Is this a good starter item?

I've got speedlites, and plan to use speedlites for QUITE some time before I move on to studio strobes. The thing I am really missing is light accessories/modifiers.

Was thinking about starting with something like this:

http://www.ebay.com …ain_0&hash=item​43b7b94a3a

Seems really good deal, $30 for the stand, flash bracket and an umbrella. Good height stand, too. Any thoughts on this?

The one thing I've heard about shoot-through umbrellas like this is that you can sometimes "see" the bones of the umbrella as shadows on the subject. Is this true/a big issue?

This stand would also allow me to use something else like a softbox, correct?

Lastly, in looking into this it seems there are tons of variations on the flash holder - is there some "best" one?

Since you plan to use speedlites for QUITE some time, why not invest in something that will last for QUITE some time?

The two most important specs of light stands, to me, is maximum height and footprint diameter. Followed by load capacity, weight, and folded length. The stand you link to is only 6'4" - not very tall IMO. The footprint is only 25".

Not all umbrella adapters are equal. The gold standard being the reliable and robust Manfrotto 026. These just work - plain and simple. I've also got a couple Lumopro shorties that work nicely.

Umbrellas come and go IMO. They are disposable to me. They usually last a few years and I get new ones. They are cheap enough. I like the Westcott collapsible convertible ones for portability.

Not to beat about the bush, I would class that height of stand as totally PATHETIC. It would automatically preclude ever properly lighting a standing adult as you wouldn't be able to get the light much above average adult eye-level. Even at full extension (ie at it's most floppy), with the legs only partly spread as per illustration (smaller footprint = less stability but marginally greater height) you'd only get about 6 inches above eye-level so by the time you've moved the light even a small distance from the subject it's going to be full-on with no chance of shadowing to create shape in the face. Get a genuinely-decent height stand (I'd never consider anything under 10ft personally) with a good footprint (3ft is a nice starting point) and it won't need replacing for something better for quite a while - don't forget that although you'd have height and footprint stability, you don't always have to use it fully extended. Partly extended, either height or footprint, gives more stability against folks knocking it over or blowing over than a 'toy' stand like the one in your kit.

I HATE those plastic umbrella holders - there's a really good reason that the Manfrotto 026 is the Gold Standard and so much copied. Because it's the best compromise between cost and usability - the 026 alone costs more than the whole outfit you're looking at. But they last just about forever.

The umbrella, on the other hand, looks quite decent. Fibreglass ribs do allow a certain amount of light through so the "showing the bones" is less of a problem. However, the only time it's really noticeable is in eye catchlights anyway so at this stage I wouldn't be overly concerned.

From your gear list, you've obviously invested somewhat heavily in good shooting gear but I think that, appealing though the price of this lighting outfit may be, this would be a total waste of $30. The cost of 10 double espressos for a lighting outfit worth even unboxing? I don't think so, somehow!!

Kaitlyn, I am going to join the bandwagon that Whortleberry has started. You have a choice, buy lightweight junk now to hold speedlites only to replace the whole setup when you go to strobes or buy good/great stands now and upgrade to strobes as needed.

10 foot min is great advice. Having the capability for 13 or so is better in my opinion as some day you will be in a position to use that height. Example, I had my 13 foot lightstands for 3 years and never needed full extension ever in my "home" studio. Couple of months ago, I was asked to take photos for prom at a one of the parent's home. They didn't have the 9 foot ceilings I have, they had a good 30 foot ceilings where we took the pictures......now guess who used almost full extension to get the loviest pictures I have gotten in awhile......

Please don't do what most of us have done and waste good money on worthless stands....get some good ones in the beginning and be done with it. Look for used Bee's on the cheap and life will be good. I struggled for years screwing with multiple speedlites....Bee's have simplified my life substantially....

Bob E.

Yes, I love my 13ft stands - actually they are going out in about ½ hour to be used at full height. I did say 10ft minimum, mainly because we don't know OP's overall needs in terms of overall weight & collapsed dimensions. In an ideal world, I'd certainly go for 13ft+ stands right at the outset.

Strange thing; once we get away from the Canon/Nikon jewellery round our necks, there's a massive inclination to saves pennies (just look at the number of folks here who seek to save tiny amounts of money by putting cheap, inadequate batteries into their gear!). Trouble is - it works out costing more quite quickly because the cheapo stuff brings on chronic buyer's remorse almost immediately. Costs for the initial junk, then costs again for the stuff we ought to have bought right at the outset.