Help with lighting!?!

[Alistair]

I know this has been beating to death, over and over, but I'm still semi wondering what would be a good deal out there, with a price limit of about 600 to 800 (800 is pushing it, but I will do it if the deal right). I want a strobe kit that is light, portable, and durable (For what I can buy) I don't mind adding a few things later, if they are needed.

Basically, I just want something that I can start right away with, and add to with that price tag while still being within my requirement.

Thanks!

 

[KmH]

Calumet Genesis 200 2-Light Kit

FPBK1 Flashpoint Budget Studio Monolight Flash Basic Kit with 2 160 Watt Second Flashes, 7' Light Stands, 33" White Umbrellas & Softex Carrying Case.

AlienBees: Illuminating the Galaxy with Professional Photographic Lighting Equipment

 

[Alistair]

KmH,

Thanks! So for these I would have to bring my own battery I would assume?

 

[Patrice]

KmH,

Thanks! So for these I would have to bring my own battery I would assume?

Battery and good sinewave inverter (not cheap) plus connection centre or a propriety battery power supply. The makers of Alien Bees make one. Or a small gas powered generator.

Don't forget radio triggers. PC sync cables work but they do tend to get in the way and are a tripping hazard.

 

[Alistair]

Patrice,

Thanks, instead of carrying all of that wouldn't it be easier, possibly to use good off camera flashs with triggers?

 

[KmH]

Good speedlights have no modeling lights, cost more, have less power, longer recycle times when used at full power, and you still need the light stands and light modifers to use them effectively.

You can always use NiMH batteries in the speedlights so you can recharge them, but plan on needing at least 8 per speedlight, and all the time it takes to manage and charge them.

NiMH batteries should be kept in sets, so they need to be labeled. Quick charging them seriously reduces their life. The NiMH's that store the most power (mAh rating) only hold a full charge for a day or so.

There are NiMH batteries that hold a full charge longer (low discharge), like the Eneloops and Imedion 16 Pack Maha Imedion 2400 AA Low Discharge Batteries. but they have a lower mAh rating and will run short on power quicker when used in the speedlight.

A good charger will run you $70- $100 MAHA MH-C801D AA - AAA Battery Charger<br>DELUXE 8 Cell Professional Battery Charger w/ Full LCD Display

So basically, there are trade offs with either type of lighting.

Ultimately using monolights with a battery pack is less expensive and less work overall.

 

[Alistair]

KmH,

Thanks for the help, and with my questions! I just wanna make sure I get the right thing for my money!

FP320MPPWK Flashpoint 320M Portable Pack, Portrait Wedding Monolight Kit, with Two 320 Monolights, Portable Battery Packs, Stands, Umbrellas, Snoot and Carrying Case

C1 Flashpoint RC1, 3-in-1 Remote Control-Camera/Flash Trigger for Pentax K100D/K110D/*ist Ds2/*ist D/*ist Ds/*ist/*ist DL/*ist DL2 and Samsung GX-1L/GX-1S/GX-10---Canon EOS Rebel XTi, XSi, T1i, T2i,Etc.

I have a Rebel XS until I get use to everything again, which I will pass on to my wife.

But does this look all right for about 600, and I can add stuff later if needed be, but just to get started for home and on location shots. Or does anyone else have any other possible idea's?

 

[Alistair]

Bump!

I just want to make sure I'm getting the right thing overall!

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Calumet Genesis 200 2-Light Kit

FPBK1 Flashpoint Budget Studio Monolight Flash Basic Kit with 2 160 Watt Second Flashes, 7' Light Stands, 33" White Umbrellas & Softex Carrying Case.

AlienBees: Illuminating the Galaxy with Professional Photographic Lighting Equipment

+1

 

[Alistair]

Or how about this?

Amazon.com: Adorama Budget Studio Monolight Flash Basic Kit with One 100 Watt Second Flash, Umbrella and 7&#39; Light Stand.: Camera & Photo

Get a few of those, and few basic needs, but I could grow off of it? Say a soft box and triggers?

Amazon.com: CowboyStudio Photo Studio Monolight Flash Lighting Kit with Carrying Case - 3 Studio Flash/Strobe, 2 Softboxes: Camera & Photo

Or a little bit of everything, and just need to get triggers?

More portable, which I would like?

http://www.amazon.com/Photography-Umbrellas-umbrellas-reflective-UB4/dp/B002U558IM/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1X8VP0PIZKNH3&colid=1Q1T3IPHYMJLB

http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-285HV-Auto-Professional-Flash/dp/B00004TVSP/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3N8C272NXD04D&colid=1Q1T3IPHYMJLB


Or something a bit of a nicer set up than this?

