is light and built nicely. I can take the black backing off fairly easily. An all around very good modifier

I have been using this at home in a small studio I have set up and I like what I see so far. The removable backing is great and turns this piece into a versatile money saving machine.

This is a phenomenal umbrella but there are two kinds of people that I think should pass it up.
1)The black cover does not have a reflective inside so it is great as a shoot through but location shooting is not as good. If you do a lot of location shooting get a different umbrella.
2)The umbrella is pretty long when retracted. If you need a compact umbrella then again this is not the choice for you.
Aside from these two issues than this is certainly the best deal you will see. I have been using this with my Vivitar 285 strobes and I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality. The lighting and light scatter is very good, the flash disperse perfectly and makes me feel like I spent three times the money on the umbrella. I also like the build quality there are no plastic pieces or parts and the materials feel very high end. Overall a fine product.

The way to remove the backing is not intuitive. Umbrella is okay and distributes light well and evenly. I use this mostly for bounce

I have been using this for portait shots and it distribute the light very well. You get exactly what the description says.

I have 580 ex ii flash, I use this together with a 32" umbrella when I need a larger key light. the two best features in addition to the price is 1) the construction which is extremely light weight and easy to set up and 2) the backing which I only undo partly to control the light wrap for shoot through config's. overall great deal, an absolute must have!

Nice umbrella for a variety of uses. Cheap. Fast shipping. Almost perfect I would say 4.5 stars.

Fantastic product for the money. I get vibrant light that is evenly distributed. Of course I have great strobes but these umbrellas perform well. I got myself a quality stand to go with it and I am pretty set right now.

5 Stars!

When all things are considered this is a fabulous modifier. I have used it for long distance shooting and I have been pleased with my results. The price is obviously low and I can't think of anything serious that you are giving up by choosing this over a more expensive item. A+ for impact on a good product for a good price (A truly rare thing these days!).

Been using these with two flashes and I am very happy with the results I have been seeing. My customers have noted an improvement in the lighting and are pleased with their appearance.

This is an all around great modifier. I mostly used it as a shoot thru so I had no need for the silver backing on the more expensive umbrellas. On the few occasions I did use it for bounce, however, it worked really well. In my opinion, 45' is about the perfect size for both. I have been using this with an EOS Mark III and I must say I have some pretty sick shots. The lighting is vibrant and even and the quality of the material is also above par. I sometimes use it outside and in windy conditions and to my surprise it stands well even under these conditions.

If there is one thing I was a bit upset about: the removable black cover is a hassle to take off and I really think they could have done a much better job making it more convenient.

When all is considered, however, I think the price makes any negatives that may exist disappear. This is a quality umbrella that is worth twice what istockonline is charging for it. This modifier is a sure buy in my view.