MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Amazing studio flash kits under $300  (Read 17896 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #25 on: January 16, 2009, 12:47 »
0
Good questions, actually.  Since I shoot with a D80, I will be interested in responses.  And, I am just getting over the shock of dedicated flash prices.  WOW!  Nikon is very proud of that SB-900. :o


« Reply #26 on: January 16, 2009, 13:00 »
0
well, i guess I'm reliving this post.
I'm interested in this kits, have been looking for something cheap to start testing, but i have no idea on light equipment so i wanted to do some "stupid" questions.
will this kit be enough to start shooting? don't i need something else to shoot the flashes, like a remote shooter? are they TTL synchronized with my camera (Nikon D80)? if so, what else do i need to buy? some sincro cable or something like that?

As you would see, I'm totally new at this.
Thank you for your time

Does the D80 have a spot to synch cables?  (My D70 doesn't, my D200 does).  You can buy a doodad that sits in the hotshoe with a synch device in it.  Or you can invest in radio triggers (a much better way) so you are free of cables.   If the strobes are also slaves you will only need one cable.  Make sure the doo-dad (name eludes me at the moment) has a surge-protector.  A cable can return a negative charge from the strobe to your camera and fry or confuse the computer inside.  Been there, done that.

I will always suggest Alien Bees as a first light.  I've got a few cheap lights that served their purpose in the begining, but what a waste of money.  Some I can use for hair or background, but really useless otherwise.  Bees may cost you a wee bit more, but I bet you will still be using them 10 years from now.  If you use the lights regularly you will likely find yourself replacing the cheapos in a year.  

Also, if you are in North America, perhaps not, they are a LEGIT business, sell hundreds of lights every day, and have an outstanding reputation.  I'm just not sure if you can expect the same from a factory in China.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #27 on: January 16, 2009, 15:09 »
0
Thanks, Pixart.  The D80 does not have a sync outlet.  I looked for a doodad but adorama search engine doesn't have a doo dad.   ;D

I'll try again and also have a look at those alien bees.  Thanks for the info.



PS:  I'm back with a question.  In reading about the basic Alien Bees, it seems their is a built-in slave.  Can that be triggered with oncamera flash? ... the built-in D80 flash?
Thanks


« Last Edit: January 16, 2009, 15:37 by WarrenPrice »

« Reply #28 on: January 16, 2009, 15:36 »
0
I believe the doo-dad I referred to earlier is known as a safe synch.  I have one as a backup to use with a cable and last year my radio triggers failed, so there I was using the cable for a couple months while I decided between pocketwizards and radiopoppers.  (Note... cheapish radio trigger $125, lasted less than 2 sets of batteries). 

I paid $150 for the safe synch in Canada, but I've seen them on e-bay for around $50 I think.  I would say do a bit of pricing before you get one.   Low-demand things up here can cost quite a bit more, but with that price difference I question the quality of the ebay ones.

And if you get PocketWizards and Alien Bees, you don't need the safe-synch but do need to purchase a compatible cable for the back of the Bees. 

WarrenPrice

« Reply #29 on: January 16, 2009, 16:27 »
0
I believe the doo-dad I referred to earlier is known as a safe synch.  I have one as a backup to use with a cable and last year my radio triggers failed, so there I was using the cable for a couple months while I decided between pocketwizards and radiopoppers.  (Note... cheapish radio trigger $125, lasted less than 2 sets of batteries). 

I paid $150 for the safe synch in Canada, but I've seen them on e-bay for around $50 I think.  I would say do a bit of pricing before you get one.   Low-demand things up here can cost quite a bit more, but with that price difference I question the quality of the ebay ones.

And if you get PocketWizards and Alien Bees, you don't need the safe-synch but do need to purchase a compatible cable for the back of the Bees. 

I found the doo dad at B&H for as little as ten bucks but it is not surge protected.  Also, I had amended my previous post to ask about using the built-in flash as the trigger.  Can you do that with the Alien Bees?  And, I'm thinking the ring flash might be a good starting point.  Have you tried that one?

Thanks,

« Reply #30 on: January 16, 2009, 17:27 »
0
well, i guess I'm reliving this post.
I'm interested in this kits, have been looking for something cheap to start testing, but i have no idea on light equipment so i wanted to do some "stupid" questions.
will this kit be enough to start shooting? don't i need something else to shoot the flashes, like a remote shooter? are they TTL synchronized with my camera (Nikon D80)? if so, what else do i need to buy? some sincro cable or something like that?

As you would see, I'm totally new at this.
Thank you for your time

the boling lights (at least the ones that I have) can slave and detect another flash going off so you could fire them from oncamera flash but I picked up ebay radio triggers from linkdirect which work well (not ttl though). 

With no experience of any other lights (and my goal for this year is to learn how use these things properly) the Boling seems very well made and seem to perform well (they do make different models of different qualities). Gino was very friendly and helpful.

I had AU$1500 to spend including postage (when exchange was better than now) and didnt really know what I wanted and went on a little spree and got
4x 400w lights (of their better quality models), 3 x little guide no 20 lights, 2 (120x 80), 2 (80x 60), 2 (60 x 40) softboxes, 2 x barndoors, snoot, 2 stands (already had some others), big softbox, reflectors and some other bits and pieces (and about half of it is sitting on the shelf untouched :))

phil


« Reply #31 on: January 16, 2009, 17:48 »
0
I don't think you can use the on-camera flash, because they pick up the infrared burst that comes out before the flash - It seems to me I read that on a forum and even tried it but the lights trigger out-of-synch.  My lights are in the travel case at the moment, but if I think of it this weekend I'll try.   I can't remember, can that on-camera flash be set to non-TTL, fully manual should do the trick if that is an option.

