studio lights

[LKavaney]

What would be a good starter lighting kit? I want it for pet portraits really. Preferably not too expensive as well. thanks.

 

[John Marshall]

Hi,
Depends on your price range but I use these without any problems
John
http://www.karlu.com/product_info.php?cPath=41_806_64_716_801&products_id=10229

 

[LKavaney]

Is that a good site? safe to buy from? they are just fantastic price compared to other places.

 

[Jelster]

I've recently got the Lencarta 300 Starter kit. The lights are twice the power than the Interfit 150's, and have got a much better build quality. The modelling lights are 150w which dim when you turn down the flash power, and the kit comes with a radio trigger, 5-in-1 reflector and an octagonal softbox.

It also comes with a bag for the lights & accessories and another for the stands.

It's a bit more expensive though at over £400.

Steve

 

[SussexBlue]

These guys look good http://www.studio-flash.com/index.php I was going to get a set of the 'D' series off them but was then offered a set of Elinchrom D-Lite 2's at such a bargain price that I was unable to refuse

 

[mattyh]

Another vote for Elemental here, we've got their kit in the studio, awsome it is

 

[Keltic Ice Man]

Yep - agree with Elemental - Great folks to buy from

 

[Garry Edwards]

Basically you pays your money and you takes your choice. Personally I don't think that there are many really bad lights out there, it's just that some are more suitable than others for different types of photography and you need to decide which features are important to you and which aren't.
This intro to choosing studio lights may help

 

[canonrebel]

The Portaflash outfit from Jessops is not a bad piece of kit and can be bought for £195.73 at the moment.

 

[oddbob]

just a word of warning about the portaflash 336 mv, i have just had one of these units stop working ie the unit will not flash but the modelling light still works,spoke to jessops and because it is out of warranty there advice is to throw it away as the cost of repair is to high .... disposable flash head at nearly $100 .. sorry should be a pound sign , bought this key board when i lived in Greece and it does'nt have one.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Personally I would caution against buying from one of the importers that sells cheap kit from a number of different manufacturers, even if other forum members do recommend them and regardless of claims that importers make about having spent 'hundreds of thousands on product development' It really doesn't cost that much to have a different name printed on them . Quality is very variable and after sales service is likely to be non-existent once the sellers find a cheaper supplier.

The content of the kit that Steve (Jelster) bought has now changed and the price has come down to £345, which makes them cheaper than the Elinchrom special offer.