Trying to figure out a reasonable upgrade

What I shoot:
Outdoor portraits (really only need one light for 99% of what I do and that is just to counterbalance the sun)
Indoor studio head shots for real estate agents etc (I travel to locations and setup so something lighter or easier to setup is ideal)
Weddings (haven't done these lately and didn't really plan on it. Normally its a lot of natural lighting but speedlights should be more than enough)
Head shots for actors and actresses but these are mostly natural lighting


I currently only have a YN600EX and the e3 transmitter that controls it.
I was thinking about getting some more of these but I honestly don't like how they overheat quick and I really don't like some of the smaller issues I've had with it.

I have to buy new light modifiers and stands and everything as is so I figured this time is a better time than any to upgrade.
I need Two-Three lights total since I can keep this YN600 as a slave or something. I need it to be portable so it must have either a portable battery or battery pack.
I have owned the rovelight 600s before that adorama put out like 2 years back (jinbei clones) and honestly I really liked them besides the garbage trigger that came with it.


Budget for now is around $1,000 for now. I can settle for one light and the stands/modifiers I need since I'll be getting another $500-1,000 over the next month to get another.

Cheetahstand had some heavier stands and speedlight mount that convert to bowens that I was looking at.
I guess I'm asking, if you need portable lights and had a budget of about $500 per light (including batteries to run it) what would you get?

The Godox AD360s are pretty good. The Adorama version is a good deal at $350 including wireless controller. Cheetastand is another good source.

https://www.adorama.co​m …5HU98pttZUGORAa​Aqnr8P8HAQ

About 5x the power of a speedlight, great flash tube shape for efficiently filling modifiers. Lots of good accessories and easily adapts to Bowens Universal Profoto or Elinchrom modifiers.

Second on the Streaklight 360s from Adorama. Get the TTL version - it has greater capacity before hitting thermal protect in HSS mode and, based on cursory evidence, might be more color temp stable.

I have two of the manual models which, when I bought, were on sale for $310. I've seen them hit $280, $299. You can set up a sale alert via the Adorama website on the page associated with the product - if you don't need them immediately you might want to do that.

They are game changers for me. They meter like a 300ws monolight, at half the weight. Or to put it another way, they're 4-5x the power of the average speedlight at about 1.5x the size and weight of one.

Get the S bracket. Adorama has them under the Glow brand, for about as cheap as you can find them online - $19. ABS plastic. Not the most incredible design, with two minor annoyances, but a massive step up from typical speedlight mounts. Rugged. Umbrella mount included. Opens up a lot of potential - straight Bowens mods or things like Chimera speed rings for about $25.

Also, get the Y cable (halves recycle time, -ish), get the metal protective cap, and the stand clamp. Check my post history - I provide links for most of this stuff in the "Streaklights on sale for $299" post.

Edit: err, sorry, here it is:

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/14745​65

Lastly, optional but totally worth it: the excellent little beauty dish - solid metal, not collapsible. $32. In some ways much better than the included reflector, comes with a grid AND sock :O

Yeah something like this is what I wanted
Thought about maybe one of them and modifiers to start.


/edit

is there much of a difference between the godox, cheetastand, flashpoint ones?

I know the cost is crazy different but wondering if any actually perform significantly better?
seems like they would all just be the same build just different names

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …0xc-2l4500-1x1ctx-acc.htm
seems like a decent deal
my buddy told me he got his CL360s for like $400 by going to the warehouse haha
-.-

For reliability and no over heating issues, why not invest in the Canon 600 EX-RT system? Sure it's nice to save money, except when it gets in your way.

Again, just not sure if I wanna spend that much again on just speed lights like this.

jlafferty wrote in post #18295120
Lastly, optional but totally worth it: the excellent little beauty dish - solid metal, not collapsible. $32. In some ways much better than the included reflector, comes with a grid AND sock :O

Any shots from that BD? Thanks.

You're correct in assuming they're the same exact light, just different brands painted on the exterior.

However, (I think) only Adorama and Cheetah offer warranty protection, Adorama a year with a 30 day money back guarantee.

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #18295381
Yeah something like this is what I wanted
Thought about maybe one of them and modifiers to start.


