Looking to Buy Stuido Equipment

BettyBoopLova

Hey Everyone,

I am looking to buy some Photography studio equipment. I do want to get a kit or a package instead of buying each thing individually because if I get the kit I can get it all together and play with it and then buy individual parts as I go. I am only a beginner so I need something that is simply but I know that I want it to include 2 light stands (taller then 6.5 ft) 2 light heads, 2 umbrellas and a soft box. and possibly some backdrop stuff.

All of this can change and I can be happier with less, more or different stuff. I don't need to worry about it being able to be sent to Ireland.

I had this name of a website before but I can't find it now. It is a pretty decent site and it started with an a but its not Adorama. Anyone have any advice as I need to buy ASAP!!!

DotOrg

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/

or

http://www.barkerphotographic.ie/

both sell studio stuff that will work in ireland no problem

ValueInIreland

You Don't mention a budget, but assuming you are not swimming in cash and also assuming you are not looking to use them on a fulltime Professional basis, it sounds like the Elinchrom D-Lite 2 /4-it kit would suit. It is a two head kit with one 400w head and one 200w head and umbrellas. Coming from ELinchrom it is a quality kit that should give you years of service. It also has SKYPORT wireless triggering built in and is supplied with a wireless transmitter. It usually sells in the mid €500's.
There is a list of Irish stockists HERE.
You can of course go for more Professional kits or go cheaper with something like the Interfit 150EX kit. They are around €400 for a two head kit. Distributors are listed HERE.

BettyBoopLova

budget is about €400 but like i said I can get something in America. I dont have to worry about it working here or being able to be sent here as I already have a transformer for it so it will work here without any issues.

NakedDex

Be careful with that. Your transformer might not be rated for the kind of power levels a light kit would need. An average consumer transformer is only rated for about 100VA.

thedarkroom

I know someone who got one of these a while back and is very happy with it. It now comes with a trigger unit for cordless operation so is even better value know.

http://www.berminghamcameras.ie/store/index.php?target=products&product_id=4146

There is a cheaper set, (still with transmitter included) but I see your budget is around €400 so both are beyond this
http://www.berminghamcameras.ie/store/index.php?target=products&product_id=2273
I don't know of any other kit that would give this value in Ireland or even what you might get for around the €400 mark. Anything you might get in the States would be liable for duty. The same kit costs $770 in B&H Photovideo in New York so the Irish price is very competitive
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/674266-REG/Elinchrom_EL_20814KIT_D_Lite_IT_200Ws_2_Light.html

BettyBoopLova

Ok well i think this is what I am going to buy....

http://www.adorama.com/LTBK1.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTBSB18.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTU40BC.html
http://www.adorama.com/FPPR5142.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTBBD.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTBSM.html

those are all the things i think i am going to buy to start out. I dont have to pay any duty on american things as i am american and irish so it doesnt matter.

PopeBuckfastXVI

BettyBoopLova wrote: »

I dont have to pay any duty on american things as i am american and irish so it doesnt matter.

I would confirm that with Customs before you rely on it when doing your budget, I don't think your nationality matters.

bernard0368

You could look here, http://www.studio-flash.com they are getting good reviews.

As for the Vat-duty, my belief is that you have to pay vat on arrival but as an American you can claim it back provided you leave the country and the transaction falls into the same financial year. I am open to correction on this.

Stefan8

I also want to buy studio equipment so thanks guys for the information

Have a nice day, all of you

ValueInIreland

BettyBoopLova wrote: »

Ok well i think this is what I am going to buy....

http://www.adorama.com/LTBK1.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTBSB18.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTU40BC.html
http://www.adorama.com/FPPR5142.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTBBD.html
http://www.adorama.com/LTBSM.html

those are all the things i think i am going to buy to start out. I dont have to pay any duty on american things as i am american and irish so it doesnt matter.

Waaagh... 5-7 second recycling time??? Also the "Guide Number" quoted is totally wrong (Both of them - 90 /100!). If it is 100 Watts the guide numnber will be 32 to 36.

NakedDex

Cheap lights are a false economy. In a short space of time you'll find yourself buying stronger ones (both light power and physical robustness) and you'll be left with lights that are of no use to you at all.
A short while ago I did a hell of a lot of looking at a lighting kit myself, eventually deciding to go the cheap route and get a set of Interfit EX series heads. The more I researched and the more I read about them, the more I realised that, if I wanted something that was going to last me a few years, I'm better off holding onto the money for a while longer and investing in some Elinchromes or AlienBees. A fact recently confirmed to me when a friend, who was using a set of the Interfit EX150's, dropped the padded bag they were in from his shoulder, resulting in two very damaged heads.

thedarkroom

ValueInIreland wrote: »

. . . "Guide Number" quoted is totally wrong (Both of them - 90 /100!). If it is 100 Watts the guide numnber will be 32 to 36.

The guide number could be even less, based on the fact that the Bowens 1500W has a guide number of 160 at ISO 100 so this would indicate that a light of 100W would have a guide no of less than 10. I was looking at someone's Elinchrom 400W lights and we were getting an aperture of f5.6 using the soft box and ISO 200 at full power. This give a very reduced scope for modelling with the lighting set up and different power outputs. The Adorama set would be even less.
I would agree with NakedDex that it really is underpowered and will leave you disappointed after all the trouble you go to to get it home.
Remember, even if you don't end up paying duty when bringing it in to Ireland (I don't think you will get away with that as nationality is not relevant) you will end up paying substantial extra baggage charges to bring this back to Ireland so it could cost you more than anticipated.
Your total for the shopping list is $310 or €215
Aer Lingus charge €40 for each extra bag up to 23Kg and then an excess of €40 on all bags which weigh over 23-32KG You'll need to do the maths to see if the saving is enough (if at all) to make all the effort worth your while. Adorama don't say what the weight is for the accessories and they say 15oz for the light kit, which is definitely wrong unless it is super flimsy.
To be honest, if I was going to the trouble of going as far as the US to save on lights, I would go for something more substantial and make the saving more significant and worthwhile.

Irish Examiner Pic Desk

thedarkroom wrote: »

The guide number could be even less, based on the fact that the Bowens 1500W has a guide number of 160 at ISO 100 so this would indicate that a light of 100W would have a guide no of less than 10. .

The Guide Number is not just a matter of dividing the power, it is closer to the way f-stops values work, so the guide no. would be in the 30's. Also in relation to only getting f5.6 with a 400w head at 200ISO - at what distance? Most people find they have too much power in a 400w head at full power....

tommyh1977

Hi, i had the Interfit EXD200 set which set me back 370euro from Paddy Barker, however i found the colour temperature inaccurate so got rid of them again. I now own a set of Elinchrom D-Lite 4 it and absolutely love them. Purchased from Conns for 629euro.

thedarkroom

Irish Examiner Pic Desk wrote: »

The Guide Number is not just a matter of dividing the power, it is closer to the way f-stops values work, so the guide no. would be in the 30's. Also in relation to only getting f5.6 with a 400w head at 200ISO - at what distance? Most people find they have too much power in a 400w head at full power....

Thanks for the correction on the calculation, I understand what your saying and the aperture analogy. On the f5.6 in the studio . . . we had the lights about 6 to 8ft from the subject and using the soft box. Maybe I'm mistaken on the 400W, I wonder if it was the 200? I must ask the guy who owns them the next time I see him but I'm fairly sure it was the stronger set.