Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

Hello,

I'm looking to start learning how to use a flash, both on camera and off, as well as to learn the basics of studio work. But the brand-name flashes, and transmitters, and all the rest, is a bit out of my price range at the moment. How much problem will I have if I get started using offbrand equipment, like Yongnuo and/or CowboyStudio. Does anyone have experience with these products -- or advice?

Dr Rae Loc: Sarasota Florida

I just made a room for a studio in my home. It is very small. I bought a Cowboy studio with 3 strobes. For the space I have the power is fine and I'm learning a lot. With the amount of time I have to spend improving and practicing it will be a few years before I'm ready for a more professional set up. This one suits my needs well for now.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i have some yongnou flashes and wireless triggers...they work fine.

i have some flashpoint (adoramas brand) inexpensive monostrobes that i use in my studio 5 days a week. i have 2 - 320mII and 1 - 620mII. i also have flashpoint beauty dishes and 3 softboxes.....all were very inexpensive and work great. i have been using them for over 2 years.

Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

Thank you so much for the reply. I think this is the way to go. Use the cheap stuff while I'm learning. Then... upgrade as needed. Cheers...

Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

Thank you so much for the reply. I will check out Adorama's brand to. You've been very helpful.

Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

Oh, and nice yorkies! :)

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

My first flash was a Sunpak that I had bought used on ebay as I was thinking that it had to be ok... that it had to be similar to the flash made by my camera's manufacturer.. But I was disappointed as it was slow in recycling and ate batteries like crazy. So I just muddled along without a flash for a couple of years as the Sunpak did not cut it. So this time I read up as much as I could on flashes, read reviews and specs, learned a little bit about remote shooting and manual settings... and ended up purchasing a Canon 430 EX II new and am very pleased that I did. The recycling on it is almost instantaneous and with my 60D I can use it as a slave to the popup flash without firing the popup. Also another important feature because I do a lot of macro photography I can set manual power settings at 1/3 increments all the way down to 1/64th power. I am not really knocking the off brands... well yes I guess that I am as recycle time was important to me and I did not see in the specifications of any of the less expensive brands any flashes that would recycle quickly enough to meet my needs.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

that was my plan..to upgrade later...but the inexpensive stuff i bought still works excellent.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

thanks...they are little monsters!!! but they are my monsters!!

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i have 2 of the 580exII canon flash units as well as the 3 yongnuo560s. the yongnuos are great manual flash units that i use off camera on stands with a softbox or beauty dish........these units are used quite often and the batteries last as long in them as they do in my canon 580exIIs. i also have a yongnuo yn467..which is a ttl model and it also works great.

the yongnuo603 wireless triggers has never misfired. i use them at work every day in my studio on the monolights.....1 use 2 on the monolights, 1 on the camera and 1 for a shutter remote..and 1 as a hand unit to trigger the shutter.

i also have 4 of the cactus v5s and they are great.

i take ocket wizards with me to clients off-studio shoots because i keep thinking the cheap oines are going to fail me...which they have not.
the 603 triggers use aaa batteries and they last a long long time.

i cannot make a single complaint on any of the less expensive stuff i bought.

the flash point beauty dishes that fit on the flashpoint monostrobes are awesome. i have 2 of the 60x30 softboxes for these monolights and also a couple of10x30 strip soft boxes. i cannot make a complaint.

one thing i highly recommend is putting casters on the light stands and your tripod. those were the best investment...makes it so easy to move things around.

i also have 4 of the flourescent 4 light fixtures for continuous lighting. those are also flashpoint brand.

i keep thinking i ought to move up to alien bees or profoto strobes....but the flashpoint strobes work awesome. i also bought the battery packs for them so i can take them out on location if need be.

i have a close friend that has elinchrom strobes and he keeps telling me i need to upgrade to something like those, but my studio photos look better than his.

i am sure that if i moved all this inexpensive stuff to location, it probably wouldn't hold up like the expensive stuff, but the studio stuff stays in the studio.

i have a westcott apollo 28 softbox for my strobes and a coulple of the lastolite extension handles to hand hold them on location.

maybe the day that this stuff doesn't work for me, i will upgrade it..but until then, i will use it and it all has been paid for a long time ago.

all the stuff in my studio in my office at work is all mine personally..so i get paid everyday to keep learning how to use it!!!

Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

Very very helpful. Thank you so much. I think I'm sold.

Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

Ha! I've got a yorkie and a schnauzer -- and the yorkie is definitely the bad seed.

Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

Great. That's helpful. I don't think I'm too concerned about recycle time at the moment. Just wanting to get my feet wet. So I think the cheap stuff will be fine for now. Later, I can upgrade when I've got some money! Thanks.

Dinxboomps Loc: Portland, Oregon

I think this is pretty much what I've decided to do. Thanks for the input.

talk2thomas Loc: Chelmsford, England

If recharge times are a priority then you must look at the power of your batterys. Over the counter disposables are out.
rechargables varie from 800mamp to 2900 mamp.
Plus look at the chargers as well as some rechargables require specialist chargers.
Best power for value I have found is on 7day.com
Tom