Need a lighting Kit - yes, i don't really do it but might as well expand my horizon

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

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I need to do some headshots for a friend for a programme in a musical.

Current kit is 5Dii x 2, 580exii, 550ex, 2 Yongnuo triggers, Manfrotto 055pro tripod, 85/1.8, 50/1.4, 135L, 24-70L. So I think the camera side is covered, but i need a lighting stand and umbrellas/softbox.

I think i will get one of these...good?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...a-kit-with-hotshoe-tilthead-shoelock/p1522399

I also want some Pocket wizards, but i hear there are problems with them working E-TTL with Canon? is that right?
 
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/MF6830/
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/MF6027/
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/AU30432/

is an even more portable, and cheaper, setup, but you can go even cheaper than that if you want.

Cheapest: konig stand £13, ebay adapter £12, ebay umbrella £6.

I'd go for the calumet kit over the lastolite stuff tbh... you could even get an ebay speedlight softbox (£35) and another stand (£30) and it'll still only come to about the same as the lastolite kit and mean you've got mods for both your lights :)
 
Price isn't really a concern, what is important is quality of the gear. Buy cheap, buy twice.

You selection comes to £80, is that really better than the lastolite stuff? plus the lastiite brolly can be semi transparent too?
 
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the calumet brolly swivel is rock solid, the stand is a small portable one that I love (they fold down to 50cm long, but you do need to sit your bag on one of the legs when shooting outside) - get one of their normal stands if that's not an issue for you. I'd trust calumet (all basically manfrotto but rebadged) far more than I would lastolite, who are rather... pricey for what they sell lol.

That umbrella doesn't, but others in their range do. I've gone off convertible umbrellas really personally, but each to their own, different needs etc. I work in fast moving situations where they're a bit of a faff...
 
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Hmmm good points.

What about Bowen? I'm just trying it get the best first time and one time.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Hmmm good points.

What about Bowen? I'm just trying it get the best first time and one time.
Click to expand...

if the bowens light stand is cheaper, get that, it'll be fine.

In all honesty, for speedlights, the portable stands are my goto every time, unless I need to put it 4m up in the air or something crazy like that...

calumet are the real deal though :)
 
Just went round jessops and jacobs and none sell a single lighting kit, and they are both Interfit, which by the look of things, not very sturdy.

Calumet it is then, cheers.
 
I have the interfit xs kit and while it's not the biggest soft box around it's more than good enough for portraits. The speedlite bracket has an umbrella mount and also a standard s mount so just about anything can be fitted. The supplied stand is good too, well made and air damped :thumbs:
 
Don't be swayed by names, the bowens stands we have are no better than the interfit stands.
 
I bought the bowen stands in the end, thinking long term...

Got those brackets :) but a slightly different brolly, still Calumet, one with a see through element. I might never take it off but like i said, I like to plan ahead. :)

Cheers!

p.s. got them all for under £200...I am hoping I don't get addicted to this lighting stuff! it's not cheap!
 
digitalfailure said:
Don't be swayed by names, the bowens stands we have are no better than the interfit stands.
Click to expand...

yeah, doubtless... a decentish stand is a decentish stand :)


I'm contemplating when to move to c-stands... :(
 
ok, the stands are here, the brackets are here, but the brolly hasn't turned up! :(

btw, which end does the bracket go into the stand? It doesn't come with any instructions.

oh, the Bowen stands are a real quality, reminds me of my manfrotto 005 tripod.
 
Raymond Lin said:
ok, the stands are here, the brackets are here, but the brolly hasn't turned up! :(

btw, which end does the bracket go into the stand? It doesn't come with any instructions.

oh, the Bowen stands are a real quality, reminds me of my manfrotto 005 tripod.
Click to expand...

The umbrella hole goes above the elbow, that way you can adjust the angle of the brolly ;)
 
CScottMcQueen said:
The umbrella hole goes above the elbow, that way you can adjust the angle of the brolly ;)
Click to expand...

I need to take a picture (probably tomorrow).

Also, I just realise I don't have a bag when the brolly comes.. How do people store their lighting gear?
 
Brollies usually arrive in cardboard tubes that posters were sold in, and inside that are usually inside a plastic sheath. I keep all 3 of my shoot throughs in their sheaths inside the one cardboard tube. The tube is sturdy enough to stop the shaft getting bent when transporting.

All my stands, umbrellas and adaptors live in a big black holdall which I found in some random bag shop in Peterborough. It's HUGE!

Rich
 
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