eBay cheapies any good?

[JWitmer]

Will these setups suffice for decent lighting in a small studio for introductory portrait work? I'm just beginning to get into lighting and creative projects and just need something cheap for practice and testing.

The link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-32-UMBRELLA-KIT-PHOTOGRAPHY-STUDIO-PHOTO-LIGHTING_W0QQitemZ160348270129QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2555806e31&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1234%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50#ht_2829wt_941

Currently, I have some black umbrellas and blue and white deflectors that my dad got from work. I'm also looking into getting a 420EX very soon, as it can tilt in directions the 430 can't and the 580 is out of my budget for now.

But for the price, they don't seem TOO bad, but I'm really unknowledgeable in this subject, so any help would be great. Thanks in advance!

[vadim_c]

Will these setups suffice for decent lighting in a small studio for introductory portrait work? I'm just beginning to get into lighting and creative projects and just need something cheap for practice and testing.

The link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-32-UMBRELLA-KIT-PHOTOGRAPHY-STUDIO-PHOTO-LIGHTING_W0QQitemZ160348270129QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2555806e31&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1234%7C 293%3A1%7C294%3A50#ht_2829wt_941

Currently, I have some black umbrellas and blue and white deflectors that my dad got from work. I'm also looking into getting a 420EX very soon, as it can tilt in directions the 430 can't and the 580 is out of my budget for now.

But for the price, they don't seem TOO bad, but I'm really unknowledgeable in this subject, so any help would be great. Thanks in advance!
They are too bad even for the price.
With 35W you hardly can do anything except illuminating a bathroom.

[joruiz]

That's continuous lighting. I think you want strobo lights, or flashes. You can take the strobist approach and buy cheap flashes from Vivitar, Sunpak, etc. That would be much better lighting than those.

[Strayz]

Yeah, don't buy them get a Vivitar, Sunpak, nikon sb-26 ect and a set of e-bay triggers and start there, you will see after you start using them.

[Jark89]

Like the others said, don't buy that. I suggest looking at second-hand Nikon SB-24, 26, 28 and/or 80DX flashes.

I personally like the SB-28 best, it is smaller and have more controllability than the 24 and 26, and is cheaper than the 80DX. Also, all these flashes have a PC-sync port, which is very important IMO.

As for triggers, I recently had (and returned) a set of the new PT-04CN ebay triggers. These have a design flaw I believe: if you knock the receiver a bit, it'll trigger your flash. I tried 3 different ones, and all had the same problem, which lead me to believe its a design flaw rather than me getting a lemon.

I do have an old set of RD-604 triggers, which work really well. But if you can spare a bit more, I'd say just get the Alien Bees Cybersyncs. These are the cheapest out of the reliable/quality triggers (ex. Elinchrom Skyports, Pocket Wizards).

[GerBee]

This set is a wonderful piece of kit, but it under performs to expectations ~ but I'd find it hard to recommend, getting a kit is always a good idea, treat it as a learning exercise and be prepared to write off the cost fairly soon and you'll get satisfaction from it I'm sure.

It is otherwise probably not an investment, whereas your proposed purchase of a flash unit will be an investment for many years and will even carry a resale value ~ your light kit here won't ~ and apart from learning, which might be invaluable [?] the kit will fall into disuse fairly quickly.

[[godfather]]

No.

[JWitmer]

Just because I'm curious, what would be a nice setup? Like, what should my criteria be when looking? I'm able to get backdrops and diffusers from my dad, but when it comes to bulbs, etc, what brands/wattage/etc are typically used?

I'm currently looking to buy the 420EX as soon as I get a chance, and since my girlfriend is getting a 580, the flash setup will be taken care of to a point (right?) But I'm going to look at the recommended non-Canon models this weekend at a local camera store.

[juise]

I'm currently looking to buy the 420EX as soon as I get a chance, and since my girlfriend is getting a 580, the flash setup will be taken care of to a point (right?) But I'm going to look at the recommended non-Canon models this weekend at a local camera store.

I would definitely consider getting a 430EX instead of 420EX. The 420EX does not have any manual settings and is not great for off-camera work... especially a budget set-up (where you're not likely to use eTTL).