A strobist kit that I can build on

Need some advice to start building a strobist kit. My current setup only consists of a 430ex. Now, I don't want to drop a lot of money at once, nor do I want to buy something so cheap and end up having to sell it because it wasn't compatible as I gain more experience and get more advanced gear.

I want to start off with outdoor fashion photography and go from there.
My budget is around under 500 bucks.

I was searching around and I found this set up. http://mpex.com/Strobi​st/StrobistKits.htm
Reviews? Comments?

edit
Oh I need enough power to light up the whole body in shade, if that helps.

Can you tolerate AC power? Then go for studio type lights (I saw outside, but AC might be available)

If so, get:

An Alien Bee (B400 or B800)
a light stand
an umbrella

Alien Bee also sells kits. Check out the website.

The advantage:

A lot more power
Modeling lights
More rugged attachment to light stand
more available light modifiers

Disadvantage, not quite as portable (but close)
AC only power (but no annoying batteries)

See:

http://alienbees.com/

You can also search this site for more testimonials on Alien Bee gear.

Enjoy! Lon

thanks for the info londuck.
but, how do i trigger the alien bees? with a pocket wizard?

speedracersong wrote in post #2834911
thanks for the info londuck.
but, how do i trigger the alien bees? with a pocket wizard?

The Alien Bee comes with a nice 15 foot cord. Start with a cord, don't make you life more complicated than necessary if you are learning.

But, you could use a Pocket Wizard, but they are expensive.

You could also trigger the Alien Bee using your 430EX set on manual with the Alien Bee's built in optical slave. But this is likely only to be reliable in studio like conditions. Outside may be a problem. If you attached a high performance accessory optical slave to the Alien Bee it would likely be ok outside.

If you can tollerate the AC power, a studio flash will be a much better selection than a modified hotshoe based flash unit.

Enjoy! Lon

You can use the synch cord to fire your alien bee lights, I use a wein safe synch and put it on the top of my camera where the flash would normally go and plug the cord in there, If you have the alien bee light kit either one, 400 or 800, you will be happy you got it, From there if you have any flash at all, buy the flash mount bracket and you can use your AB lightstand if you go somewhere you dont have ac power and mount your existing flash on that stand. A 430ex may not be power enough to light your entire subject with and unbrella, so you wont need to take an unbrella with you and worry about the wind knocking your stand and flash over either.
These are awesome lights and will last a long time if you take care of them.
to help dave on money when ordering your AB kit, dont get the 25 bag they add into your kit, delete it from your order and use that 25 to get something you can use and put your light in an existing camera bag. I have three AB lights and that save me over 75 not buying the little bags they try to sell you with your lights.

Hope this helps
Dale

thank you for the advice.
well i thought about it, i need to either get a portable battery(another 300 bucks) or a flash system that is battery run.

im also looking for portability. so many choices!!!!!