Totally Confused

[pacific]

Hi to all from American Samoa. I finally broke down and bought a Canon EOS 20D, upgraded my my old point and shoot and love it. I am very interested in purchasing a studio light system (love the Alien Bees but with $600 shipping alone beyond my budget). Now considering Photogenic Studio kit with 2 AK 320B monolights (wireless and accepts AC/DC)... Now the very Newbie question (would love to search the internet all night but in American Samoa I'm lucky to get 56K - Snore) and am hoping someone can answer or point me to the right place.

I guess I would need some sort of Slave to trigger the flashes????? If so, any recommendations? Also, very open if anyone has a suggestion of alternative(s) to what I am looking at. I would like to get the kit at under $1,000. Looked at Adorama as they ship U.S. Express mail and BH photovideo (also ships express mail).

Guess I'm trying to figure out what acessories I will need so when I get the lights I won't have to order something else and wait another 2 months for it to get here.

Oh yeah, what I wish to accomplish:

1. Take photographs of the family and friends;
2. I travel all over Asia and would like to bring the lights with me (the Photogenic lights run on DC - Would have to get the power supply later)
3. Don't mind a little extra weight when I travel.
4. Know/Think I will have to get a light meter (looking at the Sekonic 358).
6. P.S. Do have a Speedlite 420EX

Sorry for the long email folks. Do plan on putting some photos up next week of American Samoa (different forum) but appreciate the help.

[tim]

Welcome pacific, there are a few people from this side of the world around here :)

There are 3 ways to trigger studio strobes:
- A sync cord (usually comes with the lights). You usually connect your camera to one studio light and the others act as optical slaves (see below).
- Optical slave (when it sees a flash the studio lights flash). This doesn't work with the 420EX because the ETTL preflash fires the strobes, and they have no power left for the main flash. It works with a 430EX/550EX/580EX/any cheap strobe in manual mode.
- Radio slaves (eg cheap ebay versions, expensive pocket wizards).

As for accessories, light stands are obvious ones, power cords (don't get the US ones), and diffusers (eg umbrellas, soft boxes, I use photoflex from either of those two places) are the main ones. Grids and barn doors might be handy.

Don't forget these things might be a pain to carry around, and take time to set up/tear down, so don't discount the option of getting one of the flashes I listed above, a light stand, and an umbrella, and using a wireless speedlite system. It might work for you. I have both systems and which one I use depends on the situtation. Tle L-358 works well for me too.

Hope that helps :)

[lostdoggy]

Have you consider Sigma EF500DG Super??? Much like the Canon 550EX but for a lot less money, about $200 each. Its has buildin Master/Slave trigger like the 550EX. Attach some diffusers and they would make a nice light weight portable alternative to studio lights.