Bees sells their own triggers as well. 

« Reply #32 on: January 17, 2009, 04:26 »
0
Hi,
I somehow missed this tread.
So anybody allready purchased that soft box kit for $300 yet ?
If yes is it O.K. ?
Tks. for the come back to let me know.
Regards
« Last Edit: January 17, 2009, 04:33 by Imagecom »

« Reply #33 on: January 19, 2009, 17:25 »
0
A few people are contact me about this light set again. I just want to say, I am not a referal for Boling, and there is no exchange of monies of any kind.

I ran across them by chance, and I know they attended PhotoKina.

I have been using the softbox set since around August 2008 and I am having a ball with them.

They have lots of good stuff in kits. But it does not suit North America's low voltage requirements. You would need to buy your own voltage adjustment.

Please contact Gino for enquiries, he seems to know his stuff.

DanP68

« Reply #34 on: January 20, 2009, 00:01 »
0
You can get an excellent Alienbees or Flashpoint kit for just a few hundred dollars more than this kit, and you can buy with confidence.  I make that much money in 7-14 days in microstock depending on the month, and that is just a drop in the bucket for high end contributors.  My advice is not to go cheap.  Stick with quality gear.

« Reply #35 on: January 20, 2009, 04:43 »
0
Hi,
 Tks a lot for the feedback and help.
Regards
 Tom
 

« Reply #36 on: January 20, 2009, 11:27 »
0
You can get an excellent Alienbees or Flashpoint kit for just a few hundred dollars more than this kit, and you can buy with confidence.  I make that much money in 7-14 days in microstock depending on the month, and that is just a drop in the bucket for high end contributors.  My advice is not to go cheap.  Stick with quality gear.
VERY TRUE ADVICE DAN.  Trust me on this, if you buy cheap lights and actually use them (and I'm betting that if you are buying lights, you won't soon get bored and stop taking photos) you will outgrow them within 12 months, I guarantee it.  Also, I've had some e-bay lights and they were unsafe and would never have been been aproved by CSA to enter this country.  You have to be careful.  

I also bought the cheapest Bees light to use only on backgrounds and it is a thousand times better than any of my budget lights, even better than the ones NOT from eBay.

« Reply #37 on: January 20, 2009, 15:41 »
0
I have searched at ebay for flashpoint strobes but I didnt get anything.
Where is the best way to buy them?
How are flashpoint strobes compared with alienbees (I have 1x AB400 and 1x AB800)?

« Reply #38 on: January 20, 2009, 18:04 »
0
Alien Bees are hopeless for Australia. They require you to call them in the USA and their kits are built for low voltage.

I have a set, and they are not as good as this cheap set.

« Reply #39 on: January 20, 2009, 18:29 »
0
I live in Spain and one of the ABs is from the USA (110v) bought it in Ebay. I use it with a voltage converter (20)
I also have a chinese strobe and cant be compared with the AB

graficallyminded

« Reply #40 on: January 21, 2009, 15:38 »
0
I've used alien bees - first strobes I ever used, and I was quite impressed with the results.  Still, if I could pick something cheaper up that would perform comparably, I would.  Alien bees run like $250 per strobe, I believe.  Then you need stands, umbrellas, softboxes.

How good is the starter studio kit that Adorama sells for $299?  Anyone here hear anything, or ever use it?

http://www.adorama.com/LTBK4.html?searchinfo=studio%20kit&item_no=66

WarrenPrice

« Reply #41 on: January 22, 2009, 14:04 »
0
I've used alien bees - first strobes I ever used, and I was quite impressed with the results.  Still, if I could pick something cheaper up that would perform comparably, I would.  Alien bees run like $250 per strobe, I believe.  Then you need stands, umbrellas, softboxes.

How good is the starter studio kit that Adorama sells for $299?  Anyone here hear anything, or ever use it?

http://www.adorama.com/LTBK4.html?searchinfo=studio%20kit&item_no=66



bumped this because I also would like to hear opinions on the Adorama lights.

graficallyminded

« Reply #42 on: January 29, 2009, 12:30 »
0
Anyone know about the Adorama $299 kit?  I haven't seen any reviews on them anywhere online.

lisafx

« Reply #43 on: January 29, 2009, 12:44 »
0
FWIW, Warren, I don't see why your on camera flash would not trigger the slaves in the Alien Bees, but not sure you will want to do it that way.  The direct flash from your on-camera flash will ruin the nice directional light from the strobes. 

I was triggering my slaves with an on camera flash when I first got them and was really not pleased with the light quality.  Fortunately my camera accepts a sync cord so some pocket wizards fixed me right up. 


WarrenPrice

« Reply #44 on: January 29, 2009, 13:40 »
0
Thanks Lisa,
I had sorta figured that out.  I found a devise for less than ten dollars that will let me use the camera hot shoe to connect the cables. 
Now, it's just a matter of selling a few images to pay for new equipment.   ::)

Warren

lisafx

« Reply #45 on: January 29, 2009, 16:28 »
0
Thanks Lisa,
I had sorta figured that out.  I found a devise for less than ten dollars that will let me use the camera hot shoe to connect the cables. 
Now, it's just a matter of selling a few images to pay for new equipment.   ::)

Warren


How cool!  I am sure you will make it back, and if not - tax deduction!!  :)


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
5 Replies
3797 Views
Last post February 28, 2008, 10:35
by Pixart
33 Replies
21927 Views
Last post April 15, 2008, 04:05
by Mormegil
1 Replies
4730 Views
Last post September 28, 2010, 14:17
by AD Tom
40 Replies
18876 Views
Last post April 16, 2011, 18:48
by seawhisper
2 Replies
571 Views
Last post January 14, 2024, 11:30
by Roscoe

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors