I need a strobist set up, please give advise

[Drea K]

Hi, I am very new strobist photography and would like some help getting a decent set up on a budget. Here is what I know so far: I want 2 flashes (1 key and 1 for backlight), 1 brolly with a shoot through umbrella, and a decent wireless set up that will fire both flashes when I press my shutter button.

Here are a couple things you should know: I am a nursing student with two kids (that's French for broke). Also, photography is a growing hobby for me. You will not find me shooting fashion models in Milan. More like my family and friends, etc.... in a makeshift home studio.

That said, I'm trying to get the best bang for my buck. What I've been considering so far is a couple Vivitar 285hv flashes. They seem decent and cheap (my two favorite words). As far as a brolly and umbrella go, I was thinking ebay and cheap. I'll start off working with some white muslin for a backdrop and my husband can build a backdrop frame and a "boom" for my backlight. As far as wireless connection goes, I can forget a pocket wizard thing $$. I've heard about a cactus 4, but I've seen some off brand systems on ebay for $20.

I'm assuming I need 1 transmitter and 2 receivers and a device that will connect my flash to the brolly/umbrella set up.

So, I would like to know if I'm missing anything? Is the stuff I listed decent or crapolla? and what is the difference between a dedicated flash and a non-dedicated flash?

Thank you very much for any and all advise

By the way, my camera is a Canon Rebel xs. I've heard that this camera can only handle a trigger voltage of 6v. I'm not sure what the trigger voltage of the Vivitar 285hv is. However, since I want to use a wireless trigger/receiver does this issue matter? If so, how would the camera be able to handle 2 of these flashes. Man I feel dumb

[Dennismc]

I am sure you will get a lot better responses then mine, but I am going through the same thing at the moment, and so far, I am leaning on this kit.

3 studio flash/strobe, softbox,3 backdrops, more - eBay (item 140378362622 end time Feb-26-10 18:37:21 PST)

The specs on the strobes appear to be decent enough to start with, comes with the sync cable, so if you want wireless you would need to pick on up, there are inexpensive kits on ebay for around 30 bucks.

If I had the funds I would go with 2 Alienbee 400's and a couple of stands and wireless triger, but the AB400 are 225.00 each. Plus a decent set of smith-victor stands will run around 125.00

plus mounts etc..

[zona5101]

besides what you listed: 2 light stands, two swivel mounts (holds the umbrella, has a place to mount the flash and attachs to the lightstand). Depending on the strobes and recievers you may need sync cords.

[Swisstony10]

Before I splashed out on studio flashes, I was using a couple of Vivitar 285Vs with a motley assortment of umbrellas and stuff, triggering them with the deliciously cheap Cactus V2s triggers. That was shooting with a Canon 400D (which I think is what Canon call the Rebel xs here in the UK - if not, it's pretty close to the same model) and I never had any triggering problems. In fact, a lot people complain about getting repeated misfires with their Cactus triggers, unless they make serious modifications, but I have to say that apart from a very VERY few occasions, I found them to be reliable and convenient.

Gadget Infinity (who make the Cactus triggers) now manufacture the Vivitar 285V flashgun, but with a different badge on it, since Vivitar went down the pan. They do complete kits with a stand, 285V (clone), Cactus trigger, umbrella, and hot-shoe mount to stick the flashgun and trigger on the stand.

Russ.