[self-conflict] 2 or 3 strobes? Softboxes or umbrellas? 30" or 45" umbrellas? AH!!!!!

[Marloon]

Hi there. This one is a doozy!

I am just in the process of ordering my lighting gear to start off my strobist experience. I've done a little bit of off-camera flash using an OC-E3 but...
a) i am sick of the camera cord
b) i am sick of just using one flash
c) i need more wireless reach because of my new 70-200 f2.8 IS.

I will be keeping the OC-E3 to use for more portable work and i will be attaching it onto a CB mini plate to be used with my 17-55 or 11-16. the flash i am going to use with my CB mini plate will be the 430EX.

Now i will be using my flash gear for the following:
- 1-3 person portrait shots
- 1 person head shots will be 80% of the shots, mainly of my girlfriend and my other friends.
- 2 person head shots will be 15% of the shots
- 3 person head shots will be 5% of the shots
- 80% of the shots will be head shots
- 10% of the shots will be shots from the diaphragm up.
- 10% of the shots will be full body

Since i will only be 10 to 30 feet away from my subject, i've ordered Cactus V2s, hot shoe adapters and PC-sync cords from Ebay.

Now my self conflict is... its basically three fold.

since shipping gear to canada from bhphoto is really expensive, i am considering ordering ALL of my required gear as of right now. so that means, i will be buying EVERYTHING right now. (reasonably everything)

I want to have three strobes (all of them being 285HVs), i will be using 2 most of the time, one main and one for fill. The extra strobe will be for backup, and used as background light if i see fit. I barely shoot photos at night, so the extra strobe will be barely used.

so conflict number 1: SHOULD I BUY TWO OR THREE STROBES RIGHT NOW.

and my second conflict is that should i buy a westcott apollo 28' softbox? I was thinking that i might not need it since 80% of my shots are tight head shots. But i was contemplating on buying it since 10% of my shots are body shots and the softbox allows for that flexibility of more directional lighting as oppose to the umbrellas.

so conflict number 2: SHOULD I BUY THE 28' SOFTBOX?

and lastly, conflict number 3! Like i said above, since 80% of my shots are headshots, should i buy 45" umbrellas knowing that 32" umbrellas will suffice for most headshots. This conflict is not that big because its only an additional $30. The 32" umbrellas come with the impact lighting kit, so i dont really want to opt out because its only about $5 extra for each umbrella. So if i grab 45" umbrellas, i will have the choice between 32" and 45" at my disposal.

so conflict number 3: SHOULD I BUY 45" UMBRELLAS? IN ADDITION TO MY 32" UMBRELLAS?

if its a yes to all of the questions above, the price jumps from 330.00 [(2) 32" umbrellas, (2) 285HV, (2) light stands, (2) umbrella mounts] to 700.70 [(3) 285HV, (4) 32" umbrellas, (2) 45" umbrellas, (4) light stands, (4) umbrella mounts, and (1) Westcott Apollo 28' softbox].

[Lotto]

Man, those are personal and financial decisions that only you can made for yourself. But seems like you know exactly what you need, if your wallet can handle it, I would say buy them all and no second guessing later:) Life is short, enjoy it fully everyday, so they say.

[Bumgardnern]

I would start off with the basic kit that you listed first. Then if you are not satisfied I would build the kit up. It really depends on your finances right now. It is always nice to go ahead and get everything that you want but if your finances will not allow it build up gradually.

Personally I have one 285HV a light stand and a 32 in silver umbrella for my quick and dirty on the go kit and I am more than satisfied with that and UAE it for the same things you have listed and some more.

[Marloon]

financially, its really not that big of a deal. I just want to be assured of what i need.

i've decided to order more lighting gear. and i've ordered two more light stand kits from bh by impact. I will be selling the other kits to alleviate some of the cost by the flash gear.

[bmynbr]

Hi there. This one is a doozy!

so conflict number 2: SHOULD I BUY THE 28' SOFTBOX?



Now thats a big softbox:lol:

[pprice]

Now thats a big softbox:lol:

lol, I was going to say the same thing, but you beat me to it. :) .

