Lighting Kits - help!

victorialouise

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Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking for lighting kits, I'm a student at uni and have around 600 to spend. I've looked at the Bowens Gemini 400/400 kit and a few Elinchrom kits, but I have no idea.

Any help would be appreciated!
 
i been looking around too and also came to the same two options

elinchrom dlike IT kit or bowens 400 kit, would really like some opinions on which way to go
 
Lencarta are good value for money, well made, s fit so loads of modifiers that fit.

Search posts by Garry Edwards will get you all the info you need
 
I have a lastolite highlite sitting here doing nothing, so i was going to start off with that but was aware about wanting to add more lights / reflectors etc

still dont know which is the way to go bowens or elinchrom (or lencarta)
 
Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking for lighting kits, I'm a student at uni and have around 600 to spend. I've looked at the Bowens Gemini 400/400 kit and a few Elinchrom kits, but I have no idea.

Any help would be appreciated!

Are you taking a photography based course at Uni?

If so I would advise (as I always do in these cases) just to use the facilities of the University initially as I'd hope they would have equipment you can take out on loan and full studio facilities as well.

If however you can't wait, any of the major brands mentioned are dependable and likely to provide long service.

Paul
 
The real question shouldn't be "Which make?", so much as "What I am going to use it for?" because these decisions should always be based on purpose and need.

For example, if you're planning just to take basic portraits then even the cheap and cheerful ones sold on fleabay will work - at least for a while, but the learning process can be very frustrating because the equipment is too limited and too inconsistent - and if, at the other end of the scale, you need to photography white ice cream against a white background you'll need absolutely perfect colour temperature and flash energy consistency, and only Profoto and Bron will do, or at least only those makes will make life easy for you.

If your needs are less demanding but you still need to grow your kit over time and add a range of good quality light shapers, then any of the established brands - Bowens, Elinchrom, Lencarta - will be fine because they can all be relied upon to perform consistently for a long time and they all have the modifiers and light shapers that you're going to need.

It then comes down to personal choice and the cost of light shapers/modifiers. I'm probably biased because I'm involved with Lencarta, but I find my Lencarta equipment ideal for everything that I do. Having said that, a few years ago I spent heavily on Elinchrom (the pro mains powered generator units) and will happily recommend them for anyone who has a real need for very high power flash systems, for example photographing large interiors, or shooting products on 5" x 4" film - it's all horses for courses.
 
Are you taking a photography based course at Uni?

If so I would advise (as I always do in these cases) just to use the facilities of the University initially as I'd hope they would have equipment you can take out on loan and full studio facilities as well.

If however you can't wait, any of the major brands mentioned are dependable and likely to provide long service.

Paul


Yeah, I would love to do as you said but unfortunately my course is based at a College and along with my course there are about 6 others using a small amount of equipment so it means that it's really hard to book equipment aswell as studio space! :thumbsdown:

Thanks for the advice!
 
The real question shouldn't be "Which make?", so much as "What I am going to use it for?" because these decisions should always be based on purpose and need.

For example, if you're planning just to take basic portraits then even the cheap and cheerful ones sold on fleabay will work - at least for a while, but the learning process can be very frustrating because the equipment is too limited and too inconsistent - and if, at the other end of the scale, you need to photography white ice cream against a white background you'll need absolutely perfect colour temperature and flash energy consistency, and only Profoto and Bron will do, or at least only those makes will make life easy for you.

If your needs are less demanding but you still need to grow your kit over time and add a range of good quality light shapers, then any of the established brands - Bowens, Elinchrom, Lencarta - will be fine because they can all be relied upon to perform consistently for a long time and they all have the modifiers and light shapers that you're going to need.

It then comes down to personal choice and the cost of light shapers/modifiers. I'm probably biased because I'm involved with Lencarta, but I find my Lencarta equipment ideal for everything that I do. Having said that, a few years ago I spent heavily on Elinchrom (the pro mains powered generator units) and will happily recommend them for anyone who has a real need for very high power flash systems, for example photographing large interiors, or shooting products on 5" x 4" film - it's all horses for courses.

Thanks for the response! I'm leaning towards Lencarta to be honest! I'd read bits about it but couldn't find much so your response was really helpful. Think I will order some kit tomorrow! Really excited about it.
 
Don't forget to factor in depreciation on whatever you buy, you may want to sell on at the end of your course. Pretty much any brand takes a hit when you sell on but some brands do hold their value better. Also consider that rathe than selling you may want to add to your kit later on!
 
Don't forget to factor in depreciation on whatever you buy, you may want to sell on at the end of your course. Pretty much any brand takes a hit when you sell on but some brands do hold their value better. Also consider that rathe than selling you may want to add to your kit later on!

Depreciation shouldn't be of real concern if you choose the right gear to last - my last three head kit was about £400 30 years ago so you tell me what its worth now, nothing probably in all honesty but why should I be concerned :D

But as you can tell I don't change my kit much! I've just started getting new kit at £500 per head - wonder if they'll last as long, but I'm not worried about depreciation as this is a longterm purchase and the kit is the best I'm willing to afford given my amateur status? Why not Bowen's or Elinchrom, tried them and they didn't do it for me, Lencarta, never even seen one, but certain aspects put them out of the running - although the newer UltraPro range look more interesting.

Paul
 
Depreciation shouldn't be of real concern if you choose the right gear to last - my last three head kit was about £400 30 years ago so you tell me what its worth now, nothing probably in all honesty but why should I be concerned :D

But as you can tell I don't change my kit much! I've just started getting new kit at £500 per head - wonder if they'll last as long, but I'm not worried about depreciation as this is a longterm purchase and the kit is the best I'm willing to afford given my amateur status? Why not Bowen's or Elinchrom, tried them and they didn't do it for me, Lencarta, never even seen one, but certain aspects put them out of the running - although the newer UltraPro range look more interesting.

Paul

But thats exactly the point Paul!! You bought a set that lasted 30 years, a poor quality set wouldn't have lasted. But for the OP the decision is over three years not 30. QED
 
But thats exactly the point Paul!! You bought a set that lasted 30 years, a poor quality set wouldn't have lasted. But for the OP the decision is over three years not 30. QED

Where do you get three year time limit from :shrug:, I don't see any mention of an expectation to sell them on at any point!

Paul
 
So anything you buy as a student is no good after :lol:

Paul
Not at all, I was just making a reasonable assumption that students often sell on kit at the end of their courses and it may well be worth her buying second hand maybe? Buying new kit can depreciate sharply in the first few years was my only point!
 
Not at all, I was just making a reasonable assumption that students often sell on kit at the end of their courses and it may well be worth her buying second hand maybe? Buying new kit can depreciate sharply in the first few years was my only point!


Definitely see where you are coming from but I think I'd rather invest in something good, and then just update it as I go on because I'm highly unlikely to sell it after I finish uni...
 
Definitely see where you are coming from but I think I'd rather invest in something good, and then just update it as I go on because I'm highly unlikely to sell it after I finish uni...

In that case the world is your oyster! The main brands in no particular order are Elinchrom, Bowens and Lencarta. I would stay away from the cheapo stuff on ebay but keep an eye on the classifieds on TP. I would consider s/h as your money will go a lot further.. You need to factor in light modifiers and depending on what project you have to do can add up to quite a sum, Again look out for s/h!

Good luck and enjoy your course!
 
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