Are these studio lighting kits any good?

[djpal]

Hi everyone,

Looking at purchasing one of these kits since they're relatively cheaper compared to Henry's products that are pretty much the same. Can I get some feedbak from you PROs on whether this is a good lighting kit to start with for basic head or full body shots, and perhaps what types of pictures it will give me?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Photo-Studio-Light-Lighting-Kit-Backdrop-Muslin-LT53_W0QQitemZ250595388209QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item3a58a62b31QQautorefreshZtru e

Anyone know how I can inexpensively take a whole body shot of a subject against a black background, but the photo shows the person bright and clear while the background is all black...and you can't tell there's a backdrop?

I really need help with this so I can start on this site im working on.

Thanks!

[Chris11]

I bought that exact kit. I'm very happy with it for the money paid. One of the background stands arrived broken and the seller promptly shipped another with no problem.

[emilysium]

This seems like a great deal. 130 dollars or so for two lights, umbrellas, stands, and backdrops?

Sometimes I worry about cost of upgrading (as in, why buy a cheap 40 dollar tripod, if I plan on eventually buying an 400 dollar, more useful tripod?) But when it comes to lighting, I think you can never get enough, and no matter how small or how weak the lights are, you'll find some use for them.

For standard portraits, I think these are adequate. Combined with a flash, it should be enough to take whole body shots, though you probably won't be able to experiment a whole lot with different angles and intensities of light.

The background will be all black, assuming you use the black background of course! It shouldn't reflect a lot of light, and it should be a solid black color (you can adjust in photoshop if necessary). If you're worried about the detail in the backdrop showing, while I find that unlikely, just bring the subject a little farther away from it, and set a larger aperture. But honestly if I saw a posed subject against a black background, there would be a little doubt in my mind that you used a backdrop, and that wasn't coincidental.

[djpal]

Thanks for replying! Chris, would you mind terribly posting a few links to pictures or emailing me at ankurpal@rogers.com so I may see some of the pictures you have taken with this kit? I think that's really what I'm hoping to find but couldn't...and it's perfect you bought the exact kit.

Would appreciate it, so i can see if it will suit my needs. :)

[djpal]

Also, I forgot to note I have the CANON 430EXII for a flash, and while I haven't mastered it by any means, I find its easier to use it bounced off the ceiling as opposed to head on. Any ideas?

[Chris11]

Thanks for replying! Chris, would you mind terribly posting a few links to pictures or emailing me at ankurpal@rogers.com so I may see some of the pictures you have taken with this kit? I think that's really what I'm hoping to find but couldn't...and it's perfect you bought the exact kit.

Would appreciate it, so i can see if it will suit my needs. :)

Hi djpal,

I just got home from work .... tired. The ones I'll send are on my old computer so I'll hook it up tomorrow and find a few for you.

Chris