[Marloon]

LOL! hahahha...

woops. 28" thats what i meant.

hahaha...

[Marloon]

Hi there. This one is a doozy!

I am just in the process of ordering my lighting gear to start off my strobist experience. I've done a little bit of off-camera flash using an OC-E3 but...
a) i am sick of the camera cord
b) i am sick of just using one flash
c) i need more wireless reach because of my new 70-200 f2.8 IS.

I will be keeping the OC-E3 to use for more portable work and i will be attaching it onto a CB mini plate to be used with my 17-55 or 11-16. the flash i am going to use with my CB mini plate will be the 430EX.

Now i will be using my flash gear for the following:
- 1-3 person portrait shots
- 1 person head shots will be 80% of the shots, mainly of my girlfriend and my other friends.
- 2 person head shots will be 15% of the shots
- 3 person head shots will be 5% of the shots
- 80% of the shots will be head shots
- 10% of the shots will be shots from the diaphragm up.
- 10% of the shots will be full body

Since i will only be 10 to 30 feet away from my subject, i've ordered Cactus V2s, hot shoe adapters and PC-sync cords from Ebay.

Now my self conflict is... its basically three fold.

since shipping gear to canada from bhphoto is really expensive, i am considering ordering ALL of my required gear as of right now. so that means, i will be buying EVERYTHING right now. (reasonably everything)

I want to have three strobes (all of them being 285HVs), i will be using 2 most of the time, one main and one for fill. The extra strobe will be for backup, and used as background light if i see fit. I barely shoot photos at night, so the extra strobe will be barely used.

so conflict number 1: SHOULD I BUY TWO OR THREE STROBES RIGHT NOW.

and my second conflict is that should i buy a westcott apollo 28' softbox? I was thinking that i might not need it since 80% of my shots are tight head shots. But i was contemplating on buying it since 10% of my shots are body shots and the softbox allows for that flexibility of more directional lighting as oppose to the umbrellas.

so conflict number 2: SHOULD I BUY THE 28' SOFTBOX?

and lastly, conflict number 3! Like i said above, since 80% of my shots are headshots, should i buy 45" umbrellas knowing that 32" umbrellas will suffice for most headshots. This conflict is not that big because its only an additional $30. The 32" umbrellas come with the impact lighting kit, so i dont really want to opt out because its only about $5 extra for each umbrella. So if i grab 45" umbrellas, i will have the choice between 32" and 45" at my disposal.

so conflict number 3: SHOULD I BUY 45" UMBRELLAS? IN ADDITION TO MY 32" UMBRELLAS?

if its a yes to all of the questions above, the price jumps from 330.00 [(2) 32" umbrellas, (2) 285HV, (2) light stands, (2) umbrella mounts] to 700.70 [(3) 285HV, (4) 32" umbrellas, (2) 45" umbrellas, (4) light stands, (4) umbrella mounts, and (1) Westcott Apollo 28' softbox].

UPDATE!!!!!!!

so last night, i purchased myself 2 285HVs, a 45" reflector kit + stand, 2 light stand kits, and 2 45" umbrellas to mount onto the light stand kits. i am going to hold out onto the 28" softbox for now, and the extra strobe as a lot of my shots will be outdoors, and the background will be nicely lit by the sun.

My lighting setup will be very classic. 1 285HV as a main mounted onto a 45" umbrella on camera left with a soft gold reflector on camera right (considering my girlfriend is filipino), and the other 285HV as a main light mounted onto another 45 (or 32") umbrella on the opposite side of the flash.

What do you guys think? i was thinking of posting a review of those impact light stands. i am just not sure if its been done here on this forum. :D

[michael_]

are you getting any shoot through umbrellas? i bought two myself and 2 reflective (silver with black back umbrellas) and a gold refective with black.

for what you are doing i think it all sounds right, i am wanting a softbox too and the westcott was going to be my pick but i cant justify the expense shipping it to aust.

have you thought about how you will trigger everything now? what about a light meter?

