umbrella lighting kit from eBay

[muscleflex]

is this good by any chance?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Umbrella-Photo-Lighting-System-with-Carrying-Backpack_W0QQitemZ140090418527QQihZ004QQcategoryZ3 860QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[TeeJay]

It doesn't look very efficient. I assume that the lamps are continuously lit - but it doesn't actualy say what their output is. There are no reflectors either, so are they bounce or shoot-through?

As they say, "you get what you pay for"

TJ

[Tommy]

Read VERY closely! Look at what it includes:

The Photo Lighting System include two lighting holders, two photo umbrella, two lighting stands and an easy carrying backpack.

I don't believe you're actually getting any lights with this.

[TeeJay]

Thats correct, they are not supplying any "lamps" - but I don't believe it actualy says what "lamps" it takes.

[FlexiPack]

I woudn't touch it personally, you've no idea of the quality and there seems to be no lights.

To be honest if you shopped around you could get those items new from online stores for around the same price

I've just bought my first off camera kit, after pricing up various makes and stores i bought mine from the store recommeded on strobist www.mpex.com. Even with the shipping it's cheaper than buying the same items from the UK. Hoping i don't get slapped with horrendous import charges though.

[muscleflex]

those light holders i think will take just normal daylight bulbs.

[jrjphoto]

A colleague of mine has this, with the bulbs. I don't like it very much. The sync isn't that great, slave doesn't work to the point that it's frustrating and the only control you have over the value of light is how far away these strobes are from the subject.

Okay if you're starving and not a pro.

Spend a few more bucks and get an old speedlite flash that has a pc sync adapter. I have an SB-28 myself and will be getting a bunch of Vivitar 285s pretty soon. I love the versatility and relative cheapness of the speedlites. Later on, once you're tired of using the sync cord method, you can upgrade to a wireless system like PocketWizards, which is what I have.

Initial setup (without PocketWizards) is about $200 USD. The speedlite will be around $100 and the other stuff (stand, head, umbrella) will be altogether another $100. You don't want cheap stuff. Get the best that you can afford and go from there...this is investment stuff. You'll want it to last more than a few minutes in the trenches. :)

[SkipD]

Junk

[muscleflex]

:-)
thanks all! i actually really almost hit the buy it now button before thinking about asking here.
thanks

[Titus213]

Someone here on the forums has a sig line that reads:

"There is nothing that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man’s lawful prey". John Ruskin 1819 - 1900