strobist on a budget - looking for tips

My funds are limited due to being out of work & a mobility injury that limits anything I can do (physically & financially :lol

I have looked on ebay & there seems a lot of cheap asian equipment, umbrella's, clamps, reflectors, etc.

I have worked out I can get a Flash (YN560), an umbrella, Stand, a clamp, radio trigger & a reflector for about £100
I understand the quality in some of the items might not be upto much, but I guess something is better than nothing? Is there any other equipment I need to get started?

My plan is to add a 2nd flash & a softbox in a month or so when I have more surplus cash.

In the meantime, I was wondering if anyone has any input on things I can use or adapt, etc. - I saw on strobist about the bungy bobble to quickly & easily mount a flash to anything you can wrap a bobble to.. thats the kind of things & ideas im looking for.

Look for used equipment at flea markets and garage sales.

Eggtastico wrote in post #11692553
I have worked out I can get a Flash (YN560), an umbrella, Stand, a clamp, radio trigger & a reflector for about £100


My plan is to add a 2nd flash & a softbox in a month or so when I have more surplus cash.

In the meantime, I was wondering if anyone has any input on things I can use or adapt, etc. - I saw on strobist about the bungy bobble to quickly & easily mount a flash to anything you can wrap a bobble to.. thats the kind of things & ideas im looking for.

that sounds like a start. When you start shooting you will get an idea of other things you may need, e.g. the "bungy bubble" or using a car windshield shade as a reflector or using a "flash on a stick", etc.

Hi
I would get 2 x 460ii, about the same price as the 560 isnt ttl.Remember that you could get away with 1 triggger and receiver 602's as the 460 will fire without the trigger in slave mode.
I have been waiting for small parts for too long from China.
I bought this and a couple of stands from a guy in leeds.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk …iewItem&item=15​0504161489

they sell some pretty excellent kits here for very reasonable prices:
www.mpex.com

Sam6644 wrote in post #11693234
they sell some pretty excellent kits here for very reasonable prices:
www.mpex.com

Sam it is a big shame as we live in what they call RIP off Britain, we cannot get something like that cheap, it is usually twice the price.
A good place for equipment though.

Ah, I didn't think about that.


Maybe they'll ship international if you call them.

I have A few Vivitars 285 and PT-04 Triggers up for sale; have never let me down; but i want more distance 100+ Meters!
If interested PM me!

I wish customs then sting you with charges as do the carriers for not having an account.
Its great here. a good example for you is a service here at Canon £200 and in the states $200, at the moment xchange is £1 to $1.6 dollars, we also pay £1.30 average for a litre of fuel.

LOL

Yep, ripoff britain & its even worse now with the extra VAT increase.
Thanks for the input so far. A kit setup is way out my budget, Im on a limited income & waiting for diagnosis & then have to have surgery on my knee (it keeps locking up & giving out completely on me + I can only manage to carry approx 3kg/6 lbs before the weight pressure grinds me to a halt)
I was going to get a 460 ii to go with the 560 - I thought the little extra's the 560 give will be beneficial in my learning curve.

wow sounds like me, I had a knee op after having my kneecap knocked off (damaged cartilidge, sounds like floating to me still locks after 20yrs).
Anyways for budget get a single stand with the adapter and umbrella. A relector can be made from pipe and cloth and one 460ii with rf602. You could always get a 468 later for ettl and all that.
What are you wanting to shoot?
PS selling my flash because I want to get another 460ii and get the 1D serviced.
Where in the UK are you?

im in south wales nr swansea - for shooting, It will just be things I can find around the house. Prob gadgets n thing, or some still life, maybe the odd potrait request will come in. Im still new to photography and theres lots of different photography I want to try, but whenever I browse around flickr, etc. its always the strobist style shots that I like & the style I want to be able to shoot. - so at least atm I got the time to learn!

As for my knee i have a permanent sublexation of the patella, something ive had all my life - its a deformity rather than an injury... but about 6 months ago It got a lot lot worse, to the point I couldnt even put weight on it for about 3 weeks. Ive had an MRI & CTScan, just waiting for the quacks diagnosis & go from there...

Ebay is your friend here, not sure how the uk works but you can slip $1000 worth of gear past customs here without being charged duty, most ebay retailers don't charge vat/gst