Sorry, stupid lighting questions (again.....)

JumboBeef

JumboBeef

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Hello all,

OK, I want to buy some stuff. I've been sitting on the fence for long enough and I want to buy stuff now!

So, we have a 550EX flash on a 40D. I want to have off camera lighting so I need triggers. Should I buy Cactus trigger from here:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,11447.html

Are they a good price?

Brollies. I want to buy one brolly. Again from the same place, I'm looking at one of these:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,4635,1,0,0.html

It is bounce and shoot through: is this good?

Now I need a stand and a flash/brolly clamp. If I could get them all from that same company, it would be easier, but I can't find either on their website..........can anyone else spot them please?

I'm also going to buy a 30" lastolite too:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,11374.html

...and I need a clamp to clamp it the the stand............any ideas what sort of clamp I need please?

Have I missed anything?

Why am I finding this so hard? :nuts:

Thanks!
 
Yep, the clamp you need is one of these
http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,4721.html

Sits on top of a lighting stand, the hotshoe adaptor is at the top and the cactus sits right in there. The flash then sits on top of the cactus. And there is a hole for the brolly.

Bear in mind they go on a lighting stand rather than a tripod. Stands are all here.

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/2,95.html

Reflectors are different, often it is just as well to hand hold them and the Lastolite trigrip is rather good for holding it with one hand and shooting with the other.

Try Lastolite, Calumet or Bowens if you really want a bracket for one.

HTH
 
What is your total budget? I, like several others on here, have bought a full studio kit from Stable Imaging for £200 !

This figure includes 3 studio lights, 2 soft boxes, stands, barn doors, bag, etc etc

Just check on this thread : HERE
 
Stable imaging have been out of stock for a while and when I spoke to them last week they said they weren't expecting any in for about 7 weeks.
 
scraggs said:
Stable imaging have been out of stock for a while and when I spoke to them last week they said they weren't expecting any in for about 7 weeks.
Click to expand...

Oh thats a real shame. When I spoke to Neil at Stable he told me that they had messed up his last order and he was running low hence not taking me up on offering free postage to members on here. I thought he would have been able to sort it all by now. Oh well, its worth waiting in my opinion as it is a crackingly good setup but I suppose there will be other kits at a similar price that someone on here has found to be decent.
 
Hi Cowasaki.

Budget isn't too much of a problem but as I found out here:

1/ I need to start small and work upwards (because I don't know what I'm doing!)
2/ I need to be on batteries as I'm going to be on location.

...so I'm just going to buy the one set of triggers and the stand/brolly for the flash I already have (plus an lastolite for some bounce).

Thanks Ali,

Thanks! Which stand would I need out of that lot?
 
I just started with the full kit. Its worth giving Neil at Stable a ring or email because he said that he was possibly doing a cut down kit for less money too
 
Thanks, but I need need a kit on batteries, as I'll be on location and not in a studio.
 
Both the cactus sets are the same thing - V2s. The differene between the V2 and the V2s is the trigger voltage they handle. the v2 receivers handle flashes with high trigger voltage, the v2s handle low (12v ish) trigger voltage. the transmitters seem to be the same so far as I can see.

think about the hances of getting caught with vat/duty if buying from the states.

I've bought the PT04 units from hk without getting stung for duty but I think that the cactus are prob better (pc on the receiver for a start) there is also the newer 8 way cactus units which seem to be recommended - I couldnt get an answer about trigger voltages so I'm stuck with the pt-04 for the moment.

Oh - the pt04 has a screw thread in the receiver hotshoe so can mount on tripods.
 
who? said:
Both the cactus sets are the same thing - V2s. The differene between the V2 and the V2s is the trigger voltage they handle. the v2 receivers handle flashes with high trigger voltage, the v2s handle low (12v ish) trigger voltage. the transmitters seem to be the same so far as I can see.

think about the hances of getting caught with vat/duty if buying from the states.
Click to expand...

MPEX will declare the full value on the customs docket, so there's more of a chance of getting caught by HMRC
 
Thanks.................so I still don't know what to buy or from where!
 
Are there any decent UK sellers of stands/umbrellas/clamps?
 
Jamesbuk said:
Do they make them clamps but for tripods rather than light stands? so screw end in one end, hot shoe in the other.

Regards, James
Click to expand...

Dunno why you'd want to use a tripod rather than a lightstand, but basically you connect the umbrella clamps to the lightstand (or tripod) using a combination of these...

ASSET_58710.jpg


ASSET_58744.jpg




JumboBeef said:
Thanks.................so I still don't know what to buy or from where!
Click to expand...

GadgetInfinity for the Cactii

Any of the sellers on Ebay from HK for the brollies

Calumet or Manfrotto clamp
 
Decent stands: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lighting-Stands-B-Pair-robust-Pro-2-5m-height-6kg-load_W0QQitemZ300268615631
-- more from the same seller e.g. brollies costs no more for carriage.

eBay seller jiakgong has just relisted the D-8P 8-channel triggers: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-Channel-Hot-Shoe-Flash-Wireless-Remote-Trigger-Studio_W0QQitemZ330281249680
-- a sensible purchase might be two kits plus two additional receivers, to allow for malfunctions. You can get some 23A transmitter batteries at the same time. Note that the receivers can each trigger two flashes (hotshoe plus sync) and no doubt more with a cable splitter, so one trigger and a cable could be enough in the background, though I don't mount my flashes on the receiver hotshoe.
 
