2 head lighting kit, budget £350

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cloudhunter

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Hi,

Want to buy a 2 head studio setup soon (today if i can decide) and am stuck between all the different makes.

My budget is £350 max.

Ive seen Interfit, Lencarta and a few others. Does anybody have any advice?

Also would you go for 2 softboxes, 1 softbox and 1 umbrella or what?

P.S I want to buy something that i can use at home to practice and then perhaps use it for a while if i ever decide to try and make some money out of it.

Cheers
Matt
 
Sounds like it's Lencarta all the way for you.

I've got the Lencarta SmartFlash. The build quality is superb for the money. Controls are very easy to understand and use. Light output is pretty consistent (as far as my Gossen meter can tell ;-)). I'd rate it on par to the Elinchrom D-Lite (a lot more expensive). The Lencarta lights use Bowens S-fit accessories as well, so there won't be an issue with growing the kit, etc.

Hope this helps. I'm sure others will jump in and comment.
 
Hi Harry,

Just seen that one. They do 2 different ones dont they. 1 with 2 umbrellas and 1 with 2 softboxes.

What are the best to use? , what effect do they both give that is so different?

Would it be best to have one of each instead?

Matt
 
Avoid interfit, I had a set to start out (allbeit a long time ago) it was terrible.

Lencarta I have seen, you get a lot of kit for little money, they seem ok good starting place. but my best advice would be to buy used and get something higher quality. I have some D-lite 4's and they have performed flawlessly for me even outside.

I prefer softbox myself but depends on what you want from your lighting really so i would suggest getting 1 of each or 2 softbox and buy a 2 brolly shoot through set off fleabay
 
Hi,

Thanks for the info

I can get a d-lite set from tftcourses for £399

How i read it though is one head is 200w and the other 400w??

Why would that be?

Matt
 
If I were you I'd keep your lighting balanced, especially with a 2 light kit, eiher get the 2x 200w, D-lite 2's make sure they are fan assist or go for the bigger 400w D-lite 4's, more power means you can keep them low and get faster recycle time. My friend has the 200w and they are excellent, I will be adding a set of 200w D-lites as overhead and fill to compliment the 400's.

1 of each seems strange to me, I would avoid.
 
cloudhunter said:
Hi Harry,

Just seen that one. They do 2 different ones dont they. 1 with 2 umbrellas and 1 with 2 softboxes.

What are the best to use? , what effect do they both give that is so different?

Would it be best to have one of each instead?

Matt
Click to expand...

The softboxes give more controlled lighting than the umbrellas, this is important if you're shooting in a small space. The umbrellas produce a larger light which is therefore potentially softer.

It's basically horses for courses and personal preference. If you want one of each (typically using the softbox as key light and the umbrella as fill) then buy either one and 'leave a note for seller' saying that you want one softbox and one umbrella. The price is the same.

Hope this helps.
 
cloudhunter said:
Hi Harry,

Just seen that one. They do 2 different ones dont they. 1 with 2 umbrellas and 1 with 2 softboxes.

What are the best to use? , what effect do they both give that is so different?

Would it be best to have one of each instead?

Matt
Click to expand...

I've got the softbox version, purely because I liked the soft even light produced from softboxes. Umbrellas of course have the advantage of being more portable (fold it up and off you go!).

I've used D-lites alongside my Lencarta Smartflash for some of my shoots. TBH I haven't noticed any real difference in performance. Feature-wise each light's got its advantages. Both have in-built fans and go down to 1/16th of full power. The D-lite has a proportional modelling lamp, and is about 0.2 second quicker at recycling. The Lencarta on the other hand has a shorter claimed flash duration, and a brighter modelling lamp. Build-wise the D-lite feels a little more plasticky. But it has the Elinchrom badge on it so it's more expensive. ;)

Hope this helps.
 
Harry,

Having used the d-lite and the lencarta , honestly would you have bought the d-lite if you had your time again?

Matt
 
Right...

Read the specs of the lencarta 200w head and the d-lite and the lencarta says "Of course there are the lights themselves - two 200Ws flash heads, with 4 stops of adjustment and plenty of power for virtually all home studio needs." , where as the d-lite says "Power range Ws 12 - 200"

So does that mean the d-lite has more control over how much power??

Matt
 
cloudhunter said:
Harry,

Having used the d-lite and the lencarta , honestly would you have bought the d-lite if you had your time again?

Matt
Click to expand...

I didn't have a choice really because I had a rather tight budget at the time. I don't see any need to buy the D-lite though as the Smartflash is serving me perfectly well. If I'm going to upgrade I'd go for the Lencarta Elitepro or some Bowens heads, because they all use the same S-fit accessories. It's a bit like once you've bought into the Nikon system you woundn't buy Canon stuff (or vice versa) :)
 
cloudhunter said:
Right...

