My very first light purchase, need advice

I'm still very much a beginner. I began shooting mostly outdoors, pets and people portraits. And now I really want to start exploring product photography, and move more towards indoor type photography, maybe experiment a little with people portraits indoor.

I really can't spend more than $100 right now, I don't know if that will get me anything, or if I should just wait until I can save more? But I really just want anything to get started with and maybe a little "general" since I don't know specifically yet which I would like better, shooting small products or people in a "studio" type setting. (I won't be doing this professionally like getting paid, just for myself to have fun with). By the way, the products would be small, like jewelry or other small items. And I also like shooting videos indoors (that part really draws me in to the lamps and soft boxes because I saw them being used in some videos I found on youtube).

I just don't know if I need to go for a flash, a lamp w/ umbrella, or a lamp w/ softbox, and if so what type of lamp, etc.

I currently have a Vivitar digital slave flash that someone gave me, so since I haven't tried other flashes I don't know if this one and getting a diffuser for it would be enough? I've just been looking at a lot of youtube videos and there's so many different combinations each channel uses, that I don't know which one would be the right one for me.
I can't have anything too "bulky" either because I actually don't have much room in my home.. so if I were to get the large lamp stand bulb & softbox, it would just have to be one (for now).

So really just any advice that can point me to some direction, since I have no idea which way I want to go specifically. I just know I really want to try shooting products, people (indoors), and indoor video.

Any thoughts on these for example?:
http://www.amazon.com …/ref=cm_cr_pr_p​roduct_top
http://www.amazon.com …JH6/ref=cm_cmu_​pg__header
http://www.amazon.com …5&creativeASIN=​B001HDEECO

I would go for the Yongnui YN-468 II. For the money, it's an extremely good flash. I'd also stay away from Canon flashes at this price point since they're completely barebones.

Rashkh wrote in post #15756278
I would go for the Yongnui YN-468 II. For the money, it's an extremely good flash. I'd also stay away from Canon flashes at this price point since they're completely barebones.

This^^

For how cheap the 468 is, you can afford a flash stand, mount, YN 602 trigger, and umbrella and still be around $100 or less.

Yep, if your area is small, then a flash and learning how to bounce might be the best first step.

check out this link:

http://neilvn.com …s/the-black-foamie-thing/

This is one of the best ways to start exploring light, you don't need anything other than a cheap flash and a black foamy thing you can find at walmart. The small area you have to work in will be perfect for learning bounce, and how to control it. (are the walls/ceiling white? you can learn about color and wb too)

You may want to look at RF603s instead of RF602s. No crazy cr battery and separate transmitter that can get lost or broken and leave you high and dry. RF603s are transceivers and use AAA batteries.
The "Cowboy Studio" radio triggers work well as well. Cactus V5s cost a bit more but have advantages like locking foot and transceivers and on/off switch on side (602s/603s have on/off switch that can be blocked by larger speedlights making them a bit of a pain at times)

Rashkh wrote in post #15756278
I would go for the Yongnui YN-468 II. For the money, it's an extremely good flash. I'd also stay away from Canon flashes at this price point since they're completely barebones.

Thanks for the suggestion, I've been looking into it's features, and reviews, for the past hour. I'm leaning towards that one now, it seems like it has good power & features for the price.

Gregg.Siam wrote in post #15756770
This^^

For how cheap the 468 is, you can afford a flash stand, mount, YN 602 trigger, and umbrella and still be around $100 or less.

I'm a little confused on this part. I'm looking at it on amazon and it's between $89 and $99, and the YN 602 $30, That goes a little over $100 so I wouldn't be able to get the other stuff. But, I'm not on a dead set $100 I guess, I can budge a little.

ksbal wrote in post #15756794
Yep, if your area is small, then a flash and learning how to bounce might be the best first step.

check out this link:

http://neilvn.com …s/the-black-foamie-thing/

This is one of the best ways to start exploring light, you don't need anything other than a cheap flash and a black foamy thing you can find at walmart. The small area you have to work in will be perfect for learning bounce, and how to control it. (are the walls/ceiling white? you can learn about color and wb too)

Thank you for the link, very interesting!

And, unfortunately the walls are not white, they are wood, and the ceiling is angled (low near walls & high towards the middle of home), but I could probably make that work I would just have to experiment to get the right angle.

BrickR wrote in post #15757369
You may want to look at RF603s instead of RF602s. No crazy cr battery and separate transmitter that can get lost or broken and leave you high and dry. RF603s are transceivers and use AAA batteries.
The "Cowboy Studio" radio triggers work well as well. Cactus V5s cost a bit more but have advantages like locking foot and transceivers and on/off switch on side (602s/603s have on/off switch that can be blocked by larger speedlights making them a bit of a pain at times)

Thanks for the info. Not too much price difference beween RF603 and RF602 so I'll look into them both with more detail.