/edit

is there much of a difference between the godox, cheetastand, flashpoint ones?

I know the cost is crazy different but wondering if any actually perform significantly better?
seems like they would all just be the same build just different names

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …0xc-2l4500-1x1ctx-acc.htm
seems like a decent deal
my buddy told me he got his CL360s for like $400 by going to the warehouse haha
-.-

I'll get some together and post soon.

bobbyz wrote in post #18295610
Any shots from that BD? Thanks.

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #18295381
Yeah something like this is what I wanted
Thought about maybe one of them and modifiers to start.


/edit

is there much of a difference between the godox, cheetastand, flashpoint ones?

I know the cost is crazy different but wondering if any actually perform significantly better?
seems like they would all just be the same build just different names

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …0xc-2l4500-1x1ctx-acc.htm
seems like a decent deal
my buddy told me he got his CL360s for like $400 by going to the warehouse haha
-.-

Starting with one and a modifier--great idea. You will learn to use it well that way.

I would look at the AD-S7. Very compact and pretty versatile. It is a small gridded softbox. It can also be a big reflector (take out the diffuser) and it comes with a deflector plate, which makes it a folding beauty dish of sorts.

http://www.godox.com …le_Flash_Access​ories.html

There is no functional difference between a given model from one manufacturer to the other. BUT the newer version has TTL and HSS with Canon, Nikon or Sony. Rumor has it Fuji is on the way. .

C'mon now... you'd have to spend over $2,600 to build a 600EX system that wouldn't do what a single Streaklight does at ~$300-450. 4 speedlights, two battery packs, triggers, a ton of AA batteries, a shoddy modifier system...

And doesn't overheat?

Hmmm…

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1340158

https://www.dpreview.c​om/forums/thread/40495​87

Nick5 wrote in post #18295460
For reliability and no over heating issues, why not invest in the Canon 600 EX-RT system? Sure it's nice to save money, except when it gets in your way.

F2Bthere wrote in post #18296018
Starting with one and a modifier--great idea. You will learn to use it well that way.

I would look at the AD-S7. Very compact and pretty versatile. It is a small gridded softbox. It can also be a big reflector (take out the diffuser) and it comes with a deflector plate, which makes it a folding beauty dish of sorts.

http://www.godox.com …le_Flash_Access​ories.html

There is no functional difference between a given model from one manufacturer to the other. BUT the newer version has TTL and HSS with Canon, Nikon or Sony. Rumor has it Fuji is on the way. .

I have and used the S7. First thing I discovered is that the deflection plate is way too large for the modifier. I replaced it with a smaller plate made from a Ball jar sealing disk. There are probably better options but that worked for me.

appreciate the feedback
I definitely already know how to use the lights and stuff so learning isn't my concern
been shooting artificial lighting for around 3 years now.


Mainly just trying to find the most logical upgrade for me.

Price total to invest right now is still around $1,000 USD

so far the AD360s are looking like the most ideal thing for me. Looking for a deal with those and a battery pack for each one.


I think two of them and some modifiers would be ideal.

obviously HSS and TTL is what I want. I shoot canon so yeah


thanks again for everyone's input thus far

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #18297204
so far the AD360s are looking like the most ideal thing for me. Looking for a deal with those and a battery pack for each one.


I think two of them and some modifiers would be ideal.

obviously HSS and TTL is what I want.

You probably can't wait until next Black Friday deal, but that's when I got the Streaklight 360 TTL for something like $340. I doubt that Adorama will go that low until then. The Zoom Li-on TTL also went for something like $109, and I'm still kicking myself for getting just one. If you can wait, then set your desired price point on Adorama under each product and forget about it until alerted.

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #18295381
Yeah something like this is what I wanted
Thought about maybe one of them and modifiers to start.


/edit

is there much of a difference between the godox, cheetastand, flashpoint ones?

I know the cost is crazy different but wondering if any actually perform significantly better?
seems like they would all just be the same build just different names

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …0xc-2l4500-1x1ctx-acc.htm
seems like a decent deal
my buddy told me he got his CL360s for like $400 by going to the warehouse haha
-.-

No difference at all, Price differences are mostly due to comparing the manual only vs the ETTL version which is a good deal more $$