Read the specs of the lencarta 200w head and the d-lite and the lencarta says "Of course there are the lights themselves - two 200Ws flash heads, with 4 stops of adjustment and plenty of power for virtually all home studio needs." , where as the d-lite says "Power range Ws 12 - 200"

So does that mean the d-lite has more control over how much power??

Matt
Click to expand...

The Dlite 2 is the same, 12-200ws. They both go down to 1/16th of full power.
 
Right , im going to get the Lencarta then. Cant see the point in spending another £100 if the lencarta stuff will suit me

Garry works for lencarta doesnt he? , is there any discount available? (cheeky)
 
cloudhunter said:
Right...

Read the specs of the lencarta 200w head and the d-lite and the lencarta says "Of course there are the lights themselves - two 200Ws flash heads, with 4 stops of adjustment and plenty of power for virtually all home studio needs." , where as the d-lite says "Power range Ws 12 - 200"

So does that mean the d-lite has more control over how much power??

Matt
Click to expand...
It's just a different way of saying exactly the same thing about exactly the same amount of power.

Right , im going to get the Lencarta then. Cant see the point in spending another £100 if the lencarta stuff will suit me

Garry works for lencarta doesnt he? , is there any discount available? (cheeky)
Click to expand...
It's always a good idea to ask, the worst that can happen is that the answer is 'No'
BTW, the answer is 'No':)
 
Well................ just ordered the Lencarta 2 head kit (one with 2 softboxes)!!

Cant wait to use it!
 
cloudhunter said:
Well................ just ordered the Lencarta 2 head kit (one with 2 softboxes)!!

Cant wait to use it!
Click to expand...

I ordered the same kit as you have, aside from a small teething problem (mechanical) and not the lights themselves I have found the lencarta kit good value for the money.

TaffyTim
 
I've got the 2 head kit :) but be warned you'll want more :) well thats how i felt anyway and now have 4 smartflash 200s :), they are definatlyg reat value for money.
 
Hi,

Just thought i would let you know that i have received the Lencarta 2 head lighting kit and its very good. Havent used it yet but had everything out and it looks very well made.

Matt
 
cloudhunter said:
Hi,

Just thought i would let you know that i have received the Lencarta 2 head lighting kit and its very good. Havent used it yet but had everything out and it looks very well made.

Matt
Click to expand...

Let us know your thoughts on the system when you've got it up and running as I'm in a similar position having just had some tuition at my local studio.

How are you triggering the lights?

Have fun :D
 
I'll just jump in here re triggering the lights...
Lencarta have just now switched from a mains powered flash trigger to a battery powered one, it has a range of 40 metres, takes 2 AAA batteries - included with kits.
Unlike the previous mains powered one, it can be used with both the Lencarta Safari and with hotshoe flashes.
 
Garry are these new triggers 100% compatible with Pocket Wizards?
 
awp said:
Garry are these new triggers 100% compatible with Pocket Wizards?
Click to expand...
Compatible in what way?
They do the same job, although the range isn't as great, but I doubt whether they operate on the same channels.
 
sorry - I meant on the same frequency and interchangeable.
 
Garry Edwards said:
...Lencarta have just now switched from a mains powered flash trigger to a battery powered one, it has a range of 40 metres, takes 2 AAA batteries - included with kits.
Unlike the previous mains powered one, it can be used with both the Lencarta Safari and with hotshoe flashes.
Click to expand...

Does that mean that if I bought the smartflash twin softbox starter kit, it would be complete with the triggers I need and hence wouldn't need to buy anything else?

I'm guessing that would be a receiver for each light and the transmitter for the camera... or am i missing something :thinking:
 
D_Ninety said:
Does that mean that if I bought the smartflash twin softbox starter kit, it would be complete with the triggers I need and hence wouldn't need to buy anything else?

I'm guessing that would be a receiver for each light and the transmitter for the camera... or am i missing something :thinking:
Click to expand...
You get 1 transmitter and 1 receiver when you buy any kit.
If you're using it for (say) event photography you will need to buy an extra receiver for each extra head, so that flashes from other photographers won't set off your flashes. But if you're not in that situation then you only need the one receiver, because your additional heads will fire when they 'see' the flash from the first head.
 
Thanks Garry, sounds reasonable enough :)

Cloudhunter, sorry for jumping in and asking questions on your thread, but I thought it better than starting another identical one :D

Did you order your kit direct or from a supplier, as the price looks good on the Lencarta site, but I can't seem to add anything to my basket?

Also, did you order a bag spearately, as although there appears to be a stand bag in the picture on the site, it doesn't include a bag for the lights themselves?
 
cloudhunter said:
Well................ just ordered the Lencarta 2 head kit (one with 2 softboxes)!!

