2010-11-20T19:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Great Beginner Kit
I've only used these lights for some portraits, but the results have been great. They offer plenty of power for singles or couples, and I imagine groups as well but have not tried. The set-up is very simple, and while the stands aren't heavy-duty by any means, they won't fall over easily. The umbrellas are a good size for portraits/couples. There's one shoot-through and one silver w/ black back. I had hoped the black back was removable, but it is not. Needed to use a little force to get the umbrella to slide in under the strobe, but nothing crazy. Overall, I think this is a great value for beginning studio photographers.
RYAN M.
2008-11-27T19:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Excellent For The Money
I needed some lighting for occasional shooting for my wife's home fashion design business. I was a little hesitant in buying this kit as I thought at this low price it might be junk!
Once I received the kit I was pleasantly surprised. While it won't win any design awards (think 1980s Soviet Union, rather than Apple's Jonathan Ives!), I found it to be a nicely portable set up that is well behaved. It does what it says on the box! Nothing more, nothing less.
Sure, the power is a little low and the stands are not as sturdy as some (but then Mr. Bean should stay out of the studio!), but I would say that in this instance, you get more than what you pay for.
The lack of the availability of a large softbox is a negative (of course you'd probably want more power for a large box), but what can you expect at this price?
As others have pointed out, the modeling lamp bulb protrudes a little, meaning that there's the potential for breaking bulbs if you're not careful. But you can buy a lot of spare bulbs for the money you'll save buying this kit. Also, there's a $6 cover available, although I haven't bought those (yet).
I'll have to give this product 5-stars. Not because it's the best lighting kit out there, but because it's a great kit for the money, and in 99% of cases it'll give you the same results as a kit costing twice as much.
Jon S.
2008-01-20T19:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Excellent first flash kit; good for pros
This is and excellent first flash kit for photographers new to using studio flash, whether it be for portraits, products, high-speed, etc. It is, however, also sufficiently powerful for a pro photographer in a relatively non-demanding studio environment, i.e. non-commercial portraits/products.
The reflectors are built into the flash heads, so any accessories, i.e. softboxes, snoots, barn doors, must be bought from JTL and mounting is not as simple as it could be. These accessories must also funtion with the given limitation of having the reflectors built in.
The mode;ling lamp also sticks out about 1/2 an inch, so great care must be taken in handling and storing them, which is made somewhat easier by the included carrying case.
Overall, though, excellent product; the pros far outweight the cons, especially for photographers new to studio flash!!
Hunter G.
2007-11-09T19:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Good for starts
I bought this set at the last minute before heading out on a trip. They seem to be best suited for indoor use.
The stands are very flimsy, and I've had a few close calls with them falling over. As long as you're careful, you shouldn't have much trouble.
The thing that really bothered me about these lights is that there's no reflector. I don't really need a reflector around the light, but it's nice to have in case the light falls over. Otherwise you end up with a broken bulb. Again, this wouldn't be as much of an issue if the modeling light didn't stick out half an inch.
Overall, I would recommend this outfit because it is inexpensive, light-weight, and thus far has served me well.
Poet
2007-10-04T21:00:00
Rated 3 out of 5
Low Buck Starter Kit
The JTL DL-320 kit is a very basic starter kit and as such I would expect more in the line of how to use it.
The equipment feels weak and borders on flimsy. However, it is inexpensive, so you get what you pay for.
The umbrellas don't fit in their holder very well so you have to over adjust them to get the correct angle and one of my lights doesn't beep when ready.
In spite of all this, I continue to use them and get adequate service from them, within their limits.
CMC
2007-02-11T19:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Great value for the begining photog
This is a great kit for someone who is just breaking into studio lighting. The lights are small and light, complete with stands, bulbs, flashes, ubrellas, and carry case. The JTL's have been reliable and have provided consistent results. This is a great starter kit for single portraits. You may wish to add 1 or 2 more strobes if you are intending to do family portraits.
On the down side, you are somewhat limited with the choice of accessories. If you are needing large softboxes or octaboxes, you may want to look for higher power / strudier lights and stands.
Haley I.
