Noobie..about to buy this...

[dmbpettit]

I would like to try my hand at portrait photography with my children. I am looking for something inexpensive for now. I have a Canon XT and I believe that this kit can be triggered by the flash on my xt. What do you think for a very beginner?

http://cgi.ebay.com/180ws-Studio-Monolight-Portrait-Kit-w-Silver-Umbrella_W0QQitemZ350095905884QQcmdZViewItem?hash= item350095905884&_trkparms=72%3A1163%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[jr_senator]

....I believe that this kit can be triggered by the flash on my xt.

Yep, but it won't fire at the right time.

[dmbpettit]

Why is that? Will that be the case with any monolight kit I find?

[SlowBlink]

The XT doesn't have a PC cable and the pre flash will set off the strobe early. Buy a hotshoe trigger and the problem will be solved...I think. (I'm checking now)

Grab one of these to go with it. (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Hotshoe-Optical-Slave-Flash-Trigger-with-sync-socket_W0QQitemZ260280323043QQihZ016QQcategoryZ643 54QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp 1638Q2em118Q2el1247)

[dmbpettit]

Thanks for the help. I have a sunpak flash that I will be using. I shoot in Manual so will there still be a preflash?

[SlowBlink]

I'm not sure. There might be a flash setting on the XT where you can turn it off.

[Titus213]

If the Sunpak is not ETTL compatible there should not be a pre-flash. Assuming your FLASH is in manual, not just the camera.

[dmbpettit]

The sunpak is only TTL compatibile. Should I order the part listed above and mount the sunpak on top of that?

[dmbpettit]

I have had second thoughts about buying something like this on ebay. I am trying to stay cheap but I am afraid will get royally hosed if I used ebay for this.

What about either of these from adorama?

http://www.adorama.com/SAPLK1.html

http://www.adorama.com/SVFL150.html

[NeutronBoy]

I started out looking at Adorama's Flashpoints and got steered to the Calumet Genesis lights which are getting good reviews on POTN. Look here: http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CF0502K/

I know they are $40 - $70 more than what you are looking at, but they have twice the power of those other systems you were looking at. Do a search on POTN for Genesis to read all the threads. There's a lot of info there.

A friend of mine is looking on EBAY and is getting lured in by the cheap prices. I don't know, but for that kind of money, I want to get something quality and a company to stand behind it. I plan on having my monolights for a while.

[dmbpettit]

I just ordered one of the Genesis 200s from Calumet. Thank you for all the help everyone.