As I’m moving out to my own place on short term, though it feels like it is taking ages... and tons of paperwork and worthless questions. At least I have some space to take photo’s.

Let’s continue with the real story. Ordered 2x250 Watt Linkstar (Linkstar LF-250A) studio flashes. No fancy stuff, just some nice basic flashes, good price, and features that are handy. I noticed that a lot of basic flashes are missing “important” functions.

Like automatic power dump (when you change the power level from 1/1 to 1/4 is needs to dump the already charged power, by flashing. With the el-cheapo you need to trigger it yourself, or otherwise the next shot will be overexposed. (flash will be to strong.)

Also the modeling light is more powerful (150 watt, instead of the 75 watt). The Flash duration is pretty short, 1/700 of a second. and the color temperatures is almost daylight-like. Big advance is that step-less power control from 1/1 till 1/32. A lot of the el-cheapo’s only have 1/8 as minimum, and there for cannot been used in smaller environments.

The flashes also have an optical eye, which means that you only need to trigger one flash with a x-sync cable or wireless transmitter/receiver combination.

So far my impression is good, decent build quality though a bit less plastic and more metal wouldn’t harm. At least he important components are from metal: Bayonet mount (which is even the same as many professional equipment) and the shell.

I’m hoping that the next journal update will be from my own place with some good photo’s and can try out some lighting techniques.

- Maurice