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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / January 2007

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Strobe question

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Blah - 01 Jan 2007 02:37 GMT
I am using a Canon Rebel XT with a 430ex flash mounted on a stroboframe.  I
am considering purchasing a Strobe kit or a continuous lighting kit.  I am a
novice, and want to keep things simple and inexpensive.  What are your
thoughts on this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-FLASH-STROBES-220W-2-UMBRELLAS-2-STANDS-BAG-NEW_W0QQitemZ2
90064802647QQihZ019QQcategoryZ30087QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Richard H. - 01 Jan 2007 08:20 GMT
> I am using a Canon Rebel XT with a 430ex flash mounted on a stroboframe.  I
> am considering purchasing a Strobe kit or a continuous lighting kit.  I am a
> novice, and want to keep things simple and inexpensive.  What are your
> thoughts on this?
> http://cgi.ebay.com/2-FLASH-STROBES-220W-2-UMBRELLAS-2-STANDS-BAG-NEW_W0QQitemZ2
90064802647QQihZ019QQcategoryZ30087QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 

That's really cheap... probably fine for starters, just be aware that
you get what you pay for.

* 110 watt-seconds isn't very powerful for a strobe head - it's in the
neighborhood of a decent battery-powered flash.  This may be OK, but if
you're doing work that needs a small aperture (e.g., f/22 or f/45 on a
macro lens) for depth of field, these may not throw enough light on the
subject.

* The bulbs on many low-end units aren't user-replaceable, and the cost
of factory replacement can easily be more than a new unit.

* Only 2 power settings means you'll need to move the stands closer &
further to get different lighting ratios.

* Monolights like this (where the head plugs into the wall) are more
flexible than the style with the central power pack, because these can
be positioned anywhere.

As a point of reference, here's a popular entry-level product line with
good quality starting at about $700 for similar.  It's more powerful and
adjustable, for a price: http://www.alienbees.com/

HTH,
Richard
Blah - 01 Jan 2007 14:16 GMT
If not strobes, should I go with this?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=2247&A=details&Q=&sku=298604&i
s=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

TIA
>I am using a Canon Rebel XT with a 430ex flash mounted on a stroboframe.  I
>am considering purchasing a Strobe kit or a continuous lighting kit.  I am
>a novice, and want to keep things simple and inexpensive.  What are your
>thoughts on this?
>http://cgi.ebay.com/2-FLASH-STROBES-220W-2-UMBRELLAS-2-STANDS-BAG-NEW_W0QQitemZ2
90064802647QQihZ019QQcategoryZ30087QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
george - 01 Jan 2007 15:56 GMT
Continuous lighting tends to get hot...fine for still life and most product
shots, but people, animals, and food/drink generally do better with flash.
What are you photographing?

> If not strobes, should I go with this?
> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=2247&A=details&Q=&sku=298604&i
s=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
 
> TIA
Blah - 01 Jan 2007 16:21 GMT
People at Church with a high ceiling in a large room. Portraits from an
amateur, I guess you could say.  TIA

> Continuous lighting tends to get hot...fine for still life and most
> product shots, but people, animals, and food/drink generally do better
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=2247&A=details&Q=&sku=298604&i
s=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
 
>> TIA
Randy W. Sims - 01 Jan 2007 21:02 GMT
> People at Church with a high ceiling in a large room. Portraits from an
> amateur, I guess you could say.  TIA

If you can afford to go a bit higher, I'd suggest the Beginner Bee
package from Alien Bees[1]. You can buy a 4'x8' sheet of foamcore for a
few bucks to use opposite the light for your fill light. That will give
you something flexible & powerful enough to take some nice shots and
give you something you can extend and grow with. The others you looked
at are throw-aways: you can't really build on them later.

1. <http://www.alienbees.com/beginner.html>
Blah - 02 Jan 2007 00:15 GMT
Thanks, I don't want to buy again in 6 months, I may hold off for the Alien
Bee products....... Should I bounce the 430EX flash off of the foamcore?
Thanks
>> People at Church with a high ceiling in a large room. Portraits from an
>> amateur, I guess you could say.  TIA
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> 1. <http://www.alienbees.com/beginner.html>
 
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