 

[Alistair]

All right. I decided I'm going to go Monolight to start off, and later down the road I might get one off flash when travelling. My deciding factor was down here during the summer shooting on location I will be dealing with very harsh light, and from what I'm reading the hotshoes might not be able to keep up.

1FP320MPPWK Flashpoint 320M Portable Pack, Portrait Wedding Monolight Kit, with Two 320 Monolights, Portable Battery Packs, Stands, Umbrellas, Snoot and Carrying Case

2C1 Flashpoint RC1, 3-in-1 Remote Control-Camera/Flash Trigger for Pentax K100D/K110D/*ist Ds2/*ist D/*ist Ds/*ist/*ist DL/*ist DL2 and Samsung GX-1L/GX-1S/GX-10---Canon EOS Rebel XTi, XSi, T1i, T2i,Etc. - Will this still work with a XS?

I will buy box's and stuff as time goes on, but this will be a fantastic start unless other idea's are proposed before beginning of next week, which I'm open too. But this is just from what I'm reading, what my budget is like.

Thanks again!

 

[Village Idiot]

Ultimately using monolights with a battery pack is less expensive and less work overall.

A Vivitar 285HV is about $100, Stand $30, umbrella adapter $15. I believe a set of Eneloops with a recharger is $20 for 4, $10 without the charger. I have 2 chargers for 6 sets.

So 3 lights would cost $515 for lights and batteries. Even if you went with the Adorama flash points and a Vagabond II (which I'd recommend a Tronix Explorer over for build quality), you're paying $500 for two lights, stands umbrellas, and a battery.

With that there's also a lot larger gear and more weight that has to be carried. I fit three speed lights and 5 pocket Wizards among my main camera bag and a second small camera bag that's probably about a 1/3 of the size of my 7MDH. To take 3 heads, a 400w/s pack (which is absolutely tiny compare to a normal size pack), stands, modifiers, and a battery, I'm using a rolling luggage case and other bags. That's also a ton of weight.

I'm pretty sure most people can guess what I'd rather carry if I had to walk 1/2 mile to 1 mile to shoot location, or if I was shooting in a space where I didn't require a ton of light.

I wouldn't necessarily classify monolights as a less expensive and easier option. It totally depends on what the person is shooting and where they're shooting it at. If the OP wants to shoot cars or a lot of outdoor portraits where having the ability to bring down the ambient is essential to him, I wouldn't recommend speedlights. Then again, I also wouldn't recommend 160w/s monolights as they're not going to have the power he needs.

OP - What are you shooting? I was shooting outside with one head on a 400w/s pack with a beauty dish and was still having problems over powering the sun.

 

[KmH]

There is no one 'right thing'. Pull the trigger and take your lumps, if there are any.

In life making mistakes is OK as long as you don't keep making the same mistake repeatedly.

 

[Alistair]

All right. I will basically be shooting outdoors, along with indoors with a little bit of travelling now and again. Pretty much going to be focusing on portraits and maybe eventually more complicated stuff such as wedding and all that jazz. until I get use to them, and nature now and again. For those outdoor shots the sun is pretty harsh down here, and bright but I'm sure I can always put my back to the sun to give it more of a ambient light as well. I also tend to really like evening and night shots, so from what I'm reading off camera flash would work just as well for that, and a lot better on the back?

 

[Village Idiot]

All right. I will basically be shooting outdoors, along with indoors with a little bit of travelling now and again. Pretty much going to be focusing on portraits and maybe eventually more complicated stuff such as wedding and all that jazz. until I get use to them, and nature now and again. For those outdoor shots the sun is pretty harsh down here, and bright but I'm sure I can always put my back to the sun to give it more of a ambient light as well.

You may want to save and increase your budget. If you're dealing with bright sun and not shooting on over cast days or closer to dawn or dusk, then you're going to want more than 200w/s.

Once you start adding modifiers to a 200w/s light while outdoors, you'll be wishing you have more power. And more power is generally better than less. If you're shooting in doors and find that you have too much, you can start adding ND filters and such to bring the light down even more, but there's nothing you can add to a light to increase it's maximum power.

Maybe start with a B1600 and a Vagabond II. That'll give you a 640w/s light that's capable of providing a everything from a key light to a fill while outside. From there, you can purchase more of the same or several lower powered lights.