Budget 2xstrobe kit

Hi, can anyone recommend a good budget 2 strobe studio kit (I'm not averse to eBay)? Perhaps with one softbox, and one brolly.

What's your budget?

Elinchrom D-Lite, if your budget allows.

The ones I'm looking at after narrowing down the field are,
Calumet Genesis 400 - £408
Elinchrom D-Lite 4 - £499

Both are very popular on here and in general due to consistency, value, both have a 5 stop range, are not too expensive and use Elinchrom accesories. The advantage of using Elinchrom accesories is when you need more light you can just buy a RX mono and all your accesories will still fit.

The D-Lites from what I've seen have a slight edge on performance but they lose that on price, Robert (TMR) on here has used both sets and say they are both good.

There are cheaper brands and models on the market but on the whole their performace isn't close to these.

Hmm, to be honest, this is only going to be to test the water for some work, so the budget is as low as possible, and then sell on, if it works out, to buy Elinchrom. A set I've found, which seems ok is http://www.stableimagi​ng.co.uk …be-lighting-kit-p-37.html - also available on eBay. What I find very encouraging is that I've emailed him, and had very swift, reassuring responses. £210 for 3 lights, even if they die after two or three uses is cheaper than hiring from Calumet!

I think it'll get you started ok. It's not quite as powerful as a 580EX - guide number 48, but zoomed flash heads during measuring might mean it's actually a bit more powerful. Not sure. 4.5s recharge is kinda long.

I'm hoping so - it'll be in a small space, so they don't need to be really powerful - I'll use at least one to light a white backdrop, and as long as I can keep ISO below 800, and aperture at or below f/7.1 I should be fine, I think, for a group of 3 kids, in a room with a 10ft white ceiling.

Worst comes to the worst, I can add a bit of oomph with my Metz flashgun, which has a higher guide number, and as fast (if not slightly faster) recycle time.

goatee wrote in post #5603688
Hmm, to be honest, this is only going to be to test the water for some work, so the budget is as low as possible, and then sell on, if it works out, to buy Elinchrom. A set I've found, which seems ok is http://www.stableimagi​ng.co.uk …be-lighting-kit-p-37.html - also available on eBay. What I find very encouraging is that I've emailed him, and had very swift, reassuring responses. £210 for 3 lights, even if they die after two or three uses is cheaper than hiring from Calumet!

I've no personal experience of this kit (or any studio kit for the matter) but if you're looking at UK suppliers that trade on eBay as well you might like to look at these guys....

http://www.studio-flash.com/ and on eBay - http://stores.ebay.co.​uk/Elemental-UK

The M series 1200Wskit looks like amazing value, but there are cheaper options there as well.

I have to say I've been really spoiled with Elinchrom kit in the studio I used to borrow, that's one of the motivations of getting more work, to pay for better lights.

goatee wrote in post #5603688
Hmm, to be honest, this is only going to be to test the water for some work, so the budget is as low as possible, and then sell on, if it works out, to buy Elinchrom.

Not to belabor the point, but you could get the Elichrom D-Lite 2 kit and already HAVE Elinchrom, even if you decide to buy more Elinchrom strobes down the track - all Elinchrom lights will take all Elinchrom accessories. This way (buying really cheap) it's just money going down the drain... if you buy a good system, you can always sell it if you don't want it - it's hard to get rid of some of the really cheap eBay stuff...

The other way to do it would be a couple of hot shoe flashes on stands, with umbrellas. But... if you're looking for studio strobes, then this might only be money down the drain, too...

I understand, and agree with your point - you can see from my sig I value my kit, but in this instance, can't justify (or actually have) the outlay for the Elinchrom kit .

Ok, last question - interfit EX 150 kit, or the http://www.stableimagi​ng.co.uk …be-lighting-kit-p-37.html I'm planning on.

If you're on a tight budget and not bothered by having hotshoe type units, why not get a bunch of Vivitar 285s and some cactus v2s triggers?

Mainly because of the fiddling, getting adaptors, etc. The only other thing is keeping enough batteries charged etc. Would it be that much cheaper to go the Vivitar / trigger route?

Looks like I'll be getting the Interfit kit, as can get it for £225 through a mate of a mate type thing.