Basic Strobist Kit

[Aszental]

Heya.
I want to buy a strobist kit so that i can have 2 flashes off camera.
Atm all i have is a 580Ex II

The two questions i have are.

What would you reccomend as a second flash? is it worth buying another canon or maybe something like a vivitar.

Also, which wireless system is the best bang for your buck, are the pocketwizards that much better then the skyports that justify the costs?

Also what other equipment do i need,

Light Stands, umbrellas, gel, what else?

(yes i know thats three q's )

thanks!

[jamesw]

Buy a Vivitar 285HV or sunpak 383. If you are going to use radio triggers then you lose the TTL features that your 580 provides you.

I'm sure that the Elinchrom users will provide you with a nice long list of reasons why Elinchroms are better, but that list is really only reasons why Elinchroms are cheaper than PWs.

If you want the best, buy PWs. If you are prepared to sacrifice some of the niceties of PWs so that you can save money, buy Elinchroms. Simple!

[Aszental]

thanks! what are some of the "niceties" that PW's have over the skyports?

[the foto fanatic]

Buy a Vivitar 285HV or sunpak 383. If you are going to use radio triggers then you lose the TTL features that your 580 provides you.

I'm sure that the Elinchrom users will provide you with a nice long list of reasons why Elinchroms are better, but that list is really only reasons why Elinchroms are cheaper than PWs.

If you want the best, buy PWs. If you are prepared to sacrifice some of the niceties of PWs so that you can save money, buy Elinchroms. Simple!

I agree with James's reasoning on the flashes.

I have the Elinchrom Skyports. This isn't a pissing competition. I know that the PWs are the gold standard in this area. I bought the Skyports simply because they will do the job I need them to do. I am an occasional user of radio triggers, although a consistent user of off-camera flash. To me, it's like comparing a Commodore with a HSV. Both do the same job, ie transport you from A to B.

How much more you want to spend on more grunt depends on a lot of things, including your wallet. Will you be driving it every day, or only to church on Sunday?

You catch my drift, I'm sure.

[big pix]

are you sure....... anyway I have been using the same Elinchrom flash heads for 15-18 years....... when they need service i use pro gear repairs in Chatswood....... but they do not get as much use today but well worth keeping

[jamesw]

Buy a Vivitar 285HV or sunpak 383. If you are going to use radio triggers then you lose the TTL features that your 580 provides you.

I'm sure that the Elinchrom users will provide you with a nice long list of reasons why Elinchroms are better, but that list is really only reasons why Elinchroms are cheaper than PWs.

If you want the best, buy PWs. If you are prepared to sacrifice some of the niceties of PWs so that you can save money, buy Elinchroms. Simple!

I agree with James's reasoning on the flashes.

I have the Elinchrom Skyports. This isn't a pissing competition. I know that the PWs are the gold standard in this area. I bought the Skyports simply because they will do the job I need them to do. I am an occasional user of radio triggers, although a consistent user of off-camera flash. To me, it's like comparing a Commodore with a HSV. Both do the same job, ie transport you from A to B.

How much more you want to spend on more grunt depends on a lot of things, including your wallet. Will you be driving it every day, or only to church on Sunday?

You catch my drift, I'm sure.

Your on the ball re triggers.

I use them every day I shoot, so it was a no brainer. Plus the fact that when I asked about them, I was told by a friend (who was familiar with my style of photography) that I could simply not go past PWs. Suck up the pain in your wallet now and reap the benefits later, was something like what he said.

I believe there was a thread about Elinchroms somewhere around, perhaps someone remembers it? The fella that had elinchroms gave a fairly detailed analysis of what they can and can't do.

Elinchroms don't sound so bad and I could use them for 75% of my work, the reason I personally wouldn't consider them is because they have batteries built in. I like having AA's as it means if the trigger dies then I just buy more batteries. Handy for when your on a roadtrip, 500km from home.

[Aszental]

anyone have any experience with
http://www.mpex.com/page.htm?PG=Strobist%20Kits

mpex easy to deal with when ordering from australia?

[gstark]

Midwest are a great B&M with a great inventory of new and pre-loved stock. I don't believe that you would have any issues dealing with them.

That said, why not get one of the Qihe or Golden Eagle kits, and just add a couple of Vivitars to give you the portablity?

As a heads up, for the first kit on that page, you need to have a pc socket on your camera. Many of the lower end DSLRs do not have this.

As a further heads up, the other kits are using (it seems) US household figure 8 cable to transmit the sync signal from the camera to the flash, and they include the necessary adapters for this.

The Poon kits mentioned above include a standard PC to PC cable, as well as a radio trigger.

[Aszental]

Ahh thanks alot guys, think i might go with the poon kit!

What do i need anything extra to swap out the strobes for the vivitars or sunpack?

[mickeyjuice]

mpex easy to deal with when ordering from australia?

Variable. Sometimes you won't get an answer to email, sometimes they'll be great, sometimes the email appears to have been answered by a drunk they've pulled off the street. Very strange.