Advice for complete beginner?

[fortyseven]

Hi.
I'm getting close to launching an antiques business and was recently trying to learn what I'd need to add value with some better photographs.
I read a fair bit about studio lighting and saw the cost of equipment..... I'm poor and everything I have gets spent on stock. I decided to research what was best in the past and to see if I could bring down costs without compromising quality. I appreciate I won't have modern things like radio triggers, lightweight lamps etc..
The workhorse of the past seemed to be the Gemini gm500s so I was researching those as an option. They're cheap enough second hand.
Then a lot came up at one of the auctions I go to for stock, comprising of.....
2x Gemini gm500
1x elinchrom style 600
1x elinchrom style 300
4x tripods
2x padded carrying bags
The lights all had inspected stickers from 2022 so I figured it was likely they still were operational. I took a punt and I managed to get the lot for £52.
I appreciate these are old, bulky, heavy and outdated but they will be staying in one room for product photography only so no issue with bulk/weight.
They've come with wires I assume go to a sync/trigger type affair but tbh I have no idea....
I have tested and inspected everything, they all work except for a modelling bulb which needs replacing. One of the tripods has a collar on the top that doesn't fit into anything, I'm assuming I can buy some type of screw on adaptor?
I'm feeling well out of my depth really. I'm planning to use these for photographing furniture, some large pieces but also for some very small jewellery etc and everything in between.
I'm hoping this thread can be a place I can ask for advice as I progress, right now my main question is what do I need to sync/trigger them together really?
Also, just opinions in general, I'm a fast learner and competent at most things I turn my hand to but I feel I might have bought obsolete problems for myself. It was an impulse buy really. It's only £52 but if I can't make them work it's £52 wasted...
Sorry for the rambling post. I'm still a bit dizzy from carrying these heavy s.o.bs from the auction to the bus station, then from the bus station home.
Any advice for a noob appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Welcome to TP. Where do we start?

Well, you seem to have done a great deal, extremely cheap. Not perhaps the best mix of makes, because the lights themselves are just a part of what's needed, you'll need modifiers too, which we'll come back to, and Bowens (S-fit) is the closest there is to an industry standard, Elinchrom is different and unique to them, so the modifers won't mix and match. Not ideal but you can live with that.

In terms of age, the Elinchrom ones may be about 25 years old, technology has moved on but they should be fine. I had those models myself once, and from memory they were fitted with both the unique Elinchrom synch socket, which was odd and unreliable, and the standard 3.5 (?)mm socket as well, so no problem. The Bowens ones should have either a 6mm or a 3.5mm socket or both, and the 6mm one is easily adapted with one of these, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36540418...3MIHumw40FZNLBnoBR7xuyR0s=|tkp:Bk9SR7DphL6xZQ although you should be able to find cheaper ones

So, you need a radio trigger. Most modern radio triggers are also remote controllers, but they won't work with these flash heads, you need a simple, basic trigger that sends a radio signal to the receiver that's plugged into the flash head and which fires the flash when you take the shot. You only need one transmitter, which plugs into your camera hotshoe, and in theory you can manage with a receiver plugged into one flash head only, with each other flash head acting as a slave, but there are reliability issues with that arrangement so you should, if possible have one receiver for each head. There's still a fairly wide choice available, I can't say that I've spent long looking, but this one will do the job https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267180253344?_skw=yongnuo+radio+trigger&itmmeta=01JP5W4BBR2JZS8ZF41ZTJYBTV&hash=item3e352f20a0:g:l-cAAOSwXDFnybxT&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eOtdhbU+/GOWWoiYkUuRfHhc8ue74EVhfZHGucrR6uFlgLmJ6k2eSQyWmQv1h2apph9G6FBBmx9XuKufiLHdXCy1hiYSjivRsv8fsNrm/iIfBtJHA4EFxsLUbvDAbuFm2PylGt3CCqrftCRMMHPTUME5CI2u2A8DINcnWvlBE6RoiWje8XlpKRG5vl6Bb3IhFJay6RipXOD1BfSVeWGOmcrkcXB60xEDtTVMpb8E/XZR0RNZT5m4AI9BiknBjSxkQ=|tkp:Bk9SR_61kbyxZQ

By "tripods" I'm assuming that you mean lighting stands, and one seems to be faulty. If you need to use all 4 flashes then just buy another, but get something heavy duty, the cheap flimsy ones are a waste of money and potentially dangerous, but for photographing most antiques 3 flash heads should be enough.

Modelling lamps are useful and readily available, but don't affect the shots.

Photos of antiques need to be honest and truthful, and to show any areas of damage, as you will know better than me. Because of this you need bland, flat lighting without any dense shadows, very boring but necessary, and because of this you need large modifiers, and softboxes are the obvious choice. Obviously, antiques vary in size a lot, but if possible get softboxes that are at least as big as the subject. See this article for guidance on softboxes https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/tutorials/which-is-the-right-softbox-for-you.154/ Size matters for your usage, shape not so much.
As I mentioned earlier, the softboxes will only be interchangeable with the same makes of flash heads.

That should get you started, come back as necessary

 

[fortyseven]

Welcome to TP. Where do we start?

