New Strobist Gear

[n00g33]

Hi

I'm planning on getting a lighting setup. I've got an D90 and SB900. Done a bit of research and this is what I've come up with.

YN 460 II flash (gonna use it in manual)
YN RF602 wireless controller + 2 triggers (is there better bang for buck models?)
and a couple of 2.8m stands with umbrellas (want to get dual but mite just get it later so it doesn't feel like I'm spending a lot in one go :D)


Any problems in this setup?
Are the 2.8m stands overkill? is 2m enough? I can't decide. I just go bigger and then I don't have to worry.

[I @ M]

My thoughts
Buy the 2.8 metre stands, you can always make them only go to 1.8 metres but you can't make the 1.8 ones go to 2.8

I am a fan of the rf602 triggers, good value and seem to last ok.

Lash out and buy an SB600, you can still use that perfectly in manual mode but if the need occurs you can team it perfectly with the SB900 and use them both remotely with full metering.
I know this last option adds $$$ to the end balance but in the long run I reckon it will be worth it. :)

[fastr1red]

Only thing with the RF-602 setup it doesn't transmit the TTL data. The TR-331 is TTL but a lot more exe.

[mpot]

YN RF602 wireless controller + 2 triggers (is there better bang for buck models?)
Phottix will be releasing the Strato 4-in-1 Trigger soon - similar features to the RF-602, but also has a hotshoe on top of the transmitter with ETTL pass-through, so you can mix ETTL devices (ie, a TTL flash / ST-E2 / etc on the hotshoe) with non-ETTL devices (triggered by the Strato).
I'll be posting a full review of the Strato on my blog (http://martybugs.net/blog) in the near future.


Are the 2.8m stands overkill? is 2m enough? I can't decide. I just go bigger and then I don't have to worry.
As I @ M said, get the 2.8m stands, as it'll give you the flexibility to go higher when you need to.

[mpot]

Only thing with the RF-602 setup it doesn't transmit the TTL data. The TR-331 is TTL but a lot more exe.

I'd love to have some TTL triggers that work reliably over RF...but from what I've read, the TR-331 isn't very reliable at all.

[n00g33]

Thanks for the input guys. I decided to go with the YN 460 II over the sb600. The whole kit altogether was a bit over $300 whereas one sb600 wouldve been $300 itself (grey) minimum. The TTL will have to wait. I'm only just starting out with this so it'll do.

[fastr1red]

I'd love to have some TTL triggers that work reliably over RF...but from what I've read, the TR-331 isn't very reliable at all.

Thanks for that info mpot, good to know.
I'll have a look at that Strato when you've checked it out.