You can buy stands from Interfit, Calumet Bowens etc, all in the UK. Umbrellas? Ebay Calumet, Bowens, Lastolite...........take your pick there are tons!

Calumet do their own bracket but you can get them on ebay too (I bought mine from HK) Manfrotto also do some but they are kind of pricey.

The Cactus triggers are fine. I've got three and not had a problem.
 
Flash - Because its alot easier to carry a tripod around certain places such as mountain biking rather than a light stand and the tripod is also more useful of the 2.

Thanks for the info.

Regards, James
 
Jamesbuk said:
Flash - Because its alot easier to carry a tripod around certain places such as mountain biking rather than a light stand and the tripod is also more useful of the 2.

Thanks for the info.

Regards, James
Click to expand...


You'd be better off with one of these then for a tenner from Maplin

2970604282_1a560f5fd5.jpg
 
OK, thanks for the replies................

I am going to buy one brollie (with removeable cover):

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,4635,1,0,0.html

One stand:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,2170.html

One clamp:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,4721.html

One 30" Lastolite:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,11374.html

The only thing I'm unsure about is the trigger. This one:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,11447.html

(which seems the same as this one, just with better batteries:thinking:):

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16766&cat=274&page=1

..but will it work with my 40D and 550EX? It does not have the 550EX on their list of compatible flash units.......

Compatible models:

* Canon SpeedLite 580EX II, 580EX, 540EZ, 520EZ, 430EX, 430EZ, 420EX, 420EZ, 380EX
Click to expand...

:thinking:

Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks!
 
I thought I wouldn't get hit for Customs on a pair of background stands, but the postage was more than I was charged so tipped the balance, and Customs cost me £3.89 VAT plus £8.00 Royal Mail collection fee. £11.89 isn't much but is blooming high as a percentage! Your higher value consignment is more likely to attract attention. You may save on postage by buying from one supplier, but US sellers usually charge a lot, plus some of MPEX's prices aren't competitive.

I would get stand, brollies and trigger from eBay sellers, clamp and hotshoe adapter from flashzebra.com
 
Jamesbuk said:
Flash - Because its alot easier to carry a tripod around certain places such as mountain biking rather than a light stand and the tripod is also more useful of the 2.
Click to expand...

A tripod is certainly more useful, and is also more appropriate if you're dealing with even slightly uneven ground. I'm glad I didn't get rid of my crappy first tripod.
 
Thanks.

Do you know.....

.....but will it work with my 40D and 550EX? It does not have the 550EX on their list of compatible flash units.......

Compatible models:

* Canon SpeedLite 580EX II, 580EX, 540EZ, 520EZ, 430EX, 430EZ, 420EX, 420EZ, 380EX
Click to expand...

If this unit will work with my 40D/550EX?
 
In one word: Yes!

http://photo.net/photography-lighting-equipment-techniques-forum/00OjxC

And here's confirmation that the type from eBay seller jiakgong work:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157608084391224/

The ones from jiakgong are 8 channel, AAA batteries in the receiver, plus sync socket.
I think they are the best of the current crop of cheapies. Even so, I would really advise
you to buy a handful e.g. two kits plus extra receivers. Then you've got a spare transmitter
and at least one extra receiver. Get some charge-holding Hybrio AAA batteries too, plus
the type 23A transmitter batteries.
 
Following advice from everyone, I have bought the triggers from eBay and the rest from MPEX. Just need to wait until they turn up!

Thanks again :thumbs:
 
Great stuff Jumbo, sorry 'm a little late, Now watch this!
[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lKAD7leNOVY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lKAD7leNOVY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]
 
JumboBeef said:
Following advice from everyone, I have bought the triggers from eBay and the rest from MPEX. Just need to wait until they turn up!

Thanks again :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Arrrrrgghhhhhhhhhhhh!

OK, triggers bought and on way from China: no problem there. The stuff I (tried to) order from MPEX has just been one problem after another....so now I've given up!

So, I'm still looking for a brolly or two, clamp and stand. I've spent ages looking through eBay but now I'm completly :nuts: about it all. I don't know which ones to buy or where best to get it from.

Could anyone please point me at actual eBay auctions so I can just buy the ruddy things please!

I was going to buy my lastolite from this place. Good price, do you think?

Thanks!
 
JumboBeef said:
Arrrrrgghhhhhhhhhhhh!

OK, triggers bought and on way from China: no problem there. The stuff I (tried to) order from MPEX has just been one problem after another....so now I've given up!

So, I'm still looking for a brolly or two, clamp and stand. I've spent ages looking through eBay but now I'm completly :nuts: about it all. I don't know which ones to buy or where best to get it from.

Could anyone please point me at actual eBay auctions so I can just buy the ruddy things please!

I was going to buy my lastolite from this place. Good price, do you think?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Anyone, please?
 
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