Cant wait to use it!
Click to expand...

Ordered my kit too, hopefully it'll be here by friday :)

Let me know if yours turns up today, I'd be interested to get your first thoughts on it (although from what I read on here there's not a lot to worry about)

Have fun :D
 
awp said:
sorry - I meant on the same frequency and interchangeable.
Click to expand...

I would have throught there was zero chance of that, but Garry could confirm.
 
I ended up sending the stuff back as i did a lighting course and just didnt like it as much as i thought.

The kit although looks lovely on their website wasnt as nice or as well made in the flesh. I had parts swapped back and forth a few times to get kit that wasnt scratched, ripped etc etc

In the end i took it all back to their warehouse and found it to be a dirty, filthy place that had stuff thrown about everywhere. I now know why most of my stuff was scratched, ripped etc etc

Yes they are cheap kit and they probably do work fine but i think given my time again i wouldnt buy lencarta stuff.
 
cloudhunter said:
Hi,

Just thought i would let you know that i have received the Lencarta 2 head lighting kit and its very good. Havent used it yet but had everything out and it looks very well made.

Matt
Click to expand...



cloudhunter said:
I ended up sending the stuff back as i did a lighting course and just didnt like it as much as i thought.

The kit although looks lovely on their website wasnt as nice or as well made in the flesh. I had parts swapped back and forth a few times to get kit that wasnt scratched, ripped etc etc

In the end i took it all back to their warehouse and found it to be a dirty, filthy place that had stuff thrown about everywhere. I now know why most of my stuff was scratched, ripped etc etc

Yes they are cheap kit and they probably do work fine but i think given my time again i wouldnt buy lencarta stuff.
Click to expand...


So was Lencarta really that bad, or did you just change your mind. Like your feedback indicates you seem to do regularly?
 
cloudhunter said:
I ended up sending the stuff back as i did a lighting course and just didnt like it as much as i thought.



In the end i took it all back to their warehouse and found it to be a dirty, filthy place that had stuff thrown about everywhere. I now know why most of my stuff was scratched, ripped etc etc

.
Click to expand...

Talking Pish?:thumbsdown:
 
cloudhunter said:
I ended up sending the stuff back as i did a lighting course and just didnt like it as much as i thought.

The kit although looks lovely on their website wasnt as nice or as well made in the flesh. I had parts swapped back and forth a few times to get kit that wasnt scratched, ripped etc etc

In the end i took it all back to their warehouse and found it to be a dirty, filthy place that had stuff thrown about everywhere. I now know why most of my stuff was scratched, ripped etc etc

Yes they are cheap kit and they probably do work fine but i think given my time again i wouldnt buy lencarta stuff.
Click to expand...

It's true that the warehouse was a mess, he took the stuff back on the day that they were packing up to move to new premises.

Other than that, the only comment I would make is a question - what other supplier would take goods back that were not in a saleable condition and without the boxes that they were supplied in? I don't think it's acceptable to make negative comments about a supplier that has not only gone the extra mile but has given a full refund in these circumstances, but then we're all different aren't we?

And there is absolutely no danger of Lencarta accepting any more orders from him, so the question of him buying from Lencarta again won't arise.
 
Not an impressive feedback score. :thumbsdown:

I use Lencarta kit and have no problems - and it wasn't scratched when I got it either! :thumbs:
 
Garry Edwards said:
It's true that the warehouse was a mess, he took the stuff back on the day that they were packing up to move to new premises.

Other than that, the only comment I would make is a question - what other supplier would take goods back that were not in a saleable condition and without the boxes that they were supplied in? I don't think it's acceptable to make negative comments about a supplier that has not only gone the extra mile but has given a full refund in these circumstances, but then we're all different aren't we?

And there is absolutely no danger of Lencarta accepting any more orders from him, so the question of him buying from Lencarta again won't arise.
Click to expand...

Hng on , why were they not in saleable condition????? Thats the way they were provided to me!!! In my dealings i had 5 deliveries for 1 set of products. I had scratched light heads, ripped bag, missing parts. The warehouse was like a **** tip , had bikes slung about everywhere, light heads slung everywhere (now i know where the scratches came from) I suggest you go down take some pics of the warehouse and put them up Garry sop people can make their own mind up!!


Also , this is the second time youve said you were moving premises. I dont think so. I travelled 160 miles got there for 9am to be told by the chap in the next unit "oh these bunch are f****g useless , they come in when they want" A lorry with stuff for that unit drove off as he was sick of waiting. Youve gone no extra mile Garry, the lencarta website says 30 day no quibble guarantee!!! Read it!
 
P.S Read the feedback comments. It isnt like i have taken money and then run is it? I changed my mind , so what? Please come forward anybody who never changes their mind!!!

Comment on the feedback but keep it in context!
 
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