Looking for Strobes for Product Photos

jay125 wrote in post #18507895
I would buy from Adorama. I made the purchase from Amazon, and there was an issue with the item I received. I contacted Adorama for an exchange and was told it had to be returned, and Amazon would credit me the cash back. Adorama could not exchange the item since it came from Amazon which is a Marketplace, not Adorama directly. I was confused, but there it is.

I'm so sorry, but it is an Amazon rule. Customers purchasing from retailers via Amazon can only make a return, get their refund, and re-purchase.
We dislike this policy as much as our customers but there is nothing we can do about it.

HelenOster wrote in post #18509484
I'm so sorry, but it is an Amazon rule. Customers purchasing from retailers via Amazon can only make a return, get their refund, and re-purchase.
We dislike this policy as much as our customers but there is nothing we can do about it.

As inefficient as that seems, considering the relationship of Adorama to Amazon and then Amazon to the buyer its the only way for Amazon to ensure a clean relationship with suppliers and buyers.

Not sure why anyone would buy an Adorama available product from Amazon rather than Adorama. The complexity added my a transaction intermediary is difficult to justify.

DJ JIGGLER wrote in post #18507661
Only reason i prefer amazon is less work on POs for the company as we don't buy from adorama on the regular.

And the amazon listing is Ships from and sold by Adorama Camera.

So this: https://www.amazon.com​/gp/product/B01EMH2LFS is not the same as: https://www.adorama.co​m/fplfx600tbc.html

Or is the one from amazon not TTL? I dont think id use much TTL as im used to using speed lights in manual but its nice to have if you want it.

Going to do a little more research on soft boxes and stands, only have smaller stands and umbrellas now.

No interest in trying to change your company policy, but it seems to me the Amazon transaction experience for an light readily available illustrates why its prudent to go direct to seller rather than put a transactor that adds no value to the transaction.

HelenOster wrote in post #18509484
I'm so sorry, but it is an Amazon rule. Customers purchasing from retailers via Amazon can only make a return, get their refund, and re-purchase.
We dislike this policy as much as our customers but there is nothing we can do about it.

I was unaware of this. I really don't see any benefit to the relationship between Adorama and Amazon, given the circumstances. I won't use Amazon for Adorama purchases again. Thanks for your reply Helen. It's nice to have your input.

dmward wrote in post #18509792
As inefficient as that seems, considering the relationship of Adorama to Amazon and then Amazon to the buyer its the only way for Amazon to ensure a clean relationship with suppliers and buyers.

Not sure why anyone would buy an Adorama available product from Amazon rather than Adorama. The complexity added my a transaction intermediary is difficult to justify.

I used Amazon as I had a few things I ordered on Amazon and thought it would be convenient. I was surprised when I learned how it works, but as I posted to Helen, I won't make that mistake again. Amazon doesn't hold the inventory, they just handle the transaction. Lived and learned.

jay125 wrote in post #18509807
I was unaware of this. I really don't see any benefit to the relationship between Adorama and Amazon, given the circumstances. I won't use Amazon for Adorama purchases again. Thanks for your reply Helen. It's nice to have your input.


I used Amazon as I had a few things I ordered on Amazon and thought it would be convenient. I was surprised when I learned how it works, but as I posted to Helen, I won't make that mistake again. Amazon doesn't hold the inventory, they just handle the transaction. Lived and learned.

Helen can speak with authority, if authorized, but my suspicion is that Adorama is using Amazon as a pull through market place to reach people that are looking for photo equipment but not knowledgable.

Long before there was an Amazon, there were corporate buying guidelines that got in the way of efficiency. I'd tell stories but the statute of limitations may not have run out.

I feel for your desire to get the equipment and get the job done.

Over the years I've done a lot of product shots of one kind or another. The Godox AC and battery powered strobes in the X system are a comprehensive a collection of lighting resources.

Kind of a product shot:

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DJ JIGGLER wrote in post #18506628
Safety gear like shoe wear, but would also like to be able to do some car photography with them. Dont really have a budget, but profoto's are out of the price range. Not really sure on power, thats why i was kind of thinking the Einsteins due to have pretty good color consistency across all power levels.

Godox/flashpoint all the way, it’s budget friendly gear that can produce amazing results when used correctly.

I would say stick with speedlights but if you want to do cars also the AD600 is the way to go.

Don’t get me wrong I like PCB and I have used them a bunch. I remember on the “old” forum years ago they were the gold standard but they did not keep up with the times.

