I think ive found the one for me

stumac

stumac

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stuart
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I know very little about what im about to get into here so looking some opinions before i spend my hard earned cash.
i have a space approx 5mx4m and 2.4m heigh(its all the size i got to play with unfortunatly) that i want to turn into a bit of a studio for general portraits and mainly for hobby purposes only,i have added a link to what i think is the best value kit i can find but is it any good or will i be wanting to upgrade soon after getting the hang of it,as said its for nothing too serious(friends children etc) maybe a few with mum and dad and maybe even their dog!



http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-elinchrom-d-lite-it-4-studio-2-go-set/p1519217

thanks in advance
 
I've been umming and arring between the Elinchrom D-Lite it 4 and the Bowens Gemini 400/400.Think I'm gonna buy one head and a reflector and get used to it and then build up more as I learn.

Maybe the Lencarta range might be also something for you to look at??Have a look for Garry on here and see if he can help you out.
 
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I think you will be happy with the kit. Elinchrom is a good brand, never had problems and their modifier range is great (but expensive). I would also look into getting a background of some sort. :)
 
I have no experience of anything other than Lencarta, but would say that getting advice and help from Garry Edwards was pivotal to me going with them.
I am much the same as you, or maybe even more of a beginner - I knew nothing at all about any lighting equipment or technique, and wanted to get something I wouldn't want to replace a few weeks in. So far (day 3..!) I am still struggling but am very impressed with the gear and the post-sale service I have had.
I ended up going for the ElitePro heads despite Garry suggesting the SmartFlash heads as I like the idea of proportional modeling lights and a bit more power for future use, but would say that it doesn't take long before the need for a background kicks in, and I am spending hours looking for ways to hold reflectors, bits of card and the like in place, so allow for some extra purchases..

Oh, and you are lucky to have so much space - I have a small dining room that needs to be emptied out after breakfast, leaving me with about 3.5m x 3m and only 2.2m of head height ! Dinner seems to be getting later and later as it takes me a while to pack it all away, and as for lunch - my piece of toast has been being photographed along with a chilli and a glass of milk for the last 2 hours and will taste lovely, if a little stale soon !
 
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stevewestern said:
I ended up going for the ElitePro heads despite Garry suggesting the SmartFlash heads as I like the idea of proportional modeling lights and a bit more power for future use, but would say that it doesn't take long before the need for a background kicks in,
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Yes, backgrounds are definately a nice to have but I personally use 'studio backgrounds' rarely.

I spent the whole of yesterday teaching someone how to do studio glamour, and used nothing more than a plain white wall for 90% of it - and got everything from white to black to various different effects.

And have a look at the portraits in this thread - great shots using a single light against a plain wall
 
Thanks Garry, what do you think about the kit I have picked out ?
 
Garry - Those are fantastic portraits - thanks for pointing me towards them !

As for backgrounds - I don't have a plain wall to use, and only have very limited space meaning that trying to set up lights in any way that I can think of is pretty hard without some way of blanking out much of the domestic situation... ( my softbox hit the ceiling when the bottom of it was only just above table height !)
Clearly I need some tuition before too long !
 
stumac said:
Thanks Garry, what do you think about the kit I have picked out ?
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I'm involved with Lencarta and don't make negative comments about equipment made by other people.

But I wouldn't recommend that kit, not because there's anything wrong with the make - there isn't - but because it has twin softboxes. My strong advice to you is to get a kit with one softbox and one umbrella, not with 2 softboxes.

Typically, the softbox is used as key and the umbrella is used as an on-axis fill, although of course that isn't carved in stone.

Lencarta includes a similar kit with twin softboxes in their range because some people want twin softboxes, but it isn't what I personally recommend
 
Bowens are 20% off this weekend at Calumet.

Some really good prices available for good quality kit. If I had the spare cash I'd be in there now :lol:

Andy
 
Not managed to read the full thread but if your gonna go for the bowens at calumet, go for the 500 kit, the extra adjustability and softbox is worth it. I have 4x 500r heads and they are great.
 
digitalfailure said:
Not managed to read the full thread but if your gonna go for the bowens at calumet, go for the 500 kit, the extra adjustability and softbox is worth it. I have 4x 500r heads and they are great.
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Just ordered the 400 kit and that took some convincing of the Mrs.Really couldn't stretch the wallet any more to be honest and I'm sure the 400 kit will be fine for me now and maybe expand more with as I get on.
 
I've just noticed that it's only certain kits that are reduced. Hope yours was and I've not steered you wrong.

Andy
 
daddy day care said:
I've just noticed that it's only certain kits that are reduced. Hope yours was and I've not steered you wrong.

Andy
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I was going for the 400/400 kit and it is on the site reduced.So saved me a good bit of money as I nearly bought it the other day at a higher price so I'm a happy chappy. :thumbs:
 
Thread hijack - sorry.

I've the cash for either the 400, or the 500c.

Do others agree that the 500 would be better? I notice it includes a flash trigger. Apart from the power what is the extra control on the 500.

Thanks.

Phil
 
No worries, I lost interest in my thread by the 1st hijack anyway, thanks to anyone who gave me advise
 
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