Home studio lighting !?!?!?!?

omegabri

omegabri

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Brian
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Hi guys

I'm looking for a reasonable home studio lighting kit. I have boiled it down to two options (I think...!! ha)
1) Bowens Gemini 2-head 400 kit
2) Smick 400W 3-head Studio Flash Kit

Both are just shy of about £500/600 quid (by the time you add remote triggers). The 400W has 3 heads for the price of the 2 in the Bowens kit.
Anyone got any experience and advice to pass on !?!?

Thanks folks
Brian :)
 
Looks interesting !! Thanks.. And add's up nicely to the £600 mark for the Genisis MKII Triple Head :)

Another one for the pot !! haha :D
 
While I've not used their flashes before, I've bought continuous lights from Smick and wasn't really all that impressed with them for what I paid.

Personally, I'd go with the Bowens given this choice.
 
I'm kinda going off the Smick a little.. After all, getting three heads for the price of 2 in the Bowens must mean something - quality I guess !?

Thanks...
 
MMm ?? Not sure - (for some completely unknown reason). Do you have experience with the product Mick ??
If I did I guess the 300, or even 600 would be the head to go for !?!?

Thanks..;)
 
omegabri said:
MMm ?? Not sure - (for some completely unknown reason). Do you have experience with the product Mick ??
If I did I guess the 300, or even 600 would be the head to go for !?!?

Thanks..;)
Click to expand...

I attended a work shop run by Lencarta at the studios of Garry Edwards in Bradford which was excellent, Garry is the Lencarta Pro and extremely knowledgeable on studio kit both from the Lencarta brand and others.

Garry is a regular contributor on this site and would probably be better placed to advise you on this.
Mick
 
Hi, Can only speak on behalf of Bowens, I have been using the same bowens kit professionally / studio & location for almost 20 years & have to say they have never let me down & still look as new. I think its the old saying, you get what you pay for.
 
yer....kinda thinking that. I ""Think"" !?!? I'm turning toward this item, with two of the heads being upgraded to 400w (I reckon a worthy £100 extra)

http://www.studio-flash.com/studio-lighting-kits/genesis/genesis-3-mkii.html

God this is tricky !! hahaha :D

......of course unless anyone has another twist to the tale !
Trouble is I have not ever used anything apart from my Nikon SB-600. Not exactly anything to go by as a ref. for studio lights..
 
I have a number of Lencarta items and will be adding more over the next few weeks. Very good quality of build and light.
 
omegabri said:
MMm ?? Not sure - (for some completely unknown reason). Do you have experience with the product Mick ??
If I did I guess the 300, or even 600 would be the head to go for !?!?

Thanks..;)
Click to expand...

I spent most of a Saturday with a Lencarta Safari and the build quaity is excellent as is the Customer service. Straight up advice too..

I also know of a pro studio in Aylesbury that has the 300 head kit in it... And has no complaints..

I think you would be wise to have a look. maybe a 2x600 kit would suit your needs You can make up a kit of whatever it is you need and not limited to what you see on the website...

Just a quick edit to say, that I was looking at a first set of mains lights, and looked at the Smartflash 200s, but as I have no indoor space decided to hold off at Focus. Had a great chat with Garry though...
 
Lencarta are very good value for money and good kit, another to consider if you want a cheap (also portable) solution is the Quantuum +R Dual Power 300w/s is just over £200 including battery and postage, well made and very good value for money too!
 
EdBray said:
if you want a cheap (also portable) solution is the Quantuum +R Dual Power 300w/s is just over £200 including battery and postage, well made and very good value for money too!
Click to expand...

That light seems very cheap for a portable 300w system, do you have any experience with these Ed ? and are they only available from Poland ?
 
It is always handy to have that extra power. 200w would be enough in my studio but I am getting Lencarta 600w+300w Elitepros as I know that I will not be stuck only in my studio.
 
Hi Guys...
Thanks for all the advise !!! :)

Looks like I'm plumping for the ELEMENTAL ‘Genesis MKII’ triple head kit, with 400w/400w/250w heads, black/white umbrella., a snoot and a large 140cm octagonal softbox...

http://www.studio-flash.com/studio-lighting-kits/genesis/genesis-3-mkii.html

Comes to a nice affordable figure of £624, and even includes a 16ch. Radio Trigger and Receiver :D
 
have a look at the trinity stuff its nice.......elemental are looking good
 
Already did Dave.. Pound for pound by the time you upgrade the Genesis to 400w it works out cheaper (just no LED display..)
Thanks though..!!
I reckon I'm going for the Genesis twin head kit - both upgraded to 400w :)
 
I use two Elinchrom D-Lite 2 kit's and they are great! Especially the newer model as they have cooling fans!!

I could rattle off 200 shots of kids in a 45 minute period and they cope great!
 
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