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rookies

rookies

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I like to have lights rather than flash on portraits of my family

So thinking getting some lights what can I get that good but cheap only for home use
 
Do you mean continuous lights?

What kind of budget?

Beware that most people will tell you to use flash instead, because the power is much more suited to photography, there is a constant stream of this question and the answer is always to go for flash. Most posters eventually agree.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=465663

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=466624

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=466068

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=464101

Good luck in your choice (they're right though, if you're shooting people you really want flash).
 
I would listen to anyone advice if flash better there be it but I guess it will cost more than lights?


Don't laugh was hoping £200 but can go to £300
 
That's plenty.
Do you already have a flashgun?

Get a 1 light starter kit from a decent manufacturer, and a wireless rigger set. A decent modifier (pop up softbox), reflector and what's left for some odds and ends.

If you have a flashgun that you can use manually, look into a battery pack for it and then you can put it on a stand and stick a snoot on it for use as a spot on the background or a rimlight. That'll cost pennies but give you loads more interesting shots than you'll get with some ebay cheapies and a white background.
 
rookies said:
I would listen to anyone advice if flash better there be it but I guess it will cost more than lights?


Don't laugh was hoping £200 but can go to £300
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Check Phil's links, you can get well started with pukka studio flash for that budget :thumbs: You'll get a modelling light (so it's WYSIWYG), fast recycle times (like well under 2secs, even at full power), vast choice of light modifiers, and plenty of poke - even 100-200Ws of flash is 30-60x more powerful than the brightest affordable continuous lights.
 
Thank Guys need to go off and find the best place for best prices :) WEX prob a good starting point
 
Check out the threads I posted. I wouldn't go to a general photo retailer for specialist gear. Most of the time you can deal with large online suppliers, resellers rather than retailers.
 
Check the Lencarta website for the best budget selection, like their Smartflash. They only sell direct (with a couple of exceptions I think) hence the prices. Or check WEX or TheFlashCentre (and some other retailers) for Elinchrom. Look at their D-Lite range.

There are other brands of course, but nothing better for the money.
 
mike weeks said:
If you are looking for new lights I would also take a trip to Focus as sometimes there are bargains to be had but also somebody may surprise with something new.

Mike
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You referring to Focus on Imaging I am going to be honest :) Do i have to take cash or do they have card facility?

Might wait till I been there first then
 
rookies said:
Might try my Speedlite flash for time being is this any good

http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/Ca...ger-For-Canon-DSLR-Cameras_HAH-COMBITFCAN.htm

Or what trigger is best to go for. I only like to buy once but not over the top thou
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Yes, Hahnel Combi is a very good trigger. Can't remember which leads it comes with, not that you need one for speedlite triggering, but you need the right lead for remote camera triggering (Canons have two different types) and another with a regular jack-plug to fire a studio head.
 
HoppyUK said:
Yes, Hahnel Combi is a very good trigger. Can't remember which leads it comes with, not that you need one for speedlite triggering, but you need the right lead for remote camera triggering (Canons have two different types) and another with a regular jack-plug to fire a studio head.
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Thanks might get that for time being

But not with you about the remote camera triggering as though this does it. I know that we would need a cable i through from the camera to the Studio Head or does it come from the Flash trigger?
 
rookies said:
Thanks might get that for time being

But not with you about the remote camera triggering as though this does it. I know that we would need a cable i through from the camera to the Studio Head or does it come from the Flash trigger?
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Theremote camera triggering is nothing to do with flash, it's for using the radio trigger to fire the shutter, so you'll needc the specific lead to plug into the remote release socket of your camera.
 
Phil V said:
Theremote camera triggering is nothing to do with flash, it's for using the radio trigger to fire the shutter, so you'll needc the specific lead to plug into the remote release socket of your camera.
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Is this needed for the speedlite flash?
 
Do you have any ETTL flashguns?
If you do these triggers are excellent in every way, if not, they're just expensive versions of something you can get a lot cheaper.
 
Phil V said:
Do you have any ETTL flashguns?
If you do these triggers are excellent in every way, if not, they're just expensive versions of something you can get a lot cheaper.
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Ive a Canon 430 EXII flash if that helps??

Want make the correct choice i hate wasting money
 
Then buy 3 of these triggers.

That'll give you 2 speedlights you can use as accents, fill or background lights to add to one studio head. keep the power low and use them on Manual and you'll get relatively fast recycle times (they won't keep up with studio flash).

But you can also use them on location on stands with brollies, taking your photography in whole new directions.
 
Phil V said:
Then buy 3 of these triggers.

That'll give you 2 speedlights you can use as accents, fill or background lights to add to one studio head. keep the power low and use them on Manual and you'll get relatively fast recycle times (they won't keep up with studio flash).

But you can also use them on location on stands with brollies, taking your photography in whole new directions.
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That link I provided comes with 1 trigger and 3 reciever is that not what is needed?
 
I take that words back it only one sets oops

Was hoping it already had 2 or 3 like some do at about the same price
 
rookies said:
I take that words back it only one sets oops

Was hoping it already had 2 or 3 like some do at about the same price
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The sets of 3 or 4 at the same price are nowhere near as sophisticated as that pair. The cheap triggers will basically fire any off camera flash.

These triggers will allow you to set ratios from the camera menu, allow high speed sync, 2nd curtain sync etc. (using ETTL flash)
 
Cheers


What about pixal kings?
 
They cost more than the YN's for no particular advantage.
 
Phil V said:
They cost more than the YN's for no particular advantage.
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Thanks going order them seeing if cheaper elsewhere first :)
 
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