Well, you seem to have done a great deal, extremely cheap. Not perhaps the best mix of makes, because the lights themselves are just a part of what's needed, you'll need modifiers too, which we'll come back to, and Bowens (S-fit) is the closest there is to an industry standard, Elinchrom is different and unique to them, so the modifers won't mix and match. Not ideal but you can live with that.

In terms of age, the Elinchrom ones may be about 25 years old, technology has moved on but they should be fine. I had those models myself once, and from memory they were fitted with both the unique Elinchrom synch socket, which was odd and unreliable, and the standard 3.5 (?)mm socket as well, so no problem. The Bowens ones should have either a 6mm or a 3.5mm socket or both, and the 6mm one is easily adapted with one of these, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365404186736?_skw=6mm+jack+to+3.5mm+converter&itmmeta=01JP5Y16EYA3EAHTV4845A6RRC&hash=item5513c96870:g:M18AAOSw~ztnsq-u&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fjAjSsLzv4lAPRaZVj1TsdKjnFSAdNL7eV1SOk8oYwc3aa3S1b3PcL+CZPEcU7xp8bxg7MKk25Ef5Du2tc3uSPNURoW90Hv6dHzFgcarmE5PHRPypmvQ57xTOrODW5HApFt6QyFrXtoMKNXCadu2nwiRNLmZqf5r3p1mdsERS7rj--9qxALCG28tqeriDbQG3zjZXUBKcHLaIwyg6dCd+EIDkl5er6SN+3jEboBJnNwpvnuaXy4SWpe6g+IJGOWLDG5ZLNoX6Swc7gYFBWRFGbCuNNJfGDRXWeztmZPZ3MIHumw40FZNLBnoBR7xuyR0s=|tkp:Bk9SR7DphL6xZQ although you should be able to find cheaper ones

So, you need a radio trigger. Most modern radio triggers are also remote controllers, but they won't work with these flash heads, you need a simple, basic trigger that sends a radio signal to the receiver that's plugged into the flash head and which fires the flash when you take the shot. You only need one transmitter, which plugs into your camera hotshoe, and in theory you can manage with a receiver plugged into one flash head only, with each other flash head acting as a slave, but there are reliability issues with that arrangement so you should, if possible have one receiver for each head. There's still a fairly wide choice available, I can't say that I've spent long looking, but this one will do the job https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267180253344?_skw=yongnuo+radio+trigger&itmmeta=01JP5W4BBR2JZS8ZF41ZTJYBTV&hash=item3e352f20a0:g:l-cAAOSwXDFnybxT&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eOtdhbU+/GOWWoiYkUuRfHhc8ue74EVhfZHGucrR6uFlgLmJ6k2eSQyWmQv1h2apph9G6FBBmx9XuKufiLHdXCy1hiYSjivRsv8fsNrm/iIfBtJHA4EFxsLUbvDAbuFm2PylGt3CCqrftCRMMHPTUME5CI2u2A8DINcnWvlBE6RoiWje8XlpKRG5vl6Bb3IhFJay6RipXOD1BfSVeWGOmcrkcXB60xEDtTVMpb8E/XZR0RNZT5m4AI9BiknBjSxkQ=|tkp:Bk9SR_61kbyxZQ

By "tripods" I'm assuming that you mean lighting stands, and one seems to be faulty. If you need to use all 4 flashes then just buy another, but get something heavy duty, the cheap flimsy ones are a waste of money and potentially dangerous, but for photographing most antiques 3 flash heads should be enough.

Modelling lamps are useful and readily available, but don't affect the shots.

Photos of antiques need to be honest and truthful, and to show any areas of damage, as you will know better than me. Because of this you need bland, flat lighting without any dense shadows, very boring but necessary, and because of this you need large modifiers, and softboxes are the obvious choice. Obviously, antiques vary in size a lot, but if possible get softboxes that are at least as big as the subject. See this article for guidance on softboxes https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/tutorials/which-is-the-right-softbox-for-you.154/ Size matters for your usage, shape not so much.
As I mentioned earlier, the softboxes will only be interchangeable with the same makes of flash heads.

That should get you started, come back as necessary

Thank you for the comprehensive and very helpful reply. Down a new rabbit hole I go......
The lighting stands that came with the lot are branded manfrotto studio and appear to be incredibly sturdy and well made.
I will start looking for second hand softboxes, from my preliminary limited research I'm thinking I need at least one very large one to go above large pieces and a selection of sizes for varying uses.
Also need to work out some way of placing the lamp above, I'm thinking of building a jig of some kind rather than a boom arm due to the weight of my light.
So much to learn and yet to get to the actual photography.
Thinking cap on......

 

[fortyseven]

I've found the missing part from the lighting stand. It's only £6.30 from manfrotto so that's one problem resolved.

 

[Garry Edwards]

A boom arm of some kind will be essential for your needs, you can build one yourself but, in your circumstances ONLY a wall-mounted one might be the best option, see https://www.lencarta.com/gb/neewer-125cm-wall-mounting-triangle-boom-arm (other suppliers are available) I doubt whether you will need to use 4 lights, but even if you do, the boom arm replaces a stand so you won't need all of the stands.

You certainly need a large softbox, the larger the better, but if you have enough space it would make sense not to faff around with small ones too, as I mentioned, the lighting needs to be soft for your particular needs, and softness depends on softboxes being both big and close.