NYPHOTOGRAPHICS wrote:
its not great but for that price its hard to beat.  One decent cheap strobe could cost more, even a low alienbee is 270.00 I think.

Let me take a wild guess that it has a low-life, hard-to-replace flash tube.

Perhaps it's even soldered to the board.

Kleer_images wrote:
Before you go and buy an off name lighting kit I would definately reccomend the Alien Bees lights. They are very affordable and quite durable. They also have an incredible reputation.

Having recently been abducted, I fully agree.

rp_photo wrote:
Inevitably, kits like this are comprised of the cheapest components possible.

My advice would to shop the parts yourself, maybe over time.

In other words, start with one light and one umbrella and gradually build up.

You'll learn more and better appreciate what you have.

i feel like this may be a dumb question, but i really dont know. if i were to do that.. what is the first light or so i should look into. a main light or a fill light?

rp_photo wrote:

Let me take a wild guess that it has a low-life, hard-to-replace flash tube.

Perhaps it's even soldered to the board.

oh wow if thats true that would be hard to replace =x

rp_photo wrote:
Inevitably, kits like this are comprised of the cheapest components possible.

My advice would to shop the parts yourself, maybe over time.

In other words, start with one light and one umbrella and gradually build up.

You'll learn more and better appreciate what you have.

Good advice.

Since you don't know anything about lighting, buy a stand, a decent head, and an umbrella or softbox (or both).  Learn how to use it, then add on.

But, make sure to get a system that's expandable, and has enough accessories for what you want to do.  Otherwise, you'll just end up getting other stuff down the line anyway.

Buy light stands that are sturdy, and meet your needs (height, storage, strength, etc.).  I did a shoot yesterday using my 10-15 year old bogen stands... cost a little more than the stands that come in a kit, but still as good today as the day I bought them.

NN Star Photography wrote:

i feel like this may be a dumb question, but i really dont know. if i were to do that.. what is the first light or so i should look into. a main light or a fill light?

No dumb questions here.

At least you didn't go for a hot light kit.

You may want to consider the Strobist (www.strobist.com), in which standard shoe flashes are used with stands and umbrellas like offered in the kit.

Photogenic Eclipse umbrellas and Raven light stands are good choices to start out with. For flashes, either the Sunpak 383 or Vivitar 285 are most popular.

You will also need a light meter to best measuse output of your setup.

rp_photo wrote:
Let me take a wild guess that it has a low-life, hard-to-replace flash tube.

Perhaps it's even soldered to the board.

Jamie-JAYCE-Charles wrote:
oh wow if thats true that would be hard to replace =x

This is a manifestation of the "Cheap Printer - Expensive Ink" syndrome.

An AB may cost more up-front, but the flash tube is readily available at "near cost" (per Paul C. Buff) from US stock, and has a 100,000+ flash life.

Some of the Fleabay strobe tubes are rated around 10,000, and are shipped on slow boats from China.

robert christopher wrote:
the only problems that i have found with those type of lights is the modeling light need to be ordered from a lighting store.

That too!

Matt Knowles wrote:
Ok everyone who's heard of Yinyan raise their hands...

Yep that's what I thought.

The fact that it's an unknown brand made in China should be a big red flag.

I've heard of them, but only since reading the OP's link!

Dogbone Alt-Process wrote:
I share the tight budget woes with you and as tempting as three lights for such a low price may be, I'm reminded of the advice given to me by a mechanic friend. "You don't save money buying cheap tools."

I'd suggest spending your money on one high quality strobe and learning to use it well. One light and a reflector will give you a less confusing starting point than wrestling with balancing three lights. When you find yourself limited and feel you need more equipment, you'll have a better understanding of lighting in general and a better idea of how to get the most out of your budget.

do you have a good first one that you recommend?

Essential Form wrote:
*chuckle*  That auction listing read like a Ron Popeil infomercial:  "But, WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!"

It should be remembered, though, that the Ronco Vegematic will indeed dice and slice.  You certainly won't find one in fine restaurant kitchens or, for that matter, in the homes of someone that cooks seriously.  But it will indeed dice and slice.

But you'll never be able to 'Set 'em and forget 'em".

NN Star Photography wrote:
do you have a good first one that you recommend?

I've been happy with my Alien Bees B800 beginner's kit.

http://www.alienbees.com/beginner.html

There are some that may take issue with the plastic housing and say it isn't "professional" but it works just fine for me.

Essential Form wrote:
*chuckle*  That auction listing read like a Ron Popeil infomercial:  "But, WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!"

It should be remembered, though, that the Ronco Vegematic will indeed dice and slice.  You certainly won't find one in fine restaurant kitchens or, for that matter, in the homes of someone that cooks seriously.  But it will indeed dice and slice.

For 350 bucks to your door (if it works and works for more than 6 months) this is better than most of the ebay kits I've seen.  It's very low power, but if you're setting up in the living room it will suffice, probably.

If you think of it as a throw away of 300 bucks for purposes of education, I'll only say I've spent more on less.

thats the thing though, they are going to be used in my garage.. thats were my "awesome"  "mock studio" shots took place.

Essential Form wrote:
*chuckle*  That auction listing read like a Ron Popeil infomercial:  "But, WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!"

It should be remembered, though, that the Ronco Vegematic will indeed dice and slice.  You certainly won't find one in fine restaurant kitchens or, for that matter, in the homes of someone that cooks seriously.  But it will indeed dice and slice.

rp_photo wrote:
But you'll never be able to 'Set 'em and forget 'em".

