Starter Studio Strobes: Opinions and Suggestions wanted.

Jeremy Winterberg

I'm looking at buying some strobes to kick off my home studio finally. Right now I'm looking for something under $200 just to start out.

Some things that I've found and am considering:

1.
Photo Portrait Strobe Flash Studio Light photography
2.
PRO STUDIO FLASH STROBE 300 W/S SOFTBOX STAND NEW
3.
500 ws Pro Studio Monolight Strobe Modeling Light 500w



If I go with the first one its two 160 watt/s strobes with two 20"x28" softbox's and two light stands, comes with cables.

The second is one 300 watt/s strobe with a 32"x32" softbox with a spring action lightstand and cables.

I've also found a 500 watt/s strobe that comes with cables no stands or softbox.

There is a kit on Calumet that was two 200 watt/s strobes with umbrellas, light stands, and cables out of my price range but a kit like that would be good... And also a 1 strobe version of that kit

I dont have exactly $200 atm, but in two weeks I'll have aprox. $300'ish.

Preferably I want a "kit" that comes with stands and a softbox or umbrella. but that is not absolutely needed. I can pick up a decent light stand from my work for about $20 with my discount. and I've found soft box's and umbrella's pretty cheap on ebay, or I could hit up B&H or Calumet.

I know some of you are gonna say, "dont waste your money buying cheap stuff, get some AB800's!" Which eventually I'm going to get strobes similar to or better than those. Right now, they're not in the budget. I want to have something before I start advertising my studio more than word of mouth.

So, if anyone has suggestions for other economy strobes or comments on the ones I have listed, it would be appreciated. I'm planning on buying something within the next week or two.

divamum

I seem to remember you had some reason for not wanting to use speedlights, but perhaps reconsider the Strobist Vivitar route? The two light kit at Midwest Camera exchange looks mighty appealing to me (am coveting it, to be honest!) - since your in-pocket funds won't quite stretch to that, you could perhaps sell the 580ex to make up the difference? And the one light kit wouldn't break your budget at all.

Or (another alternative) pick up a used 550ex (or even another 580ex if you find a good price on one) and add the $30 Cactus triggers and a couple of discounted stands and umbrellas to make it a full setup?

If you're dead set on studio strobes it won't work for you, but seems to me that on a budget you get more bang per buck with the portable flashes - they're not as sexy or powerful as studio lights, but would probably be easier to use on location (ie weddings!) since they're battery powered and if you don't need the power they might offer more flexibility until you have funds to expand further.

Just musings. I'm certainly no expert and look forward to what the resident pundits have to say, but as I start to research this myself I've been considering the options, and this one does look attractive for the flexibility it would offer.....

Jeremy Winterberg

Thanks for the feedback! I've looked at that kit before, but I'm pretty set on studio strobes... They look more professional and I think they'll work better for me.

The battery powered aspect makes flash's really nice and convenient. I'm not ruling them out, I'm just looking for studio strobes at the moment.

Extension cords help with the remote problem until I can afford those nice Battery packs that pro's use.

Jeremy Winterberg

actually, I'm open to the strobist approach. I'm gonna keep my 580EX II though. so a setup that would work good with that would be a sweet suggestion *hint hint nudge nudge*...

also wireless setup would be nice. I'm gonna check out the strobist blog again, but if someone wants to speed up the process and give me links that would be appreciated, cause I dont have the blog memorized.

Art Scott

Jeremy Winterberg wrote:

actually, I'm open to the strobist approach. I'm gonna keep my 580EX II though. so a setup that would work good with that would be a sweet suggestion *hint hint nudge nudge*...

also wireless setup would be nice. I'm gonna check out the strobist blog again, but if someone wants to speed up the process and give me links that would be appreciated, cause I dont have the blog memorized.

Look into the Sigma line of strobes......I know Ziggy53 uses them and talks highly of them as an alternative to camera brand strobes.

Jeremy Winterberg

Art Scott wrote:

Look into the Sigma line of lenses......I know Ziggy53 uses them and talks highly of them as an alternative to camera brand strobes.

I'm not really wanting to buy more speedlites, I'm just wanting to know if anyone knows any good deals on a light stand, umbrella adapter, umbrella, wireless transmitter "kit" or separate units.

Something like this... Strobist Starving Student SW2 lighting kit (no flash)

Jeremy Winterberg

I just bought two light stands, an umbrella holder, and a reflector holder from my work. for $60... I love my discount! So now I'm gonna buy the cables/wireless adapter and umbrella from either ebay or that mpex.com website...

heading over to Menards to check out some white tile board or whatever they call that... for the floor. I think that might look a little better than carpet dont cha think?

jung

I am also looking at purchasing some strobes and at one point I was sold on the portablity of the SB's but after I started pricing it out I am going to do a hybrid set up (kind of sort of). I am looking at the Calumet Genisis and purchasing another SB (making it 2) for the portablity aspect. I know that the strobe kits make more sense, because a one light set up will run $200-300 (including the stand and umbrella) were the SB 800 is about $300 w/o a stand or umbrella.

I have to do a little more research and save my pennies.
If anyone can offer some suggestions that would be great.

Thanks

Village Idiot

jung wrote:

I am also looking at purchasing some strobes and at one point I was sold on the portablity of the SB's but after I started pricing it out I am going to do a hybrid set up (kind of sort of). I am looking at the Calumet Genisis and purchasing another SB (making it 2) for the portablity aspect. I know that the strobe kits make more sense, because a one light set up will run $200-300 (including the stand and umbrella) were the SB 800 is about $300 w/o a stand or umbrella.

I have to do a little more research and save my pennies.
If anyone can offer some suggestions that would be great.

Thanks

Depends on what you want to shoot. It you're always going to be near an outlet, need power, and fast recycle, the monolights are the way to go.

Nikolai

Buying studio lights is almost as serious a commitment as bying dslr, if not more. With dlsr, your primary investment will eventually become your glass, and that glass typically has a high resale value, so even if you change your mind down the road, you will be able to recoup most of it.
With lights the situation is different and more akin to the used car market. No one cares you paid $30,000 for your car 3 years ago, you'll be lucky if you can get $10K for it.

And just like with dlsr and the glass, when you buy into a brand of lights your real cost is accessories. Bare lights are seldom used. And you will need various modifiers eventually, cause you will learn quickly that one-two umbrellas simply won't cut it.

On top of that I wouldn't get a primary light with less than 600W power. 500W could be OK, but really pushing it.

Jeremy Winterberg

Thanks for the advice Nikolai. I'm holding off on buying monolights for now. I'm going the strobist route. I'm just waiting for my next paycheck to get the wireless adapter and the umbrella!

Jeremy Winterberg

Ok, so... it took longer than my next paycheck... But, I have my wireless adapter and umbrella! Today is a good day. I thought I heard the mail man, but didn't pay any attention to it. Guess it was him, because I just went outside and they came.

Perfect timing too, I'm having a couple buddies that are photographers over tonight for a "The Office" party. So we'll prolly do some stuff in my studio now.