GEAR HELP ASAP

So guys, I came across an investor (real estate guy) that is willing to buy me equipment at the cost of a retainer of doing photography for him IE headshots of every one in his company and location photography. Don't worry Im getting a contract so I dont get screwed over or vice versa.

but any who I had a limit of 1k and this is what I came up with (all prices include shipping)

$25.44 Canon Remote Switch RS60 E3
$225.98 Photo Studio Continous Lighting kit
-includes-
One (1)Background support system(3-sections Cross bar, 2 Tripods)
One (1) Carrying Case for background support
Two (2) Spring cushioned Light Stands , One (1) Mini Light Stand,
Three(3)Compact fluorescent daylight balanced photo light bulbs, Longstar
Brand
Three (3) AC light socket
Two (2) 33" soft umbrella
One (1) 10 X 13' Muslin backdrop (black),
One (1) 10 x 13' muslin backdrop (white)
$97.47 Canon BG-E3 Battery Grip for EOS Digital Rebel XT Camera (IS THIS COMPATIBLE WITH THE XS)
$602.54 AlienBee RingBee Package

it comes up to about $954


So is this about as far as I can stretch this 1k out?


SIDENOTE: I am going thru Amazon for everything but the ringflash

No. You need the BGE5. http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1243479​837&sr=1-1

look on ebay for some of the smaller stuff, you'll save you some money. I think i even saw the ringflash on there or FM yesterday

jbrevard wrote in post #8001627
look on ebay for some of the smaller stuff, you'll save you some money. I think i even saw the ringflash on there or FM yesterday

I would normally do this, but ebay has a habit of screwing people over and well since this is a 1 time thing I would like to buy from reputable dealers so I dont get held by the short hairs.

things to consider:

do you really need the remote switch? what for? the camera has a timer on it.

do you really need the battery grip? keep your extra battery in your pocket it and spend 20 seconds to swap if you really need to.

unless you gel the ring flash, it will not balance with the continuous light package.

as a personal preference, instead of buying either the ring flash or the continuous lighting travel package, I'd get a background stand kit from ebay (the dealer ephotodiscounter has decent stuff on the cheap) and order the digibee strobe kit directly through alienbees.com... it's cheaper directly through them, and you get the stands and cases. $600 for 2 strobes is pretty good. Add a $5 32x40 sheet of white foamcore for a reflector and you'd have a very versatile set up.

bric-a-brac wrote in post #8002058
things to consider:

do you really need the remote switch? what for? the camera has a timer on it.

do you really need the battery grip? keep your extra battery in your pocket it and spend 20 seconds to swap if you really need to.

unless you gel the ring flash, it will not balance with the continuous light package.

as a personal preference, instead of buying either the ring flash or the continuous lighting travel package, I'd get a background stand kit from ebay (the dealer ephotodiscounter has decent stuff on the cheap) and order the digibee strobe kit directly through alienbees.com... it's cheaper directly through them, and you get the stands and cases. $600 for 2 strobes is pretty good. Add a $5 32x40 sheet of white foamcore for a reflector and you'd have a very versatile set up.

the ringbee kit has a 6 gel/filter kit for it. And from my working doinf gaff work on some short films and music videos I would have extra CTO OR CTB of all densities. (i am buying directly thru alienbees for it as well)

and well as for the lil extras I figured might as get some bells and whistles from the deal.

also a backgrund kit is included in the light kit. I found the same kit w/out the lights for 125.00 so I figured for 75 bucks more I might as well get some cheapo lights with it with umbrellas and the like

dont go continuous... it gets VERY hot... i would go with some type of studio strobe set up.. maybe some ABs or something.

well I updated the equipment and this is what I bought 1 hour ago

Studio Strobe Lighting Kit $258.00
10' X 13' Black & White Muslin Backdrops with Support
System and Carry Bag

2 Flash Strobe Studio Lighting Kit with Stands,
Umbrella, Wireless Trigger and Receiver

The AlienBees RINGBEE Kit $604.52
AlienBees Ringflash
Ringflash Carrying Bag
ABR800 20 deg. Honeycomb Grid
Set of Six Warming and Diffusion Filters for the ABR800
30-inch Moon Unit and Mask Set

Canon BG-E5 Battery Grip for Canon XSi Digital SLR Cameras $111.00

and a little hot shoe bubble level

all for about


$985.00 including shipping

carlosm wrote in post #8001426
So guys, I came across an investor (real estate guy) that is willing to buy me equipment at the cost of a retainer of doing photography for him IE headshots of every one in his company and location photography. Don't worry Im getting a contract so I dont get screwed over or vice versa.

but any who I had a limit of 1k and this is what I came up with (all prices include shipping)

$25.44 Canon Remote Switch RS60 E3
$225.98 Photo Studio Continous Lighting kit
-includes-
One (1)Background support system(3-sections Cross bar, 2 Tripods)
One (1) Carrying Case for background support
Two (2) Spring cushioned Light Stands , One (1) Mini Light Stand,
Three(3)Compact fluorescent daylight balanced photo light bulbs, Longstar
Brand
Three (3) AC light socket
Two (2) 33" soft umbrella
One (1) 10 X 13' Muslin backdrop (black),
One (1) 10 x 13' muslin backdrop (white)
$97.47 Canon BG-E3 Battery Grip for EOS Digital Rebel XT Camera (IS THIS COMPATIBLE WITH THE XS)
$602.54 AlienBee RingBee Package

it comes up to about $954


So is this about as far as I can stretch this 1k out?


SIDENOTE: I am going thru Amazon for everything but the ringflash

That continuous light system is garbage.

No idea why you want a ring flash, since every light should be inside a soft box or similar it makes no difference.

canonnoob wrote in post #8002223
dont go continuous... it gets VERY hot... i would go with some type of studio strobe set up.. maybe some ABs or something.

thats a very good point

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fast1 wrote in post #8007254
thats a very good point

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+1 with that!

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Ask me 4 months ago, and I would have considered a grip a no-brainer.

I have since sold mine and haven't regretted it since.

While I understand their purpose, I have found battery grips to be more trouble than they are worth....

- They tend to make finding a decent fitting bag more difficult because...
- They add weight and size to your camera body
- Although I have larger hands, as a matter of reflexive habit I found myself still using the on camera controls in the portrait position.

Aside from holding 2 batteries at once, the only other benifit the grip gives you is the ability to use AA batteries in a pinch.

Chances are you are going be on a tripod with a shutter release if shooting portraits. Put the money twords something more useful like an additional light, spare battery or off camera cord

Dump the Grip,
Dump the ringflash in favor of a normal AB800..
Do get an extra battery or two if you only have one.