A lot to pay for things which can be done other ways. What I don't see in the kit is any modifier that would improve the lighting on a face.
The light bulb attachment will light up a room similar to bounce off a ceiling, providing diffuse light but without any real control over placement or ratio.
The snoot attachment would be useful for a spotlight effect, but the same effect can be obtained with a few cents worth of foil. Same for the filters. For a buck you can buy a Rosco sampler that as gels which fit over the hotshoe perfectly.
The dish attachment doesn't appear big enough to function like a studio light dish does, using the "hole" in the middle of the light pattern created by the plate in the middle to prevent a hot spot in the forehead when feathered in a butterfly pattern. If you buy it I'd be interested to see how it works.
PeterBerressem wrote:
Here's even more for less ;-) www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/621563-REG/Interfit_STR100_STR100_Strobies_Portrait_Kit.html
Comment from a user on a UK photo site
"The kit arrived this morning. I've had a look at it and have to say that it looks to be of flimsy construction, particularly the beauty dish. I can't see this stuff standing much more than occasional use. I think I may be using the returns policy."
Even though I wouldn't use most or any of this kit for my style of shooting, I think it's kinda cool and some people may find usefulness in a kit like this.
PeterBerressem wrote:
Here's even more for less ;-)
The Calumet set is US$139.99; the Strobies set is US$149.95 + US$7.95 for the flash-specific mounting unit.
The two sets are not identical, so it's not a direct comparison, but the Strobies set is definitely not less expensive unless I'm reading the Web sites wrong.
For beauty dishes I recommend you get one that suits the strobes that you either own or think you will own. You then just need to come up with a bracket to mount the dish to a speedring and the flash to the ring. I use a broncolor beauty dish with an SB800 (and it is also modified to fit my profoto strobes!)
Cinefoil is excellent for snoots. Grids either make them from black straws or buy honeycone from that airflow straightener website
dazey wrote:
For beauty dishes I recommend you get one that suits the strobes that you either own or think you will own. You then just need to come up with a bracket to mount the dish to a speedring and the flash to the ring.
That's a good idea if the compact size of the Strobies et al isn't needed.
Kacey Enterprises in Monroe, Washington makes a lightweight beauty dish and also sells both a single- and a double-flash Speedlight adapter for it.
