Buying studio flash

mcneep

mcneep

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Hi Folks,

Stuck between two choices -

Lencarta SmartFlash Twin Softbox Starter Kit £250

Lencarta SmartFlash 3-head Softbox/umbrella Kit £380

I'm going to be doing portraits with a hi lite background, so I'm swaying towards the 3 head kit and uising the 3rd head to light the background.

Has anyone used these smartflash ones, and do you know how much the bulbs cost to replace?

Is there any other kits I could consider in this price range?

Thanks

Paddy
 
If you want to do studio style shots then three lights every time. Two on the b/g and one on the subject

MD
 
We recently bought the two head kit - I wish we had three lights, and a snoot.
 
..MD.. said:
If you want to do studio style shots then three lights every time. Two on the b/g and one on the subject

MD
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Two are needed on the background only IF you want a blitzed out white background.

Having more lights available will always give you more choices, but that doesn't mean that you can't get excellent results with less lights - just that you will be more limited in the range of work that you can do.
 
Lencarta said:
, but that doesn't mean that you can't get excellent results with less lights - just that you will be more limited in the range of work that you can do.
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Examples would be nice ..
 
Cool, 3 Lights it is, for the difference in price I get an extra light, umberella and carry bag for the heads anyway.

Garry, how much are replacement bulbs for these heads as I don't see them on the site?

Cheers
 
mcneep said:
Cool, 3 Lights it is, for the difference in price I get an extra light, umberella and carry bag for the heads anyway.

Garry, how much are replacement bulbs for these heads as I don't see them on the site?

Cheers
Click to expand...

They are supposed to be on the site, but the site seems to be behaving very strangely this morning...

Modelling lamps are £9.95 and flash tubes are £39.95.
You're highly unlikely to need replacement flash tubes unless you physically break them.
 
Lencarta SmartFlash Twin Softbox Starter Kit £250,i have been looking at this & it seems great value:)
 
Lencarta said:
They are supposed to be on the site, but the site seems to be behaving very strangely this morning...

Modelling lamps are £9.95 and flash tubes are £39.95.
You're highly unlikely to need replacement flash tubes unless you physically break them.
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Its me we're talking about so I might order a spare! :lol:
 
Wish i could try a lighting kit out.:)
 
Has anyone tried these ones out? stable imaging

They are only £200 for a 3 head kit. I would still need cheap ebay triggers though as I would prefer not to use the sync cable.

Paddy
 
They look pretty good.:):thumbs:
 
mcneep said:
Are you speaking from experience with these? Do you have any sugguestions at that price point?
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No I have not tried them. I'm sure they will do a basic job but I don't like the spec much, what little we know of it, and I would want to buy into a branded product with appropriate back up and system accessories. I guess there is also some prejudice in that, based largely the assumption that you can't normally get three quality lights for £200, and reliability rumours on the net with unbranded stuff made to a low standard in some far away factory with no proper distributor back-up. I have no idea if any of that applies here, but there are other products that I know a bit more about and would therefore prefer to recommend with more confidence.

My personal favourite is Elinchrom D-Lites but they are much more expensive. Short of that, the Lencarta Smartflash two-light kit is good quality, modest but solid spec (now that they've changed the modelling light LOL ;) ). £250.

You can do a lot with two lights, get a reflector also, which is almost like a third light, and plenty to get started. Get a third light later, when you will also need a flash meter to set up if you are not to go mad with confusion. Good for learning also.

Lencarta also posts on here as Garry Edwards and he is very helpful.

Edit: flash meter will cost an extra £120 BTW.
 
