Lighting kit advice

Tractor Boy

Tractor Boy

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Nick
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Hi folks,

I have been considering getting some studio lights for doing portraits and bits at home. I can't justify spending loads as it is only a hobby and I have discounted the usual ebay specials but was wondering what people thought of the link delight sets - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-180W-Studio-Strobe-Flash-Light-PHOTOGRAPHY-360W-D1M-/220793086220?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item33684b210c

I know that the link delight grips get a good review for quality and hope that these may be similar:shrug:

Thanks

Nick
 
Anyone or are they that bad :shrug::shrug:
 
I would avoid Ebay only stuff to be honest. There's tons of threads on here about the various brands, some digging should help. Check the Reviews section out also.

The following are all well received

Lencarta
Elemental
Bowens
Elinchrom
Lastolite
Calumet
 
gman said:
I would avoid Ebay only stuff to be honest. There's tons of threads on here about the various brands, some digging should help. Check the Reviews section out also.

The following are all well received

Lencarta
Elemental
Bowens
Elinchrom
Lastolite
Calumet
Click to expand...

Thanks for that :thumbs:.

I have used the search and would avoid most things from ebay however I know that the link delight grips get a very good review so hoped that these might be the same. Unfortunatley I dont have a lot of dosh to spend so may look at getting a cheap yongnou (sp) flash to suppliment my SB600 and a couple of stands and umbrellas.

Nick
 
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Hi
I have just come fromm Canon forum where they were advising not.
Check specs Flash tube is not user changeable so in the long term useless, and what about warranty work.
 
ukcyberboy said:
Hi
I have just come fromm Canon forum where they were advising not.
Check specs Flash tube is not user changeable so in the long term useless, and what about warranty work.
Click to expand...
So you're saying that some 'experts' on a Canon forum were advising against Lencarta?
On the basis that the flash tubes aren't user changeable and therefore useless...

Well, in over 40 years of studio photography I've only ever had to change flash tubes when they've been physically damaged, never because they've failed through use - and anyway, they are user changeable!

As for warranty service there are plenty of people on this forum who will tell you that items simply get exchanged if they go wrong.

People are entitled to express their opinions, but unfortunately a lot of the opinions expressed on forums are just nonsense. And sometimes malicious.
 
Garry Edwards said:
So you're saying that some 'experts' on a Canon forum were advising against Lencarta?
On the basis that the flash tubes aren't user changeable and therefore useless...

Well, in over 40 years of studio photography I've only ever had to change flash tubes when they've been physically damaged, never because they've failed through use - and anyway, they are user changeable!

As for warranty service there are plenty of people on this forum who will tell you that items simply get exchanged if they go wrong.

People are entitled to express their opinions, but unfortunately a lot of the opinions expressed on forums are just nonsense. And sometimes malicious.
Click to expand...

Gary,

I think he may have been refering to my post not the lencarta one :shrug:

For my lighting I think I have decided to go for a brolly set for my SB600 for now to get to grips with what I want/ need so that I don't spend too much more money

Nick
 
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Tractor Boy said:
Gary,

I think he may have been refering to my post not the lencarta one :shrug:

For my lighting I think I have decided to go for a brolly set for my SB600 for now to get to grips with what I want/ need so that I don't spend too much more money

Nick
Click to expand...
You may be right. As he didn't quote, I assumed that he was replying to the latest post - who knows?
 
best thing to do is get a cheap flashgun with manual settings, something like an SB-26. Use some triggers and start from there. I would say 90% of my shots are done with flashguns as I only just bought a pair of bowens 500's
 
Nick, if and when you do look for lighting, I would avoid ebay as you really dont know what you are buying, and go with Lencarta. I have been using their stuff for what must be a year now - and it is great. Not too much more than some of the ebay stuff and service is 2nd to none!
 
rgrebby said:
best thing to do is get a cheap flashgun with manual settings, something like an SB-26. Use some triggers and start from there. I would say 90% of my shots are done with flashguns as I only just bought a pair of bowens 500's
Click to expand...

Thanks for that - I have an SB600 and may well get an Yongonu one as a second along with a couple of umbrella kits to get me started

cambsno said:
Nick, if and when you do look for lighting, I would avoid ebay as you really dont know what you are buying, and go with Lencarta. I have been using their stuff for what must be a year now - and it is great. Not too much more than some of the ebay stuff and service is 2nd to none!
Click to expand...

Thanks Simon. One day I may well go down the route similar to yours with doing a few portrait sessions and I think I will defo go for something like the lencarta kit but for now I think I will stick with the flashgun and brolly option to learn as I don't have a great deal of dosh to spend at the moment.

Nick
 
Hi
I have Rf602 triggers, lightstands I got from Leeds for £8 each, a 460ii, 580exii, umbrellas and other things. As for flash holders I recommend these. I too once looked at them but have my eye on Genesis with an eye on future use, they are ac/dc so mobile, my gear outstrips my ability but we all start somewhere.

Garry Edwards said:
So you're saying that some 'experts' on a Canon forum were advising against Lencarta?
On the basis that the flash tubes aren't user changeable and therefore useless...

Well, in over 40 years of studio photography I've only ever had to change flash tubes when they've been physically damaged, never because they've failed through use - and anyway, they are user changeable!

As for warranty service there are plenty of people on this forum who will tell you that items simply get exchanged if they go wrong.

People are entitled to express their opinions, but unfortunately a lot of the opinions expressed on forums are just nonsense. And sometimes malicious.
Click to expand...
Sorry for my confusion I meant the Blazzios.
 
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^^^^That was one of the bottom end 2oo's if i remember.
Weve had no probs at all with any of the other lencarta kit.
As ive said, really good VFM.
And i can recommend gary's lighting courses too.
Sure Gary has forgotten more about lighting than i will ever learn
 
Thanks for all the advice folks. I think for the moment I am going to stick with the flash gun and get some umbrella and stands and then when/ if I need to look for a better/ more powerfull setup I will look at what is around from Lencarta et al.

Nick
 
Id check out the interfit stuff on warehouseexpress, or look into yongnuo yn460's and have a strobist setup
 
The unfortunate truth is that theres no cheap route into studio flash. Every ebay only unit I have seen has had some form of crippling limitation that ultimately renderes them useless.

I have heard good things about the cheaper interfit stuff (though the specs are not particulalry impressive) and the Elinchrom dlite range seems to hold favour. When I got my first set of lights (Bowens Gemini 500's) I waited around for the right deal to come up on ebay and travelled down to collect to make sure I knew what I was handing over my hard earned cash for. Ebay should not be feared as a method of procuring second hand gear so long as you keep your witts about you. Studio flash heads are often bought and then left barely used by a lot of well meaning amateurs, my set was absolutely unused (cables still shrink wrapped) by a guy that bought them but never really got around to using them (madness!).
 
Tractor Boy said:
Hi folks,

I have been considering getting some studio lights for doing portraits and bits at home. I can't justify spending loads as it is only a hobby and I have discounted the usual ebay specials but was wondering what people thought of the link delight sets - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-180W-Studio-Strobe-Flash-Light-PHOTOGRAPHY-360W-D1M-/220793086220?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item33684b210c

I know that the link delight grips get a good review for quality and hope that these may be similar:shrug:

Thanks

Nick
Click to expand...

Total rubbish - avoid like the plague.
 
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