*chuckle*  RP, I've often wondered how much practice and coaching it takes to get the audience screaming "Set 'em and forget 'em" in perfect unison.  Maybe it is spontaneous . . . like 'round these parts where the studio audience yells "Pocket Wizard!!" or "Alien Bees!!!!"  with equal enthusiasm.

*ducking for cover*

NN Star Photography wrote:
So I dont know much about lighting, (i've got a whole port to prove it)
Still on a fairly tight budget

I was looking into getting this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-studio-flash-stro … dZViewItem

is this all the basics i will need?  or is there anything else??  or is this just a crappy set, or a terrible price?

I've been successful with similar Chinese gear but I think your guy is a little high, try http://stores.ebay.com/studio4less.

The stands and umbrellas are crap but if you don't beat on your gear are adequate.

Take a look at the SL-400's they seem to be pretty stable.

-Mason- wrote:

I've been successful with similar Chinese gear but I think your guy is a little high, try http://stores.ebay.com/studio4less.

The stands and umbrellas are crap but if you don't beat on your gear are adequate.

Take a look at the SL-400's they seem to be pretty stable.

the link doesnt work on that one.

NN Star Photography wrote:
So I dont know much about lighting, (i've got a whole port to prove it)
Still on a fairly tight budget

I was looking into getting this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-studio-flash-stro … dZViewItem

is this all the basics i will need?  or is there anything else??  or is this just a crappy set, or a terrible price?

I just noticed the cheesy backgrounds that are included, which adds a new "wronkle" to the scenario.

I am of the belief that one learns more by gradually acquiring and learning all these components over time rather than having it all drop in their laps.

Somthing else to keep in mind is that strobes are perhaps the most dangerous equipment in the studio.

They operate via instantaneous release of stored energy into fragile glass devices. In some instances, the stored energy can kill.

Is that really something you want to get on the cheap?

NN Star Photography wrote:
the only thing i still dont get though is how is purchasing one light going to help me eliminate shadows? cause a flash on the camera is just technically one light and that how i get them.

ugh, so confused.

One light makes the shadow "better" by changing it from an ugly thin line on the side of the model to something more dramatic and drawn out by moving it away from the camera and providing larger-surface area modifiers.

Examples from my own work:

Sto-Fen diffused on-camera flash:



LightSphere II diffused flash on tripod off-camera:



Multiple flashes (still counts as one light) firing into silver umbrella on a stand:

NN Star Photography wrote:
So I dont know much about lighting, (i've got a whole port to prove it)
Still on a fairly tight budget

I was looking into getting this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-studio-flash-stro … dZViewItem

is this all the basics i will need?  or is there anything else??  or is this just a crappy set, or a terrible price?

It's cheap. It will probably work, BUT the light output for each individual light is quite low. Think ISO 400 or 800 instead of ISO 100.  I think you will wish you had one good, light with a decent output rather than three low powered lights. 

And yes, I too have been abducted by Alien Bees.

You can get the "Beginner Bee Package (B400 light, stand, umbrella) for $304 plus shipping.  More if you want the B800 or B1600 light.  I think you will be much happier with one good light.

You can do a lot with one, well placed light.  When you are ready, you can buy a second, and later on you can buy  . . . . .

http://alienbees.com/beginner.html

NN Star Photography wrote:
the only thing i still dont get though is how is purchasing one light going to help me eliminate shadows? cause a flash on the camera is just technically one light and that how i get them.

ugh, so confused.

For the most part, you aren't really trying to eliminate shadows, just control them. Shadows are what we use to describe (visually) a 3-dimensional object in a 2-dimensional format. Shooting with one light and a reflector will help you learn the basics of lighting. You can then add equipment when you are able. I'd recommend that you get one good light, a stand, and an umbrella. The Alien Bees B400 would probably be more than enough power to get you started and will leave you enough money for an umbrella and stand.

NN Star Photography wrote:
i feel like this may be a dumb question, but i really dont know. if i were to do that.. what is the first light or so i should look into. a main light or a fill light?

You don't really buy a main or a fill. You use a light as a main or a fill. If the sun is your main, then a flash might be your fill.
If you are in a poorly lit venue, the same flash might be the main light.
Buy a couple of cheap Bees (maybe an AB400 and an AB800) and a few modifiers and stands.
Then just start using them. When you've messed with it for a while, you'll have more questions.

Imagenes wrote:

You don't really buy a main or a fill. You use a light as a main or a fill. If the sun is your main, then a flash might be your fill.
If you are in a poorly lit venue, the same flash might be the main light.
Buy a couple of cheap Bees (maybe an AB400 and an AB800) and a few modifiers and stands.
Then just start using them. When you've messed with it for a while, you'll have more questions.

sounds like a plan

NN Star Photography wrote:
a fellow MMer mesaged me this, (are these good)

I saw your thread about lights. I have a Novatron fun kit for sale. It is a two light kit, 240w/s with two stands, two umbrellas and a powerpack, a sync cord and a Wein Safe sync (those are $40 each). Anyway it is like brand new. The friend I got it from never used it...and I mean never. I shot 200 photos with the power pack but used my own lights not the kits. My novatron set has been going on 5 years with no problems. I just don't need a whole other set. Anyway, new they are $700 and I'm asking 400 for mine.





is this a good set?

Good ole faithful brand
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3 … t_240.html

Pricing is fairly good, only thing you are dealing with a power pack and not mono lights.  Its their bare bones lighting kit.