Equipment Advice-Monolight vs cheap flashes.

[jml79]

I have scraped together about $250 and want to build a very budget strobe setup. i have found a kit with 2 - 160ws monolights w/ modeling lights, stands, umbrellas and a giant bag at adorama for $199. Or I could get 2 Yongnou 460-II speedlights (slightly less powerful than a SB-900 or 580-EXii) with stands and umbrellas for a few dollars more, no bag. I have already decided to get some cheap radio triggers as well (Likely IFlash PT-04 for Sony).

None of the flashes can be used on my camera due to it being a Sony so that is not a consideration, just portability vs more power and no batteries. I already have one Pentax thyristor flash with an optical trigger. I do a real mix of photography and am still learning my niche when it comes to strobing.

What would you recommend and why based on your experiences.

Thanks everyone.

[zona5101]

160w monolight isn't going to have a significant power output advantage, depending on how you shoot, I would think the portability and zero need for an AC outlet would give the nod to the portable strobe setup...

[archersdad]

If you are going to be in a studio (kitchen table/whatever), go with the adorama setup. If you are ever going to need a portable set, go strobist. One thing to keep in mind with the YN strobes is that their ratings are VERY off. I have a couple 460's and 460-II's and I would say they are at least 2 stops dimmer than a 580EX-II. I generally use them for background and hair-lights but I have used them for mains a couple times and they do OK as long as I keep the aperture at 3.5 or larger.

[spcandrew]

I shoot with both speedlights and monolights. If it's your first set of lights and you are on a limited budget, go with the speedlights because the monolight sets for that price range are low, low quality. My very first set as a Cowboy studio 2 monolight set similar to the one you describe, and the build quality was terrible. I didn't realize how terrible until I bought some quality monolights. Basically, I threw $200 down the drain because the monolight housing was cheap and flimsy plastic, the sync cord socket broke the first time I tried plugging a sync cord into it, etc. Some of the threads stripped, etc. For $200, you simply are not going to get quality monolights that last. Also, as you progress with your photography, you will quickly outgrow them. I still have those 2 crappy cowboy studio monolights, but I use them solely as background lights now.

On the other hand, the two Canon 430 EX speedlights I bought before the cheap monolight kit, are still chugging along and I use them frequently.

So, my recommendation is buy the speedlights now, then get the monolights when you can afford a decent kit that will last longer.

[jml79]

Thanks for the advice. Archersdad kind of made my decision for me. I can't afford any of the brand name lights and I am not sure I even want the Sony speed lights with their non-standard shoe. My fastest lens is an f/3.5 so the Yongnou's will be working on the edge.

I am getting a cheap set off of ebay for now fully realizing that some day they will be my background lights. $185 for a full set shipped from within Canada. Oh yeah, that's the other issue. Being in Canada really killed my choices with brokerage fees starting at $25 and climbing. The set from Adorama ended up costing over $100 more with shipping and fees. Alien Bees are the same story. I am just going to have to save some extra money for my next trip to the US and have some stuff shipped to my hotel.

Ebay item # 200562621529 if anyone is interested.