need lighting information?

[Life in Motion]

Amazon.com: CowboyStudio Photo Studio Monolight Flash Lighting Kit - 2 Studio Flash/Strobe, 2 Softboxes, 1 Background Support System, Black & White Muslin Backdrops and Carry Case: Electronics

This is a link from amazon.com. i'm looking to buy my first lighting kit. my question is i think this looks like a great price for what you get. but i really don't know much about lighting. so if i want to use this outside will it work? also i see i can trigger it to flash with my camera? will i be able to do this with just my pop-up flash too? or do i need to get a 580 flash unit? is it absolutely necessary to have the external 580 flash unit to produce great photos?

I'm looking to spend AROUND 200 total? so if i have to have the 580 unit there goes my budget lol. I thought i might just get an arm for it to extend it to the side to give the 45 degree angle effect and maybe a portable softbox that attaches to it...i've seen others use this somewhere. then a kit of 5-1 43" in reflectors for $12 (here's the link for that if anyone is interested Amazon.com: 43" 110CM Round Multi Disc Light Reflector! Portable, 5 in 1: Translucent, Silver, Gold, White, and Black! Collapsible! Perfect for Studio or any Photography Situation!: Camera & Photo).

I'm really not sure what i need so any advice would be great

[Benji]

Any time an ad says it is "perfect for any photography situation" it won't be so forget the portable 5 in 1 reflector baloney. that is like saying a Corvette is a perfect car for every transportation situation. Get the Cowboy set. Forget the 580. For the Cowboy kit you MAY need one additional item depending on whether your camera has a PC outlet or not. If not you can buy one that fits onto the hot shoe for about $15.00 or less. You then plug one end of the synch cord into the PC outlet and the other end into the fill light.

Benji

[Life in Motion]

thank you for your reply! I am glad to get some advice from someone who knows what they are talking about . One more thing. do you think the cowboy set has strong enough bulbs for portraits? if not what is the correct bulb strength used for the main light and also good strength for a fill light bulb? thank you very much