[Marloon]

are you getting any shoot through umbrellas? i bought two myself and 2 reflective (silver with black back umbrellas) and a gold refective with black.

for what you are doing i think it all sounds right, i am wanting a softbox too and the westcott was going to be my pick but i cant justify the expense shipping it to aust.

have you thought about how you will trigger everything now? what about a light meter?

the 45" and 32" umbrellas are convertible umbrellas with a white satin and removable black backing - just like any cheap umbrellas. LOL

i will be using cactus V2s triggers for my triggering system. they are cheap but effective. in the future, i will upgrade myself to cybersyncs.

i havent spent money for a light meter yet. i am just going to play with the lighting first and if i really cant get it, then i am going to use light meters. how much are light meters? and it just really helps doesnt it.

and i thought shipping to canada from bhphotovideo was expensive.

[AlanU]

Marloon,

Are you in Vancouver, BC? Ship it to point roberts WA and pick it up from there. Save on the brokerage fees. Shipping direct to Canada will be very expensive.

[Marloon]

alanu,

how do you set up a box in point roberts?

[AlanU]

alanu,

how do you set up a box in point roberts?


The Letter carrier (not opened on sundays) will be one of the best places to get things shipped.

http://www.thelettercarrier.com/contact.htm

NO SETUP required. Just give the "retailer" your name and (letter carriers address). Some US companies have policies that say "WILL NOT SHIP TO PO BOX" I just give my name and the "Address" and never have a problem. Just make sure you tell the credit card company (visa, MC) to add 145 tyee drive as an alternate address.

John smith
145 tyee drive
Point Roberts, WA
98281

When the company phones to confirm your shipping address the credit card operator can only say YES or NO when the "company" ask if its a valid address.

Go to the post office and tell them your name. Pay a buck or two (cant remember) and they simply hand you the package. They have 2 separate "money tills" one for CDN and one USD. Cant get easier than that.

[importhunnie]

you dont pay brokerage if you use UPS worlwide express, just GST and PST, + no duties on photography equipment.
yes you may save on shipping to WA state but the time and effort is what will matter to you. i ship always UPS worlwide express with B&H and if you order before 3pm EST it'll be here GVA next business day, and you just wait in your home in your pajamas.
lighting equipment is more expensive because of the bulkiness but usually it'll run you less than 40USD instead of 20USD+ plus time and effort.
are you the marlon that works at BB? im joyces cousin.
i may have cybersyncs for sale: 1 trigger and 2 remotes . they are pretty much new. all my friends have PWs so im going to get them instead.
Marloon,

Are you in Vancouver, BC? Ship it to point roberts WA and pick it up from there. Save on the brokerage fees. Shipping direct to Canada will be very expensive.

[AlanU]

Importunnie,

I agree with you on the UPS worldwide saver. Thats how I got my cybersyncs.

The bulkiness of the stands and packaging is a killer when it comes to shipping large items from US to Canada.

I agree the time/effort factor is a determining factor. I'll buy alot of items at once from the US so I'll make it worth my while to take 25min to drive to Point Roberts.

[Marloon]

The Letter carrier (not opened on sundays) will be one of the best places to get things shipped.

http://www.thelettercarrier.com/contact.htm

NO SETUP required. Just give the "retailer" your name and (letter carriers address). Some US companies have policies that say "WILL NOT SHIP TO PO BOX" I just give my name and the "Address" and never have a problem. Just make sure you tell the credit card company (visa, MC) to add 145 tyee drive as an alternate address.

John smith
145 tyee drive
Point Roberts, WA
98281

When the company phones to confirm your shipping address the credit card operator can only say YES or NO when the "company" ask if its a valid address.

Go to the post office and tell them your name. Pay a buck or two (cant remember) and they simply hand you the package. They have 2 separate "money tills" one for CDN and one USD. Cant get easier than that.

thanks alanU this is Great HELP! it can greatly reduce my shipping costs and COD! THANK YOU. it makes sense.

what do you tell the border guards? i heard you can get a receipt printed by the post office that the combined total of the imported products is 48 dollars or something like that so you dont have to pay for taxes.