This might be a silly question, but are there different versions of the Yongnui YN-468 II for different camera models? I just noticed the one I was looking at says it's for 50D 40D T1i Xsi XS, and I have a 60D.

http://www.amazon.com …eywords=yongnuo​+yn-468+ii

http://thephotogadget.​com …now-compatible-canon-600d

According to these guys, the original 468 worked flawlessly so I assume the II will as well. Shoot the official store an email just to be sure.

Official Yongnuo Store:
http://www.yongnuostor​e.com/

Start keeping your Pringles tubes: they make good snoots and diffusers for macro work.

Rashkh wrote in post #15760250
http://thephotogadget.​com …now-compatible-canon-600d

According to these guys, the original 468 worked flawlessly so I assume the II will as well. Shoot the official store an email just to be sure.

Official Yongnuo Store:
http://www.yongnuostor​e.com/

That second link is not the OFFICIAL Yongnuo store, simply someone piggy-backing on the name to lure folks in. Not saying that they are dishonest or that you wouldn't get your goodies or anything like that - merely that it's not quite what it appears to be and is subject to all the normal vendor considerations of stock level / warranty / etc.

The OFFICIAL manufacturer's outlet on eBay for this unit is http://www.ebay.co.uk …ashes&hash=item​2315d19703
A reliable alternative vendor who doesn't resort to name subterfuge to attract attention has their offering at http://www.ebay.co.uk …ashes&hash=item​1e68307cb3 ie the first of Rashkh's links. The price difference between your link and mine is the eBay fees - Grace simply passes on that saving when buying from her own site.

Naraly wrote in post #15760157
This might be a silly question, but are there different versions of the Yongnui YN-468 II for different camera models? I just noticed the one I was looking at says it's for 50D 40D T1i Xsi XS, and I have a 60D.

http://www.amazon.com …eywords=yongnuo​+yn-468+ii

Usually not, I think the YN 468 came out before the 60D and they aren't always good about updating their camera lists. Google the flash and camera model together, and see if you get hits, but I'm sure it is probably ok (but you do always want to google and check!)

I have the 603's and the 622's and they are very reliable for me.

As I was getting ready to purchase the YN-468 through eBay, I noticed something different between that one and the one on amazon. The one on the amazon link I provided says "E-TTL" and the one on eBay says "TTL"

http://www.amazon.com …eywords=yongnuo​+yn-468+ii
http://www.ebay.co.uk …ashes&hash=item​2315d19703

I googled to learn more about those two since I had no idea what it meant. I got the basics of it, but I'm still not confident in my interpretation of the information. Basically: Should I get the "E-TTL" or just "TTL"?

I would definitely go with the YN-468 II - it is the updated version of this flash. Has a better battery door and some other improvements. Supports Canon E-TTL. I think that any YN-468 still for sale would have been built a while ago. Some of the early YN-468 flashes had a problem with a capacitor in the head. There is a DIY method of repairing it, but why take a chance of getting one with a suspect part. I am planning on buying a YN-468 II next week. Here is the link I am buying it from: http://www.ebay.com …_trksid=p3984.m​1423.l2649 Don't bother with a "Best Offer" as they only give only a few cents off.
It is sent from the US (North Brunswick, NJ). I emailed them about any included warranty. They replied that they provide a one year warranty and the unit is sent to the USA site.
Also get the RF-603 triggers rather than the RF-602s. This same company sells them but their pricing seems quirky. A price for a set of two should be around $30 or so. For your Canon 60D you want the C1 version. That has the right shutter release cable for your camera. There is a C3 version but that is for other Canon cameras with a different shutter release socket on the camera. The RF-603 units are identical for both versions - only a different cable. Hope this helps.

Steve W.

sjwolfhope wrote in post #15772011
I would definitely go with the YN-468 II - it is the updated version of this flash. Has a better battery door and some other improvements. Supports Canon E-TTL. I think that any YN-468 still for sale would have been built a while ago. Some of the early YN-468 flashes had a problem with a capacitor in the head. There is a DIY method of repairing it, but why take a chance of getting one with a suspect part. I am planning on buying a YN-468 II next week. Here is the link I am buying it from: http://www.ebay.com …_trksid=p3984.m​1423.l2649 Don't bother with a "Best Offer" as they only give only a few cents off.
It is sent from the US (North Brunswick, NJ). I emailed them about any included warranty. They replied that they provide a one year warranty and the unit is sent to the USA site.
Also get the RF-603 triggers rather than the RF-602s. This same company sells them but their pricing seems quirky. A price for a set of two should be around $30 or so. For your Canon 60D you want the C1 version. That has the right shutter release cable for your camera. There is a C3 version but that is for other Canon cameras with a different shutter release socket on the camera. The RF-603 units are identical for both versions - only a different cable. Hope this helps.

Steve W.

I will order too.
http://www.ebay.com …ories&hash=item​27cb97b9da
can you look at this RF-603 trigger, this set 30$, another set cost $90 what difference?