Advice needed on Studio Lights

Happy Holidays everyone,

I got some cash for x-mas and was looking into purchasing a few items.

I've been looking into getting some studio lights to setup in my garage. Here are the two that I have been looking into getting to start off.

First Item is the Impact EX100 Ultimate Creative Portrait Kit (120VAC). Which includes

- Chroma Key Kit
- Two 100Ws Monolights
- Two 8' Light Stands
- Two 24x24" Softboxes
- One White Umbrella (45")
- 5x7' Chroma Green Screen Kit
- Chroma Key Software
- 120VAC

The second item is the RPS Studio SB-200 Monolite 600 ws 3 unit Lighting Kit. This kit includes:
3- SB-200 Monolites (200w/s each)
1- RPS Studio Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver Kit 1 Channel-85ft range
2- RPS Studio White 40" Umbrellas
1- RPS Studio 20" x 28" Softbox
3- RPS Studio 6 foot Light Stands
1- RPS Studio Bag, Nylon, Heavy padding with dividers.
Dot Line Corp 1-year limited Warranty

Has anyone had any experience with these items? Do you think this would be a good starter kit? I'm looking into spending about $500.00 as I will be purchasing a 17-55 Canon lens. Any other recommendations would be great. Thanks and happy holidays once again.

I think you would probably be better off looking at individual items rather than a kit. Generally these kits suffer by piling a bunch of lesser quality items together under the guise of offering a complete kit. The BH kit is a bit underpowered and I'm suspicious of the second as I dont know the manufacturer. I'd suggest that you look at the calumet genesis lights instead. Start with two lights umbrellas and stands and go from there. Dont be swayed by the kits tossing in some mediocre background package or cheap softboxes as they are usually poor stuff.

gonzogolf wrote in post #11528712
I think you would probably be better off looking at individual items rather than a kit. Generally these kits suffer by piling a bunch of lesser quality items together under the guise of offering a complete kit. The BH kit is a bit underpowered and I'm suspicious of the second as I dont know the manufacturer. I'd suggest that you look at the calumet genesis lights instead. Start with two lights umbrellas and stands and go from there. Dont be swayed by the kits tossing in some mediocre background package or cheap softboxes as they are usually poor stuff.

I agree.

I looked around a long time for an 'all in one' kit that was ready to go out of the box. Almost all of them tended to offer up lesser quality accessories like stands, modifiers, and other items.

The only 'all in one' kit that I found to be worthwhile was the Elinchrom D-Lite4 kit, even includes Wireless Radio Triggers .... it costs $850, and it's worth it. The stands included are Manfrotto 367B, a good strong basic stand. I already had a couple of those stands, so I took the brand new ones from the kit and sold them off. It was an easy sale because of the brand, probably could not have sold the stands in the cheaper kits as easily.

gonzogolf wrote in post #11528712
I think you would probably be better off looking at individual items rather than a kit. Generally these kits suffer by piling a bunch of lesser quality items together under the guise of offering a complete kit. The BH kit is a bit underpowered and I'm suspicious of the second as I dont know the manufacturer. I'd suggest that you look at the calumet genesis lights instead. Start with two lights umbrellas and stands and go from there. Dont be swayed by the kits tossing in some mediocre background package or cheap softboxes as they are usually poor stuff.

Calumet Genesis 200 2-Light Kit Which Includes :
Built-in adjustable photo cell sensor
Easy-lock reflector mount
Charge indication lamp/sound
10-60 (5-stop range)Flash Adjustment
110V / 60Hz Working Voltage

Or would you recommend just buying each part individual?

• Maybe 2x Calumet Genesis 200.
  
• Manfrotto 307B Black 13' Stacker Stands, Set of Three
  
• 1x Calumet Nova 48 Soft Box - 36 x 48 x 24
  
• 1x Calumet 60" (152cm) Silver/White Umbrella
  

I'd be happy to go either way on either of the calumet options. I think the important thing is getting a good quality monolight and then go from there.

Decisions, Decisions! I was just looking into AB800 as well..maybe getting one of those? Or would that be too much for a beginner?

No I love my alien bees. They are the equivalent to the genesis lights. The genesis are a bit cheaper, offer digital power controls where the AB's have a slider and the genesis use the elinchrome mounts for their modifiers. The AB seem to be a bit more durable, just my opinion and the customer service from PCB is fantastic. You cant go wrong either way. I would have suggested the AB's as well except your budget didnt seem to have room for a 2 light kit with the bees.

Thanks gonzogolf, maybe ill stop by a calmuet store in L.A. and check those out. I've been trying to read up on some reviews on theses Genesis and ppl seem to love them.

I am very happy with my Genesis so far. Like others have said you probably can't go wrong with either Genesis or Bees. The key is once you have decided which to buy, practice, practice, practice!

firefighter4u wrote in post #11530174
I am very happy with my Genesis so far. Like others have said you probably can't go wrong with either Genesis or Bees. The key is once you have decided which to buy, practice, practice, practice!

Thanks, which ones do you have? the 200 or the 400's? Also what are you using to trigger them?

200 right now. I use Cactus V4 or if I am using my speedlight that will also trigger it.

Id forget the Impact kit. 100ws is not a whole lot of power. Not familiar with the second kit you show.

For the money, you can't beat the Genesis kits. The Genesis 200, two light kit is a bargain considering what you get and is well under your 500 dollar budget...so much in fact that you could easily afford a set of decent wireless triggers for them while loosely following your budget.