Help me not waste money.... Strobist setup?

R

RichardH78

Suspended / Banned
Messages
37
Name
Richard
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi I am getting a lot more job offers recently and need to get myself sorted with some additional lighting.. BUT as ever on a tight budget.

I thought of the following...

3 x Yongnuo YN460's
Set of radio triggers
light stands with heads to hold flash's and brollys
3 x shoot through white brollys with black covers
2 x large reflectors for random fill needs
Light meter (no idea which one)
and shares in Duracel......

Or am I barking up the wrong tree??

I use a Nikon D90 and want to use my 50mm 1.8 ideally.
 
No that will give you quite a versatile unit that can go anywhere. The only thing I would question would be the need for the light meter.
 
Sounds fine but try to get at least one softbox and replace the shares in duracel with half a dozen sets of eneloop's and a couple of fast chargers.
 
Large bag to put it all in. You can get good sized lighting bags from Ebay for around £25-30
Something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Kit-Bag-Light...graphy_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item1c11a85215
The pocket is really useful.

For the Radio triggers I have the RF602's from Flash in the Pan on here. Ask for the extra cable and they act as remote triggers for your shutter as well for real versatility.

Light meter - well I have one, but a little trial and error gets around needing to use it.
 
RichardH78 said:
3 x shoot through white brollys with black covers
Click to expand...

Maybe take different modifiers? Like keep 1 shoot through umbrella, one silver reflective and a softbox? It would give you more flexibility.
Also looks at DIY Grids (or you can buy them if money is no problem) they are great tools :)

edit: Sekonic makes good meters, L308 is about 100 pounds
 
If you're going to be near a power point, you will find studio flash far better - more power, vastly faster recycling, and a modelling light. Something like the Lencarta Smartflashes are under £300 for a two head kit I think. That will do most things and then work in a hot-shoe gun for when you need a third low-powered light.

You will be low on power with those guns, especially if used with shoot-through brollies. They waste a huge amount of light, and offer little by way of control (the majority of the light is spilled out of the back and sides). I would get one shoot-through, one white umbrella, one silver, and a medium sized softbox.

Light meter - well, maybe there's a choice. With one flash, don't bother; two lights it's handy; three lights almost essential. If you standardise on just a few basic set ups, once you've got that right things probably won't change much, but using a meter will tell you a lot about what's going on, so v good for learning.

What do you want to shoot? How, where? What's your budget?

Edit: just noticed you're planning on convertable brollies, good :thumbs:
 
Last edited:
Sounds pretty similar to what I have...

Some thoughts:

YN460? Maybe the Mark II or the 560 if you can stretch.

Don't skimp on the brolly holders, go for the Manfrotto 026 or copies via Calumet.

Triggers, the RF602 are great.

Make at least one of your brollies a BIG one 60"

If you can get hold of one the Westcott Apollo is really good and very portable, I have one of those ezybox clones that I bought originally but it hasn't been out since I got the Apollo.

Cotswoldphoto on ebay do some great Manfrotto stand copies, nice and light weight.

If you are going to get reflectors then I would recommend a holder to attach it to a lightstand it's not always easy if you don't have an assistant or something handy to prop it up with.

Light meter - Meh

Do you already have a tripod?
 
Thanks for all the advice.. I have a tripod, all be it a cheap wobbly one.. Budget is as low as I can get whilst getting vialble kit. No point wasting it on cheap ****** that looks crap and performs worse...

I was looking at the MkII YN460 as well.. as for where what etc.. I wanted a starter kit that I can use on location (planning a few quite unique theme shoots that I have models for and locations almost but power will not be available) But if I cant afford a portable studio kit with battery packs etc nor do i fancy lugging all that kit several miles of road! I wanted a kit I can cram in a bergan and use on location, but be flexible enough to do home visit shoots as I have some family sessions as well. Will do some club work as well so trying to tick lots of box's in one kit.
 
The YN-465 is only around £8 more than the YN-460 II, and will do TTL with your D90 as well as manual should you ever need to pop a flash on your hotshoe.... maybe one 465 + 2 x 460's?
 
Last edited:
I am currently using the YN465 as my main flash been using it for some clubwork and I am really surprised with it...

1090815357_GcLDP-M.jpg


1090953859_EAnYU-M.jpg


Does anyone know if the 560 is significantly better in terms of power output?
 
Sorry, I meant 465, have corrected it now..... apparently problems with the 560 (I think it was the 560 anyway?). FITP said he hadn't ordered as a lot of them were DOA, but maybe just early problems.....
 
Last edited:
Recommend the YN465's - I have a few of them now

Sekonic L-308s or L-358 light meters can usually be found for less than £100 in the classifieds section or on eBay
I would recommend getting one. It makes setting up 3 light shots relatively easy
 
The only other recommendation is for some weights for the lighting stands as with flashguns plus brollies outside they can get blown over easily.

I've got some elastic loops for hanging a bag on, or maybe you could use some of those Gym ankle or wrist weights that Velcro on?
 
Weights is a good plan... I am thinking hooks, cargo netting and rocks! disposable weights that I dont need to cart about!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top