Lighting Equipment

[Kelsonmassif]

Hi Team,

was wondering if anyone has any good deals on places to get some flash stands, holders and umbrellas?

was going to buy from WPS but thought id ask here first :cool:

[robo git]

I get stuff down from Auckland pretty often - email graham@progear.co.nz

ProGear started as a TradeMe seller, now has a bricks & morter store in Railway St, Newmarket, AKL.

Plus if it's stands and similar, you might find pretty much any old TradeMe parallel importer is actually fine for what you want. It's for actually buying the strobes (or glass, or electronics) that I'd start being concerned about NZ-based stores.

Other than that, there's always places like Midwest Photo Exchange in the US:
http://www.mpex.com/

Like anything, if you want the right kit for the right dollars, you'll need to hunt a little.

[Redal]

Hi Team,

was wondering if anyone has any good deals on places to get some flash stands, holders and umbrellas?

was going to buy from WPS but thought id ask here first :cool:


What type of flashes are you putting on the stands and accessories ?
If they are just camera speedlights id just get them off trademe, saying that I have got all my camera gear off trademe :)

[Kelsonmassif]

yip just some nikon speedlights

[Moppie]

I've got some stands, umbrellas and mounts from John Thompson: http://www.johnthomson.co.nz/

I've a few bits from him, and he is very good.

[Redal]

Thats who i got my stands and bits and pieces for my speedlights, he is on trademe and his customer service is great.

[talan]

I've got some stands, umbrellas and mounts from John Thompson: http://www.johnthomson.co.nz/

I've a few bits from him, and he is very good.
Thinking about getting some lightstands from him once I order my strobes :P

[Moppie]

He has some nice products, they are at the cheap end of the market, but fine for hobbiest use.
And, his customer service is second to none.

I have two of these light stands: http://store.johnthomson.co.nz/product.php?productid=16419&cat=329&page=1

Both have been dipped in the ocean and used on the beach, and show no signs of suffering for it.
They have a spring in the bottom of the collumn that stops each extension sticking in place, and the clamps are good and strong.

I used these umbrellas: http://store.johnthomson.co.nz/product.php?productid=16455&cat=335&page=1

With these http://store.johnthomson.co.nz/product.php?productid=16172&cat=263&page=1

The only problem with the holders is getting them tight enough on the shoe mount of my Catus triggers.
I tried to put one together in a dark cave the other day and the trigger and flash fell out 3 times, the 3rd time it smashed the trigger and damaged the flash (both were fixed with some soldering and a bit of epoxy).
They just need a little care, or a bigger knurled thumb screw to tighten the shoe mount.

[thirdkid]

Progear FTW..they are great there and their stuff are quite cheap compared to some other camera stores

[talan]

Progear FTW..they are great there and their stuff are quite cheap compared to some other camera stores
Not for a Manfrotto 190XPROB and 486RC ballhead. I got mine from Photowarehouse which was a bit cheaper. But admittedly, the service I got from Progear was much better. I pretty much got no service at all at Photowarehouse. Was standing next to the tripods for ages, staff walked past me a few times, said nothing until I asked someone.

Can't speak for lenses or any other gear. Progear do seem to have a very good rep so (Y) for that.

[BruceLimNZ]

I highly recommend Progear as well. Service is usually pretty good (can be a bit slow to answer some e-mails) and top prices on genuine products.

I also second everyone else that have recommended John Thompson - I buy lots of little bits and pieces off him, reflectors, wireless shutter release, light stands - cheaper end of the market but can't fault anything I've brought so far.

But anything with "Canon"on it is purchased from Progear, camera body, lenses, flashes...

---------- Post added at 11:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------

Visited Photowarehouse a few weekends ago during a visit to Auckland (live in Hamilton), a few customers in the shop, 3 staff on, all behind one counter talking about the activities from the night before. No one offerred to help me at all, even when I wondered over to look at the studio lights.

[Haim]

^ i know what you are talking about... the service sometimes is not that great at photo warehouse... but i've had a pretty nice sales rep ONCE at their mega store.

maybe they get too much business to give a shit?

any way... i didnt do much business with progear but i know EGD is like a VIP there ..... so it MUST be a good place!!

[BruceLimNZ]

I also visted Photo Warehouse in Auckland a few months ago. I had visited their site many times, although have purchased all my Canon-specific gear from Progear and non Canon-specific stuff (lightstands, umbrellas etc) from John Thomson.

Their service sucks!!! It was a Sunday afternoon, and the three staff their were leaning against the rear display counters talking about the antics of the previous night. There were a handfull of customers in the store and not a single one of their staff made any attempt to talk to any of us. Not even when I wandered over to the studio lighting system. I was in there for at least 20 minutes - looking for something to buy! I didn't know what I wanted but I had a bit of spare cash and that usually ends up on something photography related.

Their service sucks if you ask me and I doubt I will be going out of my way to visit their store ever again.