| Brand: | Smith Victor | ||
| Average Rating |
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Designed to fulfill basic lighting requirements at an exceptionally affordable price, the improved KT900 features two UM-6 umbrella mounts, 5/8 more info
KT900 3Light 1250Watt MiniBoom Kit
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Novice Challenges
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I am a novice photographer, so take this with a grain of salt… I just bought this kit and it included no instructions and lots of components. I suppose if you are accustomed to using these kits, putting them together must seem self-explanatory. If you are new to these kits you will find it frustrating. It is also frustrating to discover Smith Victor does not have a support site (just references on photography). They do not even provide a support # or address. Keep all this in mind when considering something from this company.
Extras Needed for Use with HD Video Cameras
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We’ve used the kit for two shoots and it is well designed. For the money, it is a great value. However, for those who want to use it with a modern HD video camera, some extras are necessary. This is because newer HD cameras and camcorders are very sensitive to light, as compared with most older SD models. Consequently, it is very easy to over light your subjects when doing video shoots with this kit.
For this reason, you should definitely get the SV DP5 5″ diffusion screen for the back fill. We originally bought one DC-1 dimmer control for our kit. However, we found that even with the umbrellas, we were still over lighting our subject due to the high sensitivity of our Sony HD camera. We removed the umbrellas and bounced the light off the wall to finish the shoot. However, we’ve order two more DC-1 dimmer controls to give us the ability we want.
BUY A STROBE INSTEAD
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
These are TUNGSTEN LIGHTS which are no good to most studio lighting entrepreneurs. It will give the wrong colors for people who want accurate lighting techniques. Adorama is a great company to work with but this product is a waste of money for photographers who want to get on their feet. Get a strobe instead for all your lighting needs! I switched to strobes immediately after I bought this product and have had an amazing difference. Strobes are way better!
Fine for what it is
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just got this product today, and at first glance, it seems like it’s going to be an excellent tool for learning studio lighting. Based on other reviews, I thought it might be cheap construction; it’s actually not bad. One reviewer said that theirs did not come with instructions. Mine came with two different instruction booklets: one for the boom setup, and one for the regular light stand setups. Maybe his/hers was a bad shipment. The instructions provided with mine did the trick, and I had the kit setup in a matter of minutes.
kt900 gets the job done. I will tell you how.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
KT900 3-Light 1250-Watt Mini-Boom Kit
This kit arrived quickly. It had every thing in the box correctly. I took a chance on this kit since it was my firt light kit. You learn by doing! So I learned that it can get the job done but you have to find just the right adjustments in the light placement and your camera settings. I have a kodak z812 but if you have a better camera then you will have more fun I am sure. Play with the lighting set up and try different positions and start with one light only! The biggest problem will be a orange tint on the subject, thats what you get using hot lights! Thats why strobe is preferred. However, you can eliminate this two ways… one, use your photo software on the computer. Two, get that light close to the subject about 2 feet from the face and you will get true light and a great photo. It’s just like placing a softbox right next to the subject. It takes alot of photo test shots to find the light you are looking for on your subjects. Good Luck. If this is all you can afford give it a try or if you have a SLR digital try a one light set up instead with a mono light and a flash trigger on your camera or a flash strobe with an umbrella. It is better to get one good flash strobe and add on later.
Save your money
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
KT900 3-Light 1250-Watt Mini-Boom Kit
This kit should be an embarrassment for Smith-Victor. I decided to purchase this expecting it to be entry level equipment. It is not. I have seen SV lights and expected a modest version of their equipment. The stands may qualify. They are functional. However the rest of this kit is garbage. The lights are nothing more than shop lights from any home store painted black. I would be very surprised if they are rated for the 500W 0r 250W bulbs which are included. Those bulbs burnt out within 5 minutes of operation.
I would recommend you take your money and buy one decent $200-$250 light, rather than waste your money on this kit. I have purchased items online for over 10 years. This is the most disappointing product I have ever seen. I am getting a RA from Adorama to return.
