Ebay lighting option

[PeteMo]

Hey guys,

Just came across these on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120539142970&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Has anyone on here bought and used one ?

I had thought about going for something like this in the short term until I had the funds for some Lencarta or Elemental gear.

They are described as "Bowens fit" which must be a plus.

Would it be a case of money wasted ?

I've just got a couple of flashguns & reflector at present and wanted to learn lighting technique using a single light upward.

I just wondered whether something like this is a waste of money or not ?

If I'd be better sticking with my flashguns for now then so be it.

If Garry or Jonathan are reading this give us your views me old muckers !

cheers

 

[cambsno]

Would say it is a waste - as you can get a Lencarta single light for £129. Only another £35.

 

[JonathanRyan]

I just wondered whether something like this is a waste of money or not ?

If I'd be better sticking with my flashguns for now then so be it.

If Garry or Jonathan are reading this give us your views me old muckers !

cheers

Dunno really. I mean there's loads and loads of cheap lights on eBay. Some of them must be good occasionally, surely?

These look a bit, um, agricultural.... Plus they are advertising a business using Comic Sans which is never good....

Aly housings can be good - removes the need for fans if it's done right. If it's not done right, well, you didn't want to shoot for more than an hour did you?

They have some of the words that suggest they will be better than the usual (very low) average for non-brand kit on eBay. Depending on whether you get good ones and how you use them you might be fine.

Resale value would be pretty close to £0 though. If you want to trade up, move on or hate them then you pretty much need to throw them away. Named brand will cost you more but you'd be able to sell on if you wanted.

Interestingly if you zoom in the text on them is visible but the brand name is mysteriously blurry. I'll bet somebody can identify these. Personally I'd save up and buy better.

 

[Garry Edwards]

The lights themselves should be fine until they go wrong.
Fine in the sense that they will work, although the limited adjustment range indicates to me that the colour temperature consistency won't be what they say, and the flash power will probably vary quite a lot, shot to shot.

But when/if they go wrong you may run into problems. I'm sure the Ebay seller is very honest and respectable but he sells other items as well as studio lighting and from the terminology used it's pretty obvious that he knows nothing about it, so does he have repair facilities - or will you have to return them to Hong Kong at your expense?

I don't know for sure who actually makes them. I recognise the back panel, the case and the tilt mechanism, all common parts that are bought in by a host of small manufacturers and sold under various names - nothing wrong with that in itself, but these small firms compete on price rather than spec or quality.

They may or may not be Bowens S-fit. I would say that most of the lights that claim to have that fitting have something fairly close to it that isn't the same, and if that applies to these lights too then you'll be severely restricted on accessories unless you're handy with an angle grinder...

As for price saving, 2 heads + postage will cost you £186 or so. Then you'll need to buy stands, they're big heavy units so allow another £60 for that, so you're now up to £246. If you want a radio trigger and umbrellas then add a fair bit more. The Lencarta SmartFlash 2 head kit (back in stock either Friday or Monday) will cost you about £255 complete with stands, radio trigger set and umbrellas

 

[PeteMo]

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys.

I pretty much agree with what you say and it's almost always better to pay slightly more intially as it usually comes back to bite you in the a**e if you don't.

Just thought I'd ask as you do see more and more of these lights appearing.

I'll stick with my Yongnou's for now until I'm financially ready and technically able to use the Lencarta kit

 

[phototuition]

Bear in mind that feabay feedback is usually submitted soon after the item arrives and is based on first impressions. There's no option to update the feedback someway along the line once the stuff is tried and tested. I'd agree with the previous posters.