Monolight kit/Softbox Kit?

Hey guys, thanks for all the input and advice. i'll let you know know what i went with.

Ok guys, i saw this kit and it's within my price range:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …KITS_Home_Studi​o_Kit.html

That one is very underpowered, it's ONLY ONE QUARTER the power of the Genesis 200 (2 light) kit. Very limiting, IMO.

Again - it would work ... but you could do soooo much better for a one-time, economical investment. I don't want to sound like some repeating Genesis fanatic - but Calumet also sells the Genesis 200 as a one-light kit for $169 if money's the deciding factor of your purchase. It gives you the 2-way umbrella (reflective or shoot-thru), a nice stand, reflector dish, etc. Then purchase a 36"-44" reflector (I have the 5-in-1) and it acts like a second light that reflects your main back in. You can bang out some awesome portraits with that simple setup, y'know.

Anyway - don't want to rain on your parade if you like that kit above. It DOES provide two lights, a somewhat tiny softbox and a 2nd umbrella for variety - but since it's less light output than many camera-mounted flashes I think you're going to outgrow it and be disatisfied within months of purchase. Another $0.02 from the peanut gallery. LOL

I agree with Rudi and Jason. I can understand budgetary constraints and wanting to get the most for your dollar but so far I have not seen a better value in entry level strobes than any of the various kit configurations of the Calumet Genesis 200's.

The kit you're looking at is underpowered, has no modeling light and is, in my opinion, a poor choice, and one you'll outgrow quickly.

Jason's suggestion is a very good one. Don't underestimate the ability of a single light kit with a white reflector, and if your budget can only afford the kit then grab some white foam core and use that as a reflector.

Many of use have and still do use white foam core for reflector's and interestingly enough, foam core provides some VERY nice, soft light.

Some outstanding work has been produced with 1 light and a reflector so don't think that by only having 1 light is in some way inferior.

Again, you guys are great. I will go ahead and purchase the genesis today. thanks again guys!

I'm reading this with interest and am trying to figure out the same things. I've been looking at the Alien Bees 400 and 800 on line and an Elinchrom monohead at my store, cannot figure out why one is called 400 and has less light than the Genesis 200, is there some reference here or is it just marketing.

For starters I'd like to try a single head, with maybe an octobox with grid for portraiture and be able to use it for tabletop/food photography as well, this Genesis you are touting, is it durable and well built, the cost range on this stuff if huge.

Taking shots of people in their homes is going to require the light to be close, from 4' to maybe 7' away space allowing, is there a better choice of box, octobox for these distances? And how much power do I really need to work with?

The Genesis 200 is a 200ws strobe. The Alien Bees B400 is 160ws. PCB invented the 'effective ws' concept. Forget about that and just look at the actual power delivered. To step up from Genesis 200 you can go to a Genesis 400 for 400ws or the Alien Bees B800 which is 320ws. Keep in mind that the Genesis strobes are digitally controlled and the Bees are analog.

Robert, did you convert form Canon to Nikon?

jr_senator wrote in post #6107307
Robert, did you convert form Canon to Nikon?

Yes, I sure did.

TMR Design wrote in post #6107319
Yes, I sure did.

Well, at least you stayed with your Canon friends.

jr_senator wrote in post #6108645
Well, at least you stayed with your Canon friends.

The cool thing about lighting and this lighting forum is that is doesn't matter whether we shoot Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Mamiya, film or digital. Light is light and this forum will always be my home

Incidentally, I do use a Canon 500D closeup lens on my Nikon lenses.

TMR Design wrote in post #6108702
Incidentally, I do use a Canon 500D closeup lens on my Nikon lenses.

Yeah, I did notice that in your sig. I have one too but haven't used it since I don't know when.

dtufino - you're going to be pleasantly surprised when you pull it out. It's solid, very easy and intuitive to use, easy to grip and has much better lighting "punch" than those others you looked at. A piece of white foam-core at Office Depot for about $3 to act as another reflector as Robert (TMR Design) stated, and you're going to love your portraiture!

Jannie - It's true! I do tend to tout the Genesis I guess. I was surprised with their tough/durable housing and feel, and all the features they'd squeezed into their economy lights. I won't go through all their benefits (you can read many of them in THIS REVIEW among others. They're 25% stronger than Alien Bees "400" - so you're putting more light onto your subject at any distance and with every modifier over an Alien Bee. Period!

But in all fairness - I've also used Alien Bees numerous times and have zero complaints about them. They were flawless and performed exactly as expected. Their strongest point (in my opinion) is the inexpensive accessories and modifiers available for them from the Alien Bees website. But since they produce less light and cost more than the Genesis ... well you get the idea.

As far as the D-Lites - I've only futzed with them at the store but never shot using one. Robert (TMR Design) has done extensive testing with them which show D-lites have some of the best light and color consistency of any "economical" brand in the market which stands to reason given their heritage. Their manufacturer (Elinchrom) is well regarded for their higher-end products which rate among the top tier of light products today. I just felt the D's were a little more "plastic-y" and lightweight than I wanted, and when I was making my selection the D-Lites didn't have fans in them yet. I understand the newer ones do now so that's a moot point it seems. So those are the three brands that immediately come to mind when I think of good, affordable lighting ... however Genesis kicks others in the butt at the cash register.

I use a 36"x48" rectangle softbox for my mainlight and have been satisfied with the results. For single-head portraits I set them about 4 feet from the subject, often at less than full power. Don't have the Octa, but keep looking at them. I think it could be overkill for the average product shot, but they're certainly hard to beat for fashion and beauty genre based on the examples I've seen.