Which is better?

First light foray...I could/as about to punch the buy button on an Vivatar 285HV for $74 and when looking for a stand...and then saw this for $89...which would make more sense?
http://www.adorama.com …light%20stands&​item_no=35

These are 'hot' lights. Something entirely different.
Drawbacks: Not too much 'effective' power, Tungsten WB, hot, mains powered.
Pro: You see what you are doing (the Vivitar doesn't have a modeling light)

250W isn't really all that much power in a hot light. I had a 650W that I just sold and it was seldom sufficient. It was also very VERY hot. I'm talkin' cook yourself out of a small room hot.

And there's really nothing special about the kit you linked. It's basically a couple of worker clamp lights on stands. Heck they don't even supply bulbs. My hot light was similar to a strobe - attachable speed ring for softboxes, barn doors, etc.

If you do want a hot light, you'll probably get more use out of something like this (this is the one I just sold):


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cdifoto wrote in post #2931607

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CDifoto

are the lights pictured above hot lights? what exactly are they used for, i am not familiar with them. When do you use hot lights?


thanks