simple lighting question - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/16/2007 07:15:15 AM · #1

Hi guys,

I think I require the assistane of the DPC Collective Brain yet again. I have about Â£300-450 coming my way fairly soon and am interested in getting a lighting system for studio work and some other stuff I do for a wrestling company.

after searching good ol' eBay I found this for Â£300 (ish):

Lighting thing

But I have a few reservations since the world of lighting is new to me:

I see it has 2 slave strobe lights and 2 bigger ones, he just calls these mains- are they the same as masters? Will the other flashes fire from the big one? I sent the seller a PM but no cigar.

Also, when it comes to wireless flash units, would a wireless trigger on my hotshoe, and receivers on the units themselves do the job? and hopefully save me from tripping over wires and killing myself or starting a fire... or both.

The price seem great but I'm unsure if it's missing a vital component that I will need to spend more money on (which is a no go) to actually fire the damned things, when all I want is something basically idiot-proof that I can take out the box, plug in, stick in some wireless bobs and then go from there.

Can anyone see anything missing form this system (apart the lack of mention of any PSUs of course) that would prevent me using it?

Thanks in advance for any help received, I am in your debt.

Yours,

Tez

cheekymunky

Canon EOS-40D

10/16/2007 07:25:46 AM · #2

i'm not sure about the ebay ones... but when I was thinking about it the elinchrom D-Lites seemed the way to go, have a look at warehouseexpress. The 2 head kit is on sale at the moment. I think the elinchrom ones are better made and will hold their value if/when you outgrow them. The advice I was given was to get the most powerful you can afford, the D-Lite 4 kit is Â£450. Its a shame Alien bees arent really available over here.

Good luck dood!

10/16/2007 07:36:33 AM · #3

nice suggestion, but its more than im looking to spend at this given time. Also, theres 2 lights, the one im looking at has 4? I'm hoping this would compentsate for any lack in power... but i might have this completely wrong.

Thanks for the reply.

Prof_Fate

10/16/2007 09:36:19 AM · #4

You get what you pay for in photography, and these are cheap chinese lights.
The main (master/key -all depends on how you use them) are 160ws - similar in output to AB400 or paterson interfit stellar 150 lights (either of which are going to be tons better).
The little ones are 36 ws - less than a speedlight - weak. very weak.

These might be fine for home hobbyist use, but not the heavy use a pro or working photog is going to put them thru. Also they are low power and might work for a 1 person bust or head shot and not much more.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/16/2007 09:59:34 AM · #5

Duly noted and I've had that echoed elsewhere too.

The Paterson lights you mentioned: I thought they were continuous ones and not flashes? I have also been looking at a kit containing 3 500w continuous lights that I am also quite intrigued about as this eliminates any recycle time issues, but I'm unsure of the benefits apart from that.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/16/2007 10:20:38 AM · #6

Originally posted by Tez:

Those continuous lights are very dim (several stops) compared to strobes. They also get quite hot.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/16/2007 10:35:03 AM · #7

I see, thanks for the input. So what is the best option on a budget?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/16/2007 10:46:46 AM · #8

Originally posted by Tez:

I see, thanks for the input. So what is the best option on a budget?

What about strobist?