Lighting kit

[MikeyW]

Can anyone recommend me a decent yet cheap enough lighting kit ?

Am wanting a full kit essentially. Lights ( 2/3 ? ), stands, possibly soft boxes etc aswell. Can be mains operated or if you know of any mobiles for sale then I'm all ears.

Something like this would be fine yes ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Flash-Kit-540w-Photography-Lighting-Studio-Strobe-Light-/170508700084?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item27b31c49b4

[SunderZ]

http://www.backdropsource.co.uk/products.asp?mcid=17&scid=52&sc1id=142&sc1desc=studio-flash-light-kits

try them my dad has used them and seem very good service.

[MikeyW]

Some of the kits on there just seem to be higher priced than some of the ebay jobbys ?

Don't get me wrong there is some good stuff on there but alot of it seems to cheaper on the gay.

[SunderZ]

i'd prefer to shop from a shop over egay, peice of mind returns etc..but thats just me..

[Jungle_Jim]

have a look here mate it is where i got mine from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/LinkDelight-Photography-Shop ive ordered quite a lot of different bits over the years from them and have never had any problems

[MikeyW]

I've bought stuff from there before actually Jim.

How does does the trigger system work ? It's not ITTL is it ? Or via trigger from hotshoe to a receiver ?

Whats a decent wattage kit ?

[Jungle_Jim]

The triggers work from the hotshoe then to a receiver which plugs into the sync lead on the lights, its much better with it being wireless as sync leads get in the way / fall out all the time

My kit was 2x 180W flash heads and they seem to do the job alright for basic product / still life / portrait shots
this 3 head kit looks pretty good
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blazzeo-250w-2x-180w-Studio-Flash-Light-Stand-Kit-D1N-/400140118134?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item5d2a35a876

[Ryan]

If going portable and want location without worrying about needing a genie/huuuuuuuuuuge power lead look at this http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-int474-stellar-xtreme-300w-kit/p1027333

Bulbs a big one for lighting, make sure whatever brand you choose you can get plenty of spares for its ok buying cheap ninjabongo ones until you cant get bulbs.

[MikeyW]

If going portable and want location without worrying about needing a genie/huuuuuuuuuuge power lead look at this http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-int474-stellar-xtreme-300w-kit/p1027333

Bulbs a big one for lighting, make sure whatever brand you choose you can get plenty of spares for its ok buying cheap ninjabongo ones until you cant get bulbs.

That looks like quite a decent light actually Ryan, but theres no bits and bobs for it aswell which is a bummer. Handy to have the battery pack that small aswell.

You know of any places I can get a battery pack for any of the other kits ?

[Jungle_Jim]

Bulbs a big one for lighting, make sure whatever brand you choose you can get plenty of spares for its ok buying cheap ninjabongo ones until you cant get bulbs.

aye this is true you cant buy new flash bulbs only modeling bulbs for those ninjabongo ones, however are only £38 for a new complete flash head. so probably about the same price as one of your fuses :p

ive been looking at a portable set up too, either the interfit ones ryan suggested or these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Quantuum-R-DUAL-POWER-300Ws-Flash-Battery-Pack-/180465869234?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item2a049aa1b2

they do a 600W version too

[Ryan]

That looks like quite a decent light actually Ryan, but theres no bits and bobs for it aswell which is a bummer. Handy to have the battery pack that small aswell.

You know of any places I can get a battery pack for any of the other kits ?

Its probably a bowens S mount with them so plenty of light modifyers available.

You cant really just buy battery kits as a bolt on, the heads with most cases are designed differently to run the battery.

Mine you can run studio heads, but you need an adaptor, and then the modelling lamp doesnt work.

So you have a few choices choices,
a studio set up with power invertor/generator (or vegabond type system) some issues with genies is can get power surges etc.........

flash guns.. No modelling lamp and for me they dont give the grunt i want/need.

proper battery system which can be used on location but also in a studio (you are limited by the battery power though) so be prepaired that cheap ones dont last for many flashes at full power , or have a seperate battery to buy and fit in.

The main companies for location photography are the expensive ones like elinchrom/profoto and broncolour.

But at the lower end you have the bowens/lencarta travel paks and the interfit like i posted.

[Ryan]

and the reason i am talking about batterys is because in a situation like this below you cant go running power leads from houses :D

So it really does depend on what you are wanting to use them for.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/itsafastworld85/RYAN2656copy.jpg

[MikeyW]

and the reason i am talking about batterys is because in a situation like this below you cant go running power leads from houses :D

So it really does depend on what you are wanting to use them for.

I'm so jealous of the stuff you shoot lol

Well it will be alot of location stuff for a media company but also for a few singers/bands etc.

But I will also have access to a small studio and places with internal power etc.

Hmm might give it a couple of weeks before I spent the dosh.

[Ryan]

location shooting what?

power is the key (well when it comes to price) as this is where it gets expensive.

The ones I showed in my first post may be great for most situations but wont really over power the sun for example.

I know how tough a decision this is, it took me about 2months to decide and i swang back and forth between the elinchrom rangers I run and elinchrom quadras.

If you plan to use them in a studio more then looking at how the americans run thier alien bees (vegabond IIs) may be the better option than specific battery units.

That or you may find 4/5 flashguns (like lady sayer) may be perfect.
Hope zis helps

[MikeyW]

location shooting what?

power is the key (well when it comes to price) as this is where it gets expensive.

The ones I showed in my first post may be great for most situations but wont really over power the sun for example.

I know how tough a decision this is, it took me about 2months to decide and i swang back and forth between the elinchrom rangers I run and elinchrom quadras.

If you plan to use them in a studio more then looking at how the americans run thier alien bees (vegabond IIs) may be the better option than specific battery units.

That or you may find 4/5 flashguns (like lady sayer) may be perfect.
Hope zis helps

Yep has helped a massive amount cheers bud.

And it's location stuff like promo work for a few companies like clothing and a couple of singers/bands type of stuff.

[Barry123]

That or you may find 4/5 flashguns (like lady sayer) may be perfect.

I have 5 now. I bought another 580II

[Ryan]

I have 5 now. I bought another 580II

planning on breaking this one aswell? :homme:

[Barry123]

planning on fixing the old ones diffuser and not breaking the new one's... I've bought some spares so I'm going to crack open the old one fix it and boom as good as new.

[Ryan]

be careful when taking it appart, Ive known a couple of people to be sent flying from them as they still hold a charge lol.