Is this a reasonable beginner setup?

nickjohnwatson

nickjohnwatson

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Nick
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I've been thinking about getting some studio strobes to mess about with and learn some lighting techniques etc and was wondering if this is any good for a starter kit?

>>>Here<<<

I'll probably get a beauty dish too for one of the strobes as well to practice with....

Thanks

Nick
 
Sorry, but it's junk.

And you won't get a beauty dish for it, because it doesn't have an accessory mount.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Sorry, but it's junk.
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Don't hold back there Gary say it like it is :LOL:
nickjohnwatson said:
Thanks guys. Could you maybe point me in the direction of a good single strobe that's not gonna cost a bomb? :)
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What about the interfits, I know there not to a professional standard but would have thought they'd do for a starter set.
 
Depends on what you want. Studio head - fast recycling, modelling light good range of modifiers. Speed light - portable, can use in other situations other than studio shoots.

I have both. Started with a speed light but prefer studio heads for the control, modelling light and range of modifiers. Lencarta are a good reliable affordable brand. There are other brands available but this is what I use.

Yongnuo speedlights seem to be good value. I have two nikon sb900's but when I was looking at a third speed light I looked at the yongnuo.

Leave some money for modifiers, stands and triggers.

S
 
jakeblu said:
What about the interfits, I know there not to a professional standard but would have thought they'd do for a starter set.
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They're good value for someone who's just dabbling, consider you can get a full kit (storage bag, 2 stands, 2 lights, 2 reflectors, softbox, umbrella) for a bit over £100 second hand but I don't think it makes sense if you're going to pay the full new price.

Everything there bar the lights compares reasonably well to superior alternatives, in fairness though after having handled quite a few of them I wouldn't rely on the lights if you're going to use them heavily or intend to keep them for many years but then that makes sense when they can cost as little as £25. They use either Bowen or Elinchrom fittings so there's no problem with modifiers and in my opinion that adds value to what you get with their kits (you'll never notice a difference between whatever brand umbrella reflectors etc).

Assuming you want to stay in the £200 range you could squeeze in either a second hand Lencarta set or be within spitting distance of an Elinchrom D-lite 2 kit / Bowens GM200 kit.
 
Those kits are great!

If you plan on using them a few dozen times over 3 years and you're prepared for a little frustration.

They're rubbish if:
You want to add quality accessories later (already want a BD - already outgrown them)
You want something robust
You want to learn from your own mistakes (rather than the shortcomings of the gear)

BTW There are similar cheap kits that have proper mount, not quite as cheap - technically inferior to decent brands (build quality - colour temp etc) that are a lot better proposition.

IMO you're better going with a decent brand and starting with a single light, or check the classifieds here for people selling kit.
 
I got a Lencarta Smartflash 2 head kit for a little over £300.

You get good quality stands and a couple of brollies/softboxes/one of each depending on what you need and the new wave link commander system that allows you to adjust the power from the transmitter rather than having to go to the flash head to make minor adjustments.

They use the S fit accessories so there are plenty out there from the cheap ebay stuff up to top quality depending on what you want/your budget.

I was looking at similar ebay stuff last year and after a bit of advice from the more experienced folk here I went down the buy once route.
 
redsnappa said:
You can get speedring adaptors for these so they can be used with Bowens fit beauty dishes and other Bowens fit light modifiers.
Bowens fit adaptor
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But if you look at a standard flash head, the flash tube sits in front of the mount, on the really cheap heads, it's sits inside a 'standard reflector' of sorts. Adding the above adaptor sits it even further back.

If we accept that a beauty dish is engineered to reflect light around at given angles, then one of these cheap heads with an adaptor is not even a close comparison to a 'proper' shaped flash.

It'd be OK(ish) with brollies and maybe soft boxes, but I'd not bother for a beauty dish.
 
Phil V said:
But if you look at a standard flash head, the flash tube sits in front of the mount, on the really cheap heads, it's sits inside a 'standard reflector' of sorts. Adding the above adaptor sits it even further back.

If we accept that a beauty dish is engineered to reflect light around at given angles, then one of these cheap heads with an adaptor is not even a close comparison to a 'proper' shaped flash.

It'd be OK(ish) with brollies and maybe soft boxes, but I'd not bother for a beauty dish.
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As above, a beauty dish, even if it physically fits, won't work well because of the built in reflector
redsnappa said:
You can get speedring adaptors for these so they can be used with Bowens fit beauty dishes and other Bowens fit light modifiers.
Bowens fit adaptor
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But only in theory.
In reality it won't work because
1. A beauty dish is just far too heavy forthis adapter, it will fall off, or at the very least change its position
2.It will move the flash head and beauty dish too far apart
gary996 said:
Yes you need to choose if you want portability or studio first, then we can give you a lot more information
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Yes, you need to decide on your priorities. A hotshoe flash can be used in the studio, but with extremely limited options, and a studio head can be used on location (with a battery/inverter) but at the cost of portability
nickjohnwatson said:
I was kind of hoping to meet in the middle. I don't really want it to be a full on studio setup but would like to have more options than a speedlight.
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The Atom 180, complete with a good S-fit adapter, will give you the best of both worlds (because it has fast recycling, power, and has a removable reflector), but is an expensive option compared to say the SmartFlash
 
nickjohnwatson said:
I was kind of hoping to meet in the middle. I don't really want it to be a full on studio setup but would like to have more options than a speedlight.
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It's a pretty big gap between a speed light and a studio head, the end result can be the same but the handling isn't. There are of course options in the middle like the Atom http://www.lencarta.com/studio-lighting-shopfront/atom-barebulb-portable-flash but besides cost there's always going to be pros and cons to every choice and you'll only get the most helpful answers when you properly understand your needs (which of course you can only truly do once you've got some experience).
 
Nick

There is a Lencarta Smartflash kit for sale on wBay at the moment for £200. 2 lights and stands plus basic reflectors and brollies.

Not the cheapest considering you'd want to add soft boxes/modifiers but it'll be a good start into studio flash with future upgradability and if you outgrow it, it's the kind of kit that you'll always be able to sell on.



nickjohnwatson said:
Thanks for all the replies folks plenty to think about :)
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jakeblu said:
Don't hold back there Gary say it like it is :LOL:

What about the interfits, I know there not to a professional standard but would have thought they'd do for a starter set.
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The big problem with the Interfit strobes is that they can't take modifiers heavier than an umbrella, a reflector or a very flimsy/small softbox. I use 2 x EX150 as background/rim/hair lights and they are fine for that, but I would not bother with them as main lights. Don't even dream of putting a beauty dish on an Interfit.
 
My experience is that it's better to start simple and work your way up, if you know what I mean. A single speedlite, off camera with suitable modifier is a good first step.
You can get the gear for a good price and you'll get some good shots.
 
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