One additional feature that is easily forgotten it the Mask mode.
This permits setting up the lights so that first shutter trip shots the subject with lighting scheme. Second shutter trip shots the background with subject silhouetted. This makes it a snap to create subject against transparent background for web catalogs etc.

The Higher end studio strobes also have a color mode similar to that in the Einstein and others.

dmward wrote in post #18510384
One additional feature that is easily forgotten it the Mask mode.
This permits setting up the lights so that first shutter trip shots the subject with lighting scheme. Second shutter trip shots the background with subject silhouetted. This makes it a snap to create subject against transparent background for web catalogs etc.

Which transmitter/receiver is required for this trick?

What Soft boxes and Stands do you recommend?

Was looking at the Manfrotto 1005BAC for stands.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18510519
Which transmitter/receiver is required for this trick?

I use a PW MultiMAX in SpeedCycle Mode as on-camera transmitter and PW-capable Profoto packs to receive. Even subsecond frames are not close enough for live portraits, so it's merely a tabletop convenience. I often shoot the frames with Speedlights and disable units manually—no large budget required. I use this technique all the time, but would not characterize it as a snap. Fuzzy edges, reflective surfaces, translucence all require tuning the alpha channel carefully.

jay125 wrote in post #18509807
I was unaware of this. I really don't see any benefit to the relationship between Adorama and Amazon, given the circumstances. I won't use Amazon for Adorama purchases again. Thanks for your reply Helen. It's nice to have your input.


I used Amazon as I had a few things I ordered on Amazon and thought it would be convenient. I was surprised when I learned how it works, but as I posted to Helen, I won't make that mistake again. Amazon doesn't hold the inventory, they just handle the transaction. Lived and learned.

It isn't just with us, of course; it's their rule for all merchants. It has something to do with the Amazon commitment to complete an order within X period. If an item were to be exchanged then the entire transaction would be protracted. Does that make sense the way I've written it?

dmward wrote in post #18509842
Helen can speak with authority, if authorized, but my suspicion is that Adorama is using Amazon as a pull through market place to reach people that are looking for photo equipment but not knowledgable.

SO many people prefer to use Amazon for SO many reasons.

i frequently get requests from customers to price match to Amazon, because:
a) they have an Amazon gift card
b) they get extra points on an Amazon credit card
c) because Amazon has multiple distribution centers - and they use their own carriers - they can transport goods for cheaper, within a shorter period

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18510519
Which transmitter/receiver is required for this trick?

Its set via the light menu so any of the X system transmitters will work.

Look in the manual for the lights its explained there.

HelenOster wrote in post #18510971
SO many people prefer to use Amazon for SO many reasons.

i frequently get requests from customers to price match to Amazon, because:
a) they have an Amazon gift card
b) they get extra points on an Amazon credit card
c) because Amazon has multiple distribution centers - and they use their own carriers - they can transport goods for cheaper, within a shorter period

Helen, as you know the first two are Amazon marketing tactics intended to draw consumers to Amazon.
The third is only beneficial if Adorama uses Amazon's distributed warehousing system for the products it offers via Amazon. If it does, then it would behoove Adorama to use Amazon to fulfill orders made via its website as well.

One distinct disadvantage using Amazon is that they are now required to collect sales tax for just about every state.
Adorama and other single state brick and mortar resellers are still able to avoid collecting sales tax.

dmward wrote in post #18511025
Its set via the light menu so any of the X system transmitters will work.

Look in the manual for the lights its explained there.

I did some looking around this morning. I guess i was thinking it would be solely a function of the tx/rx and would work with my 360s, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Bummer.

RicoTudor wrote in post #18510756
I use a PW MultiMAX in SpeedCycle Mode as on-camera transmitter and PW-capable Profoto packs to receive. Even subsecond frames are not close enough for live portraits, so it's merely a tabletop convenience. I often shoot the frames with Speedlights and disable units manually—no large budget required. I use this technique all the time, but would not characterize it as a snap. Fuzzy edges, reflective surfaces, translucence all require tuning the alpha channel carefully.

I shoot fabric, jewelry, glass, metal with synthetic backgrounds.

I've been standing at the background with a camera remote and then covering the background with a black velour type fabric between first and second exposures.

From my searches this morning, the mask mode probably wouldn't work with the method you and I use to extract subjects. It fires groups sequentially.

Whereas we would need A and B (A=subject, B=background) fired for the first shot and A only for the second.

Do I remember correctly that you are using something other than photoshop?