$240..What Would You Buy In Terms Of Lighting?

[DavidSR]

Hey guys,

I was given $240 and am debating on whether to save or spend it lol..so in the event that I decide to spend it...I need help deciding on what to get. I was thinking of this. Oh and I already have my Vivitar 285HV. I was planning on using this mostly in home or occasionally on location.

1. Cybersyncs.
2. Umbrella (Found For $10 locally)
3. Light Stand
4. Umbrella Adapter

I think this would be close to $240..Please let me know if you might go with something different.

Thank you!!

[Lotto]

Sounds like a good package. I would add the 50 f1.8 first though :)

[DavidSR]

I was thinking that same thing, but that won't leave me much for a lightstand or umbrella :(....Plus..it's been too cold out here to shoot outside and for where I want to use my lights at in my house..there just isn't much room to use a 50. I can always save for that next time.

Thanks!!

[robbrouse]

Get some cheaper ebay triggers and get the 50. If this is something you enjoy then get Cybersyncs later. Or tryi sync cords to start with.

[ZSutton]

Do you have a roommate? They make excellent lightstands :-)

[DavidSR]

Get some cheaper ebay triggers and get the 50. If this is something you enjoy then get Cybersyncs later. Or tryi sync cords to start with.

I was thinking about doing this also, but I know I'll cough up the extra cash later and buy the Cybersyncs..so I figure I'd save a step and hassle of trying to sell ebay triggers when I get tired of them and just get the Cybersyncs. first.

Thanks for the comment!!

Do you have a roommate? They make excellent lightstands :smile:

I have a fiance and a 3 year old son..my son is starting to get passionate about photography lol..(walks around with his fisher price digi cam. all day long), but neither have the patience to hold the flash for me lol...And chances are I will be taking most of my pictures of them anyways..so that doesn't leave me many options when I need someone to hold my flash :(.

Thanks for the idea!! ;)

[CrisUK]

Personally, I would follow the advice of getting the 50mm and using sync leads. They are cheap and a good back up for the triggers you will eventually get. I always carry leads with me just in case and I have pocket wizards in my bag.

Then you can buy decent triggers with the money you are making from selling awesome looking pictures, not just well lit ones :)

Good luck.

Cheers

Cris.

[DavidSR]

Thanks for the comment! I'm not completely against buying sync. cords, but with a 3 year old running all over the place..I don't think loose wires would be the best..There not expensive so I might end up buying them later when my son is older, but for now I really love the idea of being completely wireless. I try to justify my purchases by telling my fiance.."I'll make up the money I spend by selling great looking pictures with the equipment I'm purchasing" of couse she never buys it anyways lol.

[p.lights]

Looks like good package. I recommend to always check what bargains are on eBay. You also check out my photography lights blo (http://photographylights.pictureshosted.com)g if you got the time to find some creative (cheap or free) solutions for indoors lighting.

[DavidSR]

Thanks! I'll have to look at your site when I get home.

[DaveL]

cybersyncs are nice, but I would take the $240 and try to find
a cheap but nice hunk of glass then... sell the 18-55 and put that
money toward an umbrella and either a cord or ebay triggers

[DavidSR]

Cheap and nice should not be in the same sentence as glass or lens..lol...I was thinking of the 50 1.4, but I would really love to be able to shoot studio type shots in my home with my flash.

Thanks for the comment!

[ZSutton]

Cheap and nice should not be in the same sentence as glass or lens..lol...I was thinking of the 50 1.4, but I would really love to be able to shoot studio type shots in my home with my flash.

Thanks for the comment!


I was once with you on that comment, but give the 50mm 1.8 a chance. It looks bad with its 80 dollar price tag, but as a whole, its a powerful little lens

[DavidSR]

Looks like I have some thinking to do lol...I want to have my order placed by tomorrow.

[Marloon]

$240?!

BH photo video
-Impact Light Stand Kit - 98.50 - 2 light stands, 2 umbrella adapters, 2 32" umbrellas
-Buy 2 45" umbrellas and sell off the 32" for 10 dollars each (saving you 18 or so dollars on the kit)
-Another 285HV
-Ebay Triggers - They work well with the 285HV. I haven't had misfires or anything like that. i guess i'm pretty lucky.

that should be around 240.

[DavidSR]

Hmmm..that gives me another option. Thanks! I'll have to reconsider my previous decision now. Your kit gets me another 285HV and still have money left for some triggers. I'm just trying to debate if I should go with the Cybersyncs. or get the ebay triggers for the time being.

[Benji]

Hey guys,

I was given $240 and am debating on whether to save or spend it lol..so in the event that I decide to spend it...I need help deciding on what to get. I was thinking of this. Oh and I already have my Vivitar 285HV. I was planning on using this mostly in home or occasionally on location.

1. Cybersyncs.
2. Umbrella (Found For $10 locally)
3. Light Stand
4. Umbrella Adapter

I think this would be close to $240..Please let me know if you might go with something different.

Thank you!!

Try ebay first. You would be amazed at how many guys get a DSLR, photograph the neighbor girl and her best friend and think they are now "professionals" so they convince themselves (and their wives) they need lots more equipment, so they sell their $5000.00 worth of golfing gear they bought last year because they decided they don't want to be a "professional" golfer after all. They use this photographic equipment twice and find out that being a professional photographer is hard work and it takes a lot more than a "good" camera and several thousand dollars worth of equipment to make it. So they sell the stuff on ebay because they now have decided they want to become a professional weight lifter and they need several thousand dollars worth of benches, weights, barbells, dumbells, etc., etc.

Benji

[DavidSR]

Thanks for the idea!! I'm always a bit hesitant when buying items on ebay because I hear horror stories about the sellers in some transactions. I should still give it a look though and see what I find.

I notice that although my camera takes good pictures..I'm the one that processes them to get them to look even better and my friends are still saying "Wow..Your CAMERA takes really good pictures"...I bet no one questions the people at JCPenney lol...

[Curtis N]

Take your $240 and get a 430EX II.

While off-camera flash is fun, you'll use an E-TTL flash on camera a lot more.

The other stuff you can get piecemeal later. The cybersyncs (or any radio system) should be the last thing you buy. There are other options, like PC cords and optical slaves, that will get the job done.