After buying the smartflash for £107, will there still be need to buy more strobe heads as well as umbrellas or softboxes for the strobe head?
I was also cosidering between the buying something very similar to Blebo's List and this on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180679316515?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649 but not sure of the quality of the later.
Can you please advice.
Cheers.
Yes, the head is £107, and you need to add stands and brollies etc etc, but it's decent entry-level gear, taking S-fit attachments, and you can build a quality outfit from there.
Those e bay kits have been the subject of a lot of debate on here recently, with opposing views, but since you're asking me, I sit somewhere in the middle.
I've not used that particular kit, but I've used something very similar that I believe may even come from the same factory. And it was not that bad, and certainly, if the price is right - and that's a lot of gear for £200 - then you can't argue with the value.
Really depends on how far you want to go. Those e bay kits are lightly built, and the accessories are flimsy. They work okay for basic domestic portraiture though I doubt the recycle time is as stated, ie time to full charge as opposed to when the beeper sounds. Fast recycle is surprisingly important with portraure when expressions can be fleeting (and never to return with some kids) so you've got to be able to work fast.
And the accessory fitting is limited if you want to move up to quality modifiers. You can get an S-fit adapter which might make a big difference (not tried one) but if you want to go that route it makes sense to start on the right road to begin with.
I'm not sure I hold with tales of unreliability or them bursting into flames. We'd have heard a lot more about that if it was a real issue I think. If it was me, I'd save up for something better, thought that's got a lot to do with the different subjects I use lights for and how I need to work.
If it was a) just basic portraiture and nothing too ambitious, b) that was absolutely my budget ceiling, and c) I never wanted to do anything more and build a semi-professional system, I think I'd give them a punt.
HTH.
