Camera Labs

We are considering going professional with a true set of lights. I'm looking for under $1000 dollars (USA) for a good and yet affordable lighting solution.

I have been looking at the kits offered by B&H and Adorama, but feel a bit lost in the details of what all that means.

Suggestions are welcome and though I say $1000 limit. I would welcome suggestions well under that and good options (if possible).

Thanks,
Lacy

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Nikon D90
Nikon 18-105mm, 50-200mm, 50mm 1.8f Prime
Nikon SB-600 Speedlight i-TTL
Kodak Z730
Elinchrom D-Lite4 Monolights

Strobes or Continious lighting

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Nikon D90
Nikon 18-105mm, 50-200mm, 50mm 1.8f Prime
Nikon SB-600 Speedlight i-TTL
Kodak Z730
Elinchrom D-Lite4 Monolights

Have a look at the following -

Elinchrom D-Lite range
Calumet Genesis

Both are budget yet have closely matching capability to a professional set of lights.

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Nikonian

http://www.edtangphotography.com
http://journeysintophotography.blogspot.com/

I have personally used the D-Lite 4 series and they are very good with great build quality and I have heard good things of the Calumet that Ed mentions too, I think I am correct in saying he personally uses those so there's testiment to their quality.

Another make you may consider if you are US based is Alien Bees (as you are quoting $ I am assuming you are from the US) these are regarded as good quality units and have a large following and the prices are excellent with a fairly large range to fit most budgets.

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EOS 5D | EOS 40D | 28-80 L f2.8 - 4 (took a swim) replaced with 24-105 F4 L IS USM | 70-200 L F2.8 IS USM | 17-85 | 70-300 | 100mm USM Macro | 50mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.8 II | 2x Extender | 100mm Macro USM 2.8 | 3x 285HV Vivitar Flash | Cactus V2s Wireless Trigger system | 430EX

My DPC Profile | My Website

What do you guys think about the brand, "Impact" for lighting?

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Nikon D90
Nikon 18-105mm, 50-200mm, 50mm 1.8f Prime
Nikon SB-600 Speedlight i-TTL
Kodak Z730
Elinchrom D-Lite4 Monolights

I haven't heard much about them but I believe they are mainly used in the US, but what I have heard is that the Quality is not great, I would guess it's almost like the cheaper range of Interfit gear going by what I have been told.

For what it's worth until a week or so ago I used a cheap interfit 150EX setup which started going wrong just after the warranty period, I have now upgraded to a Bowens 500 setup and I can see that the light from the interfits was never very consistent and also the build quality is very mediocre, I guess you get what you pay for as the Bowens was nearly 4x as much - but worth every penny!

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EOS 5D | EOS 40D | 28-80 L f2.8 - 4 (took a swim) replaced with 24-105 F4 L IS USM | 70-200 L F2.8 IS USM | 17-85 | 70-300 | 100mm USM Macro | 50mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.8 II | 2x Extender | 100mm Macro USM 2.8 | 3x 285HV Vivitar Flash | Cactus V2s Wireless Trigger system | 430EX

My DPC Profile | My Website

I haven't heard of Impact before.

Like Mark-A has said, the additional investment in lighting pays off in the long run. Like a camera system, there are lighting systems with accessories/light modifiers/battery packs. Do take these into account as well as looking for a bargain.

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Nikonian

http://www.edtangphotography.com
http://journeysintophotography.blogspot.com/

Here is what we went with from B&H Photo:

Elinchrom D-Lite4 Two Monolight Kit ELDL4K $732.95
2 x 400 W/S Monolights, Softboxes, 9 ft Stands, Sync Cords, Cases
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ELDL2 1.00 D-LITE2 200ws HEAD $248.50
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BO367B 1.00 367B 9' BASIC LIGHT STAND $54.95
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ELR8 1.00 Standard Reflector, 8.25", for Elinchrom $57.50
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IMU45BW 1.00 45" UMBRELLA BLK/WHT w/REMOVABLE COVER $14.95

We added a 3 year protection plan that pushed us over the $1000 mark, but a nice added precaution. This series has fans on the lights and lots of power.

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Nikon D90
Nikon 18-105mm, 50-200mm, 50mm 1.8f Prime
Nikon SB-600 Speedlight i-TTL
Kodak Z730
Elinchrom D-Lite4 Monolights

Good call. Let us know how you get on with them.

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Nikonian

http://www.edtangphotography.com
http://journeysintophotography.blogspot.com/

Yeah as Ed says that's a good call, the D-Lite4s are excellent and I love the digital adjustments on them you definitely got a lot for your money looking at that list!

Damn just shows how bad the rip off UK prices are

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EOS 5D | EOS 40D | 28-80 L f2.8 - 4 (took a swim) replaced with 24-105 F4 L IS USM | 70-200 L F2.8 IS USM | 17-85 | 70-300 | 100mm USM Macro | 50mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.8 II | 2x Extender | 100mm Macro USM 2.8 | 3x 285HV Vivitar Flash | Cactus V2s Wireless Trigger system | 430EX

My DPC Profile | My Website