Portable Strobe Basics and Purchase

If one is into outdoor, field photography and needs portable lighting for portraits, or objects such as cars... What is some basic buying advice for newbies?
1)Price Range
2)Specs and info for beginners
3)Best Retailers

Thanks in advance!

If you are a beginner (like me!), I think the best place to start would be to read everything on the Strobist site, starting with the Lighting 101 section:

http://www.strobist.bl​ogspot.com/

It goes into the finest details of everything, so is essential reading.

Mike

Yea, Great!
I've spent hours learning about strobes and all the possibilities...
Why can't somebody just give a simple list of recommendations?!
For example, you could cover what is specificlly recomended for:
-indoor portrait system
-the photojournalism system
-outdoor portraits
-Weddings
-sports; family/pro-bono
-any other circumstance
You could share two or three price options too!

Maybe its just me but does everyone have to spend hours researching when all they really want is to shoot?!!

amaphiyarden wrote in post #6532052
Yea, Great!
I've spent hours learning about strobes and all the possibilities...
Why can't somebody just give a simple list of recommendations?!
For example, you could cover what is specificlly recomended for:
-indoor portrait system
-the photojournalism system
-outdoor portraits
-Weddings
-sports; family/pro-bono
-any other circumstance
You could share two or three price options too!

Maybe its just me but does everyone have to spend hours researching when all they really want is to shoot?!!

What's your budget? MPEX.com has pre-assembled strobist kits that you may want to look at as well. However, if you're not willing to take some time to read about what you're buying, you're going to make an uninformed decision and wind up with either no enough or way too much kit.

amaphiyarden wrote in post #6532052
Yea, Great!
I've spent hours learning about strobes and all the possibilities...
Why can't somebody just give a simple list of recommendations?!
For example, you could cover what is specificlly recomended for:
-indoor portrait system
-the photojournalism system
-outdoor portraits
-Weddings
-sports; family/pro-bono
-any other circumstance
You could share two or three price options too!

Maybe its just me but does everyone have to spend hours researching when all they really want is to shoot?!!

Like I said, it's all in the Lighting 101 section of the Strobist site. All you need to do is read it!

The basics would include:

Flash (maybe a Vivitar 285HV or Sunpak 383)
Sync cord (between camera and flash)
Umbrella bracket (to go on top of your stand)
Stand
Umbrella (maybe a Westcott 43" shoot-through)
Colour correction gels (to go on flash head to match ambient light colour)

You could expand further by doubling up the above, then maybe buying wireless triggers instead of using sync cords.

As AngryHampster said, look here for some kits:

http://www.mpex.com/pa​ge.htm?PG=Strobist%20K​its

One of those will get you started. You could do most of those tasks you listed with a basic set-up.

Read the On Assignment section of the Strobist site to give you an idea of what little equipment is needed to achieve quite a lot!

Mike