I'm currently looking at a set of studio flash's, when i've got the cash together I will be going for the Lencarta Smartflash kit
Generally speaking, you get what you pay for.
But with Ebay lighting kits, you generally get less than you pay for. Most of them are mis-described by people who don't seem to know what they're selling, so even if they do what you expect them too, you're not likely to get great customer support if (when) they go wrong.
Let's put it this way.Garry so are they worth considering as a first kit, is it like getting a 400D then upgrading to a 7D, when the need arises, I ask as I have absolutely no idea, and dont want to spend a fortune on great kit, its ike suck it and see, if it will get lots of use or just occasional hope that makes sense,
Let's put it this way.
which must be a first
Thanks Garry I do know what you mean, is it possible to get a reasonable set up, say for taling great family portraits (well given my skill level and need to learn and work out situations correctly) without all the fancy barn doors and filers, for the samish prize and, what would i get a 2 or 3 light set up and do I need continuous or flash (combination), sorry to ramble but I have very little idea on this kind lighting specs, but more framing and natural light, if that makes sense
Apology to the OP but it relates to your Q, dont mean to Hijack your thread
Hi Garry N Jim
Thanks Ill have a look at them the links dont work but have found the ones you mean,
why go flash then because you see photographers in supermarkets using contiguous lighting,( I know thats a bad example) Ive tried 2 head safari flash once with Darren (cowaski) in a remote location, and got awful results, due tpo user error, well it was a pitch black night shoot,, I took 4 or 5 shots and give up just used my onboard and OCF, rather than waste the time, and let everyone else try use them, they did get some OK results though, granted I knew nothing and it was the wrong time and place for me to start learning as I felt like I was wasting the models and other togs time, and some of the problem was not being able to focus properly, so not really a comparison, I need to be able to try them in day time really as it has put me off flash and being confident
why go flash then because you see photographers in supermarkets using contiguous lighting
But the ones I've noticed certainly haven't used continuous lighting, they've used flash.
the kits do look good and seem to be like the ones they use, and a great price, see told you Im a complete numpty and need a steep learning curve, thanks again for your help
Yeah, I suppose I should have mentioned that both Jonathan and I run lighting workshops for Lencarta, heavily subsidised by the Company. I suppose which one is best for you depends on whether you live nearer to Maidstone or Bradford, and whether you'd rather send Jonathan into a giggling fit or me into a strop if you bugger it upUm, no offence to any supermarket photographers, but that's hardly the gold standard of portraiture.....
Not looked closely for a while but it wouldn't surprise me if some are using continuous lighting. Those new cool fluoros are getting popular with baby shooters. But you're gonna need high ISO if you want to print over 7X5
You need a popular lighting manufacturer to run some kind of training course....
Sounds like your main problem was focusing. That's an issue with the Safari in the dark because (like most location packs) its modelling light ain't great. I've used a torch in the past to give enough light to focus then turned it off for the shot. It works best if somebody else can do this for you but this shot I was on my own - torch in one hand, camera in the other. Took a couple of goes at 2.8....
http://peoplebyryan.com/photoblog/tribal
Sorry mu posts took over your thread a bit, but I suppose a lot of your questions were answered, Hey Im going to focus Monday fancy a meet up we can check them out together although my minds made up now, gonna go see Garry my friend Mervs had a chat with him ,im going to focus on monday at the nec so will have a look there