Next Level - What to Buy

So I have gotten pretty darn good with a single 500 EXII, moved from Canon bodies to my A7R (for landscapes and lit portraits)......but I am ready to move to the next step in lighting.

What the heck IS it??? I am going through all the threads but I can't figure out what I need to buy to have a proper lighting kit. I can use my 580 for outdoor work but I would like something I can set up indoors (maybe outside on a calm day) and shoot portraits.

I am not worried about costs, so I don't exactly need recommendations based on "this is cheaper" unless the next step up in price has no value. However, I don't want to go lay out 8K for a Broncolor kit right off the bat. But I do want it to be expandable so I can layer and add as my ideas become more complicated (simple right now).

I don't know if I should start with umbrellas or softboxes. Use my speedlight or get strobes. If I get strobes, are ABs going to be what I need, or do I need to look to Profoto or Elinchrom?


I guess I just need some help. Thanks so much!

I would consider a strobe! As much as I liked using my speedlights, I had to get one for the quick recycle times and some powerful light.

ok, which strobe(s) do I go with and do I shoot them through soft boxes? what do I get to trigger them? etc.

thank you!

What would you change? Anyone???

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softbox vs umbrella - I have both yet prefer the umbrella for portraits in outdoor and indoor situations. I do reach for the large softboxes when I want to capture a full body shots..

38-45 inch octa (maybe deep octa) with two removable diffusers

I agree big octa. I love my 60

Add a CST transmitter so you don't have to use the Cyber Commander as your transmitter. You may want a receiver for the ABR800 as well.

Depending on what type of lighting you're looking for, I also really like the light the PLM's produce. I have the 64" and 86" both in soft silver.

Did you place the order? How you like it so far?

got 2 einsteins, a ringflash, moon unit, beauty dish, large octa, remotes for all, 2 stands, etc

I like it although I don't shoot a lot....indoor pics of my wife come out awesome. need to work more on outdoor stuff.

If you have the money and don't want to move again to a better set up in a few years check out the Elinchrom Ranger Quadra, very portable for outdoor use when you need it. As far as light modifiers go there is not one that will do it all so softboxes and umbrellas are needed. I lean more towards my large square softbox but I still need my umbrellas sometimes.

https://photography-on-the.net …ht=ranger+quadr​a&page=640

I have just been through what you are going through, and may I recommend the following:

An assortment of umbrellas (shoot-through, white, silver, gold) are a cheapish start and they will stay useful throughout your upgrades.

Softbox (large, small) again, stay useful for a while and can be done on the cheap and specialised/expensive units such as octoboxes can be bought if required.

If you have a vice and a hacksaw, you can easily whip up brackets to fit any of the above to your speedlights and lighting stands.

There will come the day where you realise you will have to take the big leap from speedlights to strobes (which I have just done) A pair of Elinchrom Quadras is a serious investment, while the Godox/Cheetahstand is a way to ease on in. Sure, they aren't as good, but here in Australia I bought 2x Godox 360 units for under 1/3 of the price of a pair of Quadras which is a cheap way to get into portable strobes.