What to buy next

UaeExile

UaeExile

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Adam
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I've got a little spare cash and there's a few things I want but I wondered what you would prioritise given my current set up.

As it stands I have:

2 x Phottix Indra 500s
2 x Visco stands
1 x Phottix Luna collapsible beauty dish
1 x Shoot through umbrella
3 x Speedlights + small grid kit with gels and basic trigger/reciever set.

What I've got on my shopping list is:

Background stand and some seamless paper - white & grey.
Good quality solid stand and boom arm (possibly avenger or similar).
Phottix Odin trigger meaning I can adjust strobes remotely and also enable HSS on the Indras.
Another light modifier - strip light or a deep octa

I'm going to be doing much more portraiture over the next few months and whilst that leans me towards the background and stand I really want to get out and shoot environmental portraits. Soooooooo.... What would you add :)
 
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Gossen Digi Pro F2 light meter
 
UaeExile said:
Thanks Mr Chuckles but I meant what would you add... If you were me :)
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Yep - if I were you I would add ----- Gossen Digi Pro F2 Light meter ;)

Or do you mean from your shopping list? Background stuff!
 
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chuckles said:
Yep - if I were you I would add ----- Gossen Digi Pro F2 Light meter ;)

Or do you mean from your shopping list? Background stuff!
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I can't see myself ever buying a light meter to be honest!
 
sk66 said:
A good boom (with sliding/clamping weight) is really nice to have. Depending on your situation, there might be better ways to hang the BG rolls than stands.
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Yep - the boom is really appealing to me.

That's the one thing where I see instant benefit. that and the light modifier... The other things I can work around for now.
 
Plus one for the boom recommendations but I'd also want a medium sized rectangular softbox as they're good for so many things (you can always mask them to get a strip too, not ideal but if you can only justify one get the more versatile tool).
 
I've just bought a boom and it's the best investment I've ever made. I'd also look at changing that collapsible beauty dish for a real one.
 
•
I never thought like this… "what would you add... If you were me"!
The possibilities are endless and so are the chances to wrong investment.

The work I'am planning tells me what I have and what not — in the later case,
since I am going to integrate the eventual new tool in my working plans, I am
pretty sure of investing the money than just spending it.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•
I never thought like this… "what would you add... If you were me"!
The possibilities are endless and so are the chances to wrong investment.

The work I'am planning tells me what I have and what not — in the later case,
since I am going to integrate the eventual new tool in my working plans, I am
pretty sure of investing the money than just spending it.
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And that's probably why Adam has a list. I assume that he's thought about what he wants to shoot.
 
UaeExile said:
I've got a little spare cash and there's a few things I want but I wondered what you would prioritise given my current set up.
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The23rdman said:
And that's probably why Adam has a list. I assume that he's thought about what he wants to shoot.
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You may be right… but it doesn't sound like it!
A common mistake is to expand one's gear kit prior before knowing the direction of the
expansion given by the next shoot.

Terrible decision: get what you want or what you need!
 
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Kodiak Qc said:

You may be right… but it doesn't sound like it!
A common mistake is to expand one's gear kit not knowing the direction of the
expansion is given by the next shoot.

Terrible decision: get what you want or what you need!
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Sometimes you don't know what you need until you buy it though. :-)
 
The23rdman said:
Sometimes you don't know what you need until you buy it though. :)
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•
Making a living is serious business… I do not take such decision that way.
Maybe amateur enthusiast can afford such a margin of error! GAS is exciting
but deadly in business where one should justify any/all decisions.

As I said somewhere else I have a annual budget for acquisitions and repair
that is only to dream of by many but any spending or investment must first go
through a solid justification process.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•
Making a living is serious business… I do not take such decision that way.
Maybe amateur enthusiast can afford such a margin of error! GAS is exciting
but deadly in business where one should justify any/all decisions.

As I said somewhere else I have a annual budget for acquisitions and repair
that is only to dream of by many but any spending or investment must first go
through a solid justification process.
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Life is for living. I don't think anyone here is suggesting that Adam spends thousands of pounds he doesn't need. He's asked valid and genuine questions and we've made suggestions that we feel would be useful based on what he wants to shoot. If you don't actually buy anything you can't know if it's of any use to you. There is inherent risk in any purchase and sometimes, yes, you do buy something that you don't use that much. In those cases you sell it on and tuck away the experience.

Edit: And trust me, I know what it is like to live on a tight budget.
 
I have to agree, it is no point just making a shopping list as what you need to identify is the issues, then the potential solutons and then the list and yes a light meter is a great tool. Many feel they can do without one, most do not have the knowledge to work effectively without though. They are a great learning tool.

Mike
 
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mike weeks said:
I have to agree, it is no point just making a shopping list as what you need to identify is the issues, then the potential solutons and then the list and yes a light meter is a great tool. Many feel they can do without one, most do not have the knowledge to work effectively without though. They are a great learning tool.

Mike
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He has done that.
 
mike weeks said:
I have to agree, it is no point just making a shopping list as what you need to identify is the issues, then the potential solutons and then the list and yes a light meter is a great tool. Many feel they can do without one, most do not have the knowledge to work effectively without though. They are a great learning tool.

Mike
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Sorry but where did I say I'd just "made up a shopping list"? I think it's pretty clear I've thought about what I need, I'm just limited on budget and asking what others think would give me the most bang for my buck.
 
What is totally missing from this thread is information about need and purpose.

What type of photography do you do/want to do?
How much studio space do you have?
W£hat sort of lighting effects do you want to achieve that you can't achieve now (or can't achieve to your required standard?
 
Garry Edwards said:
What is totally missing from this thread is information about need and purpose.

What type of photography do you do/want to do?
How much studio space do you have?
W£hat sort of lighting effects do you want to achieve that you can't achieve now (or can't achieve to your required standard?
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Exactly what I was getting at.
 
UaeExile said:
Sorry but where did I say I'd just "made up a shopping list"? I think it's pretty clear I've thought about what I need, I'm just limited on budget and asking what others think would give me the most bang for my buck.
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Perhaps a lesson in English, I did not say you had just made a list up, I said " it is no point just making a shopping list as what you need to identify is the issues", or as Garry says about need and purpose. Bang for Buck will only come when you know what sort of bang you want. I could recommend a great long list but dont want to send you off at a tangent.

Mike
 
And there was me thinking "I'm going to be doing more portraiture" was enough.
 
Sorry, I'm just grumpy cos I'm stuck in bed with the lurgy.
 
mike weeks said:
Perhaps a lesson in English, I did not say you had just made a list up, I said " it is no point just making a shopping list as what you need to identify is the issues", or as Garry says about need and purpose. Bang for Buck will only come when you know what sort of bang you want. I could recommend a great long list but dont want to send you off at a tangent.

Mike
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Insults won't get you very far with me Mike... Thanks for your input.
 
Anyway, to bring this thread to a close I decided on the additional modifier. Having a slight headache trying to source one in the UAE for my bowens mount strobes, but that's a different story.

Thanks all.
 
Quality is ace Kris, used mine again today, also made a new pin so I can use it as a normal stand without the boom head on, also have the standard Lencarta stands and again top quality.
 
arthurbikemad said:
Quality is ace Kris, used mine again today, also made a new pin so I can use it as a normal stand without the boom head on, also have the standard Lencarta stands and again top quality.
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Great to know Arthur, thanks. It's been something I've been meaning to buy for a while.
 
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