I am also a little upset with Adorama as a result. I don’t expect a ocmpany with their reputation to sell products this cheesy.
Good value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This kit, although not for the died in the wool professional, is an excellent starting point for serious amateurs to learn how to use studio lighting effectively without spending a fortune. I has the basic ingredients to experiment with and produce excellent results.
Smith Victor Company’s Service and professionalism is is terrible
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought a Smith Victor Kit KT800U and recieved it 2 weeks ago. This kit has umbrella for the
lights but they did not send with the kit the mounting parts to attach the umbrella to the tripod. I
called and told them this and they said they would send it to me using ground shipping which took a
week to get here.
I get the part to attach the umbrella but they did not send me the screws to attach the part to
the tripod they onoy sent me the mount. So I called again and told them, they said they would send it
to me again using ground shipping so another week before I get the part. I aksed if they could send
it overnight since I have this kit for 2 weeks and cant use the umbrellas with it and I must wait
another week to get another part.
They actually got angry with me when I was begging that they send it to me since I have family
visiting this week and wanted to use the kit to take pictures of.
The kit cost $285 US its not the greatest kit very cheaply made but I knew this when I bought it
and it was fine for me as I did not have much money to spend on it but the service is amazing BAD,
and unprofessional to say the least.
Great starter light set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my first lighting set and I’m very happy with it. One other reviewer complained of the lights giving the wrong colors, not sure what you mean there. I uploaded a photo from one of my shoots (auburn hair, polka dotted dress) and as far as I can see the color seems fine.
Regarding instructions, this came with several sheets of assembly instructions but I found it pretty intuitive and didn’t have any issues getting it set up.
They could be built a bit more sturdy since they are intended for mobility but I think as long as you take care setting up and breaking down they are plenty strong enough. I would recommend getting a dimmer switch and a diffusion screen for the 5 inch boom light though.
DP5 5 In. Diffusion Screen
DC-1 Dimmer Control
Smith Victor KT900
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I would like to have seen it constructed out of heavier material but I also guess it would cause the price to go up.. But tell ya what, I love my equipment!!!!!!!! Does a great job and I would order from this company again…
Broken bulbs
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Product is exactly what I expected, except that two out of the three bulbs were broken when I opened the package…no external damage to packaging was visible.
Great lights!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These lights came in quickly and were great for filming a green screen shoot. The case is great too, because you can wheel it around.
Great light kit
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Deliver on time. Item has been a great investment for my photography business. Improved digital image quality greatly! Outdoor/natural light photography is what I perfer, but for some sessions (infants, maternity, rainy days, etc.) I must work indoors. Also, I do some event photography (sports, dance, gym) and the set up has worked great. The carrying case is a must have!!!!
Good lighting – bad constructions
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This kit produces great lighting once set up but the construction could be higher quality for the same low price in my opinion.
I got the kit and it only contained instructions for the boom assembly for the hair-light, nothing for the confusing ball joints that hold the light fixtures. After figuring out how to assemble these, they are just okay. Occasionally I want a certain angle and the ball head joints cant support the light fixture once the umbrella is open.
The tripod style light stands themselves are decent quality.
Smith-Victor needs some quality control in their packaging department to make sure all instructions are there. Reading other reviews mentions their terrible customer service.
I ordered this from Amazon via Adorama Camera. Both Amazon and Adorama are EXCELLENT to deal with and will continue to do business with them.
It’s okay, BUT…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I purchased this light kit to serve as a full-time travel kit for my photography business. The carrying kit is awesome because it’s a hard-case on wheels. Gotta love that! The downside to this is the mini-boom is not the easiest to put together. It doesn’t quite fit on the tri-pod as tightly as I would like it to fit. It swivels a lot if you’re not careful. Overall a nice kit if you’re looking to leave it in a studio for 3-point lighting. Price is right if you’re just starting out and you are looking for a cheap way to light in a small studio.