Good reply hoppyuk,had a good look at the lencarta & it is really good for the money,i am scared to dive in head first in case i am not any good with the gear.
I suppose we all have to start somewhere.:)
 
jockwav said:
Good reply hoppyuk,had a good look at the lencarta & it is really good for the money,i am scared to dive in head first in case i am not any good with the gear.
I suppose we all have to start somewhere.:)
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Cheers Jock ;)

Yes, we all have to start somewhere, make mistakes and learn :thumbs:

If you find that studio flash is not for you, then you could sell on a set of Lencartas in the classified second for good money in, erm, a flash. Not sure you could so the same with unbranded kit unless you give it away.
 
mcneep said:
Has anyone tried these ones out? stable imaging

They are only £200 for a 3 head kit. I would still need cheap ebay triggers though as I would prefer not to use the sync cable.

Paddy
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JIMC has these lights, I had a play with them recently, they are great for the price. :thumbs:

We both upgraded recently to some more powerful ones on ebay.
 
I was already to order the lencarta ones! but they dont take paypal :bang:
 
Yes Lencarta does accept Paypal. At checkout the website only shows "credit card" as payment option, but once you proceed to the next page, you can see a Paypal icon alongside VISA, MasterCard, etc.
 
mcneep said:
Has anyone tried these ones out? stable imaging

They are only £200 for a 3 head kit. I would still need cheap ebay triggers though as I would prefer not to use the sync cable.

Paddy
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At a guess looking at this Thread we have a member who has a set
 
Chaz Photos said:
At a guess looking at this Thread we have a member who has a set
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I also bought a set of these for my first try with lights.At the price I decided that if i did not want to use studio lights ,not much of a loss.I found them really good for the price.Not as well built as the more expensive brands,also no fan to keep them cool,but I was not using them for long periods.Strobes are user change-able.Have since moved to a better set after using these for approx 8 months,with no problems.
 
HarryL said:
Yes Lencarta does accept Paypal. At checkout the website only shows "credit card" as payment option, but once you proceed to the next page, you can see a Paypal icon alongside VISA, MasterCard, etc.
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:plusone::thankyou: Just took the jomp and ordered! lets hope its worth it :p
 
JIMC said:
I also bought a set of these for my first try with lights.At the price I decided that if i did not want to use studio lights ,not much of a loss.I found them really good for the price.Not as well built as the more expensive brands,also no fan to keep them cool,but I was not using them for long periods.Strobes are user change-able.Have since moved to a better set after using these for approx 8 months,with no problems.
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I see it that if you like studio work and you get a better set you can use then first set for lighting the background and you have a lot of light to use in your studio
 
Chaz Photos said:
I see it that if you like studio work and you get a better set you can use then first set for lighting the background and you have a lot of light to use in your studio
Click to expand...

What put me off is that I could not see any warranty info for the lights, but Lencarta offer 18 months. That swung me to lencarta.
 
Chaz Photos said:
I see it that if you like studio work and you get a better set you can use then first set for lighting the background and you have a lot of light to use in your studio
Click to expand...

My son is really getting into photography,so he uses the Stable set.Leaves my gear alone then,this must be a plus ;)
 
mcneep said:
:plusone::thankyou: Just took the jomp and ordered! lets hope its worth it :p
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I will be round for my tea once they arrive.:D
Seriously i hope they are really good,can,t wait to hear about them.:):clap:
 
jockwav said:
I will be round for my tea once they arrive.:D
Seriously i hope they are really good,can,t wait to hear about them.:):clap:
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Your more than welcome, I'm just off the M73 so not to bad to get to.

When they arrive I'll put the T on :D
 
Cheers m8:D:):thumbs:
 
ordered the Lencarta 2 head kit myself yesterday :)

Xmas present from the wife. Will look at adding more as needed as well as backgrounds etc :)
 
Good choice i think,can,t wait to see some shots with that setup.:)
 
Hi

I've just added four 600 Lencarta Elitepro heads to my kit after examining and testing just about everything on the market. Like for like you won't find better build quality, consistency of light output (within 1/10th stop shot to shot) and value for money than Lencarta. They're manufactured in the same factory as Bowens in China!

Good luck

Adam

www.adamcoupe.com/portfolio
 
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