which kit would you choose?

[gbay_bay]

<p>I'm a student looking to get a lighting kit for my personal photography work as well as getting some money through portrait commissions. I have a budget around about £300. I've found 3 possible kits and i would like to hear your opinions on these kits<br>

<a href="http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1029807">lastolite lumen8 sv</a><br>

<a href="http://www.studio-flash.com/d-series/d-series-professional-digital-studio-400-p-454.html">elemental D series (heard good reviews on this company from forums and practical photography mag)</a><br>

<a href="http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1015693">Interfit venus 300</a><br>

im from the uk if that makes any difference<br>

any advice would be helpful thanks in advance</p>

 

[colda]

<p>I'm also in the UK - I went with the Elinchrom d-lite 2 kit which I really like, although if I were to go through the process again I'd probably go with the Bowens system for the simple reason that Elinchrom accessories are expensive.</p>

<p>From the 3 kits that you've listed I'd go for the Lasolite Lumen8 SV's - I saw some at an expo and they look nice, they are the most powerful of the 3 sets and they use the 'S Type Bayonet' (like the Bowens system) - the Interfit kit also uses the same fitting, never heard of the elemental D's</p>

[garry edwards]

<p>I'm not going to make recommendations, we don't allow spam on PN and some forums do, especially when the seller of the product is also an advertiser on their site...<br>

You need to be very careful of statements made by some advertisers (and by some magazines). It isn't necessarily a benefit to buy mono lights, which contain very high voltages, if they are encased in cast metal, which unlike ABS also tends to break if it has a knock.<br>

You may find <a href="http://www.photolearn.co.uk/free_pdf/How%20to%20choose%20your%20studio%20lights.pdf">this short article on how to choose studio lights</a> helpful.</p>

[gbay_bay]

<p>Although i understand your idea of people being misleading due to sponsorship etc (i beleive ephotozine and elemental perhaps and also your association with lencarta). However if i cant get peoples opinions from the forums which is supposed to give people advice were am i to ask. Thankyou for the link and advice and more opinions would be welcome</p>

[garry edwards]

<p>I try to give helpful advice and I try to make sure that my advice is both honest and impartial, commercial photographers get to learn quite a lot about their clients and their products but I certainly don't allow the fact that Lencarta are clients of mine to influence anything I say.<br>

I understand your frustration and I hope that you do get some other opinions on PN</p>