Great kit for the money!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R31QJBUCHEVJKB You could spend a whole lot more on this! But this is a great kit, its brighter than some of the less expensive models. It also can be broken down and put back into the handy carrying case that it comes with. It allows you to get the three basic light types and produce nice looking video or stills. I use it together with both a digital camera and a HD camcorder, and am very happy with it.
Valuable Item
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This item has come in handy for webcam productions at our client’s offices … they are pleased with this item.
AWESOME PRODUCT
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Well, I finally got to use my Smith Vector Boom kit and lights. It arrived very quickly. Thanks to amazon for speedy delivery. The contents were in perfect condition. No missing parts, no broken light bulbs. Assembly was a breeze. I mean easy! It must have taken me no longer than 20 minutes to put together. The instructions were very simple and basic. Not much can go wrong. What I love about this product is the portability factor. It is very light, yet sturdy enough to be moved about from setup to shoot to packing away. The case it comes with is awesome. I do alot of video shoots, so the ease of portability is a must and this product delivers. To quality of the light output is very impressive considering the price. The bulbs produce a nice bright and vibrant picture.
The kit includes a light setup chart which is nice if you know little about lighting. This kit will give you the tools you need to experiment and produce beautiful results. I highly recommend it for any newcomer to the world of lighting. A great inexpensive yet excellent quality product.
Nice light kit
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am very pleased with the KT900 kit I bought. I am a matuer photographer and it really has improved my photos considerable. To use house lamps and a flash for good photos is just not the way to go. I encourage anyone who is looking to get a light kit to start with this model.
It also works well for my green screen use when I do chroma key for video.
The only thing you may need to be careful of is the back light will tip over if you over extend it. You may need to snad bag the base so as to avoid knocking out your talent.
Great Product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I cheated and bought this from Ritz Camera. When I had a slightly defective umbrella, their reply was to bring the whole kit back and they’d have to order a new one. That was not going to happen. They were local so I thought I was doing a good service. Nope, never again. Their custumor service sucked!
Well I called Smith Victor the lady just took my email address and said she was sending a new one out. No questions asked. I thought that would be worth mentioning here.
I’m a beginner and these lights are perfect for me. The video came out great and the lighting made all the difference. I’m totally satisfied with this purchase and very unsatisfied with Ritz Camera. It was even more expensive than Amazon. So buy it here!
KT900 3-Light 1250-Watt Mini-Boom Kit
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Very beginner user only, with that said, the light kit for the price gives you what you need, the poles extend nicely, bit on the cheap side, but work for what they are trying to do, the lights setup is bit confusing with little instructions, but works well. The Boom extend out far, but needs a sand bag to keep it from falling over. Comes with 2 400 bulbs that don’t last long, and the light is too soft, but it’s very very bring. The case is very nice, and has wells. I recommend this for armature use only.
Exactly What I Needed at A Price I Needed It for!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was very happy with the product. It serves me well. Fast delivery, good service by the vender. I got the project done and it will serve me well on into the future. Great travel storage case, Heavy plastic unit.
Good quality light stands.
Everything I wanted
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Smith Victor KT900 light set has met all my needs. I am an inspiring photographer and this kit opened a whole new dimension to my work.
nice
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Well, im starting with studio photography and i found in this kit pretty much what i was looking for, nice black hard plastic case to carry it, good materials quality, excellent to start a studio.
You get what you pay for
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
The construction is chinsey… NOT portable like it is promoted. Yes, you CAN take it with you, but if a subject sneezes, the boom light falls over. The light stands are very flimsy, and were difficult to assemble (no instructions).
Produces decent light, but I wish I would have saved my pennies and bought a more professional version of lighting. Honestly, that’s what I would recommend… make the jump to the higher price point, you’ll regret starting with such a BASIC and CHEAP set.