Are these what I want?

[Boopop]

Hi all, I'm thinking of getting some light stands along with umbrellas and brackets for my SB800 and SB600. Would this and two of these be appropriate? Seems like a good deal for the princely sum of £41 altogether! Got any tips or anything? Thanks

 

[OutLore]

The stands look pretty much like the Konig ones I have - they are ok, wouldn't stand up to a strong breeze unless weighted down.

 

[bomberman]

with an umbrella on not many light stand would stand up to a strong breeze! the konig ones you linked to are more than enough for most uses, especially with speedlights. You might be better off getting a convertible shoot through umbrella, they're not much more expensive and you get a reflective cover that you can remove so it's like getting 2 in one.

like this (hut i think you can find them cheaper) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/109cm-strobist-2-1-shoot-through-photo-umbrella-UK-/250684583390?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL


and these are also worth a look http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220656439372&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

[Boopop]

Hmm I would but I've read on strobist that shoot through lets you get much closer to the subject, and offers far more even light. The person who said that said they rarely use reflective any more so it doesn't really seem worth it.

 

[HoppyUK]

Konig stands are v good value, and as said above, nothing with a brolly on top will stand up in any kind of breeze without lots of weight added.

Yes, you can go closer with a shoot-through brolly but you can also go quite close with a regular bounce umbrella. The big difference is control and with a shoot-through the light is spread pretty much over 180 degrees, plus half of it is bounced straight out of the back and all around the room. That's like kind of automatic fill-in light, which is fine if that's what you want, but hopeless if you want zero spill and tight control for some moody low-key work.

 

[Kris]

Hmm I would but I've read on strobist that shoot through lets you get much closer to the subject, and offers far more even light. The person who said that said they rarely use reflective any more so it doesn't really seem worth it.

I only ever use reflective. Each to their own, no one is better or worse (or more 'even'), just different.

Buy both (in one!) and make your own mind up by taking pictures and looking at them.

Nothing will stay up with a breeze and an umbrella, even my 13.5ft stand goes down unless weighted/guyed.

 

[Boopop]

Hmm well I think I'll still buy what I linked to, £10 for a bracket and a umbrella seems a good deal. If I don't like the shoot throughs I can always buy reflectives later. I'll probably use these most outdoors anyway as I don't have a studio or any big enough spaces really so I'm not bothered about fill light with the background and such I don't think.

Thanks for all your advice! I'll order them tomorrow when they can actually send them

 

[HoppyUK]

Hmm well I think I'll still buy what I linked to, £10 for a bracket and a umbrella seems a good deal. If I don't like the shoot throughs I can always buy reflectives later. I'll probably use these most outdoors anyway as I don't have a studio or any big enough spaces really so I'm not bothered about fill light with the background and such I don't think.

Thanks for all your advice! I'll order them tomorrow when they can actually send them

Sure, you should get a shoot-through as well but they are not the best for shooting outside. Because they splurge light everywhere and 50% of it is bounced straight out of the back, the light you'll get will look exactly like a white brolly (because none of it is bounced back as fill-in) but you'll be maybe 1.5 stops down, or more, due to all the wastage.

With hot-shoe guns you can't afford to throw all that power away.

 

[stokes]

intresting thread. thanks for the links Just spent a 10er on a cheap tripod off ebay for my flashgun for some off camera work... should have seen this earlier!

 

[Boopop]

Got the light stands today, turns out they are konig after all! They're rather good considering what I paid Now hopefully the brackets and umbrellas will arrive tomorrow.