What is Strobist?
Is the Strobist route right for me?
Why should I buy from Midwest Photo Exchange?
Does Midwest Photo Exchange have a retail store?
Is my camera compatible with Strobist gear?
Is my flash going to fry my camera?
What light stand is right for me?
What’s the difference in umbrellas?
What are the different options for triggering a flash off camera?
Do I need Color Correction filters?
How do I get a Rosco Sample Gel Pack?
How do I attach my Flash and/or Umbrella to a light stand?
Do you offer Strobist Kits?
Can I customize a Strobist kit?
What is a DIY Accessory Kit?
Can I get a shipping quote before I place my order?
What are you international ship options and rates?
How do I track my order and my shipment?
What if I have additional questions?

What is Strobist?
Strobist is a website, a philosophy, and even a life-style started by David Hobby in 2006. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to spend some time browsing the Strobist site: http://Strobist.com
For more details on what Strobist is, here is an article:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html

To interact with over 12,000 Strobist fans, post photos, read reviews, ask specific questions, I highly recommend you visit the Strobist Flickr Group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist

Is the Strobist route right for me?
Strobist is right for some and not for others.
Pros:
1.Experiment and use off camera flash without spending a large amount of money on studio lighting.
2.Have/create and extremely portable off camera lighting without the bulk and weight of moonlights and integrated studio lighting setups.
3.Having battery powered strobes are often ideal for doing on location work.
4.The Strobist community and resource is awesome. While many of the articles and discussions will apply if you use other lighting systems, they are geared to using shoe mount flashes. If you go the Strobist route, you will find yourself in good company. Expect a lifetime resource for accomplishing a growing number of lighting techniques.
Cons:
1.The small shoe mount flashes are limited in power. While the output is plenty for many applications, under many other circumstances you may find yourself wishing you had the power of a traditional studio/location strobe. If you find that you need more power than what the shoe mount flashes have to offer there are many choices to choose from. Among my favorites are the Profoto and Elinchrom lighting systems. For a more economic route, take a look at the OPUS lights. If you absolutely need AC/DC power, look at the Photogenic 320B AC/DC monolight or Quantum Q-flash in combination with either the Photogenic battery or a Quantum Turbo battery. On the high-end, I highly recommend looking at the Profoto 7B system.
2.Strobist is perfect for those wishing to DIY (Do it yourself.) The accessories for shoe mount strobes are much more limited than the traditional studio/location strobes. If you want a grid-spot, a snoot, a variety of softboxes, reflectors, you will have to build them yourself. Companies that produce professional studio strobes typically have dozens of accessories to choose from, and there are a plethora of after market products made as well.
3.Many shoe mount flashes are DC only which means that you will be limited to battery power.
4.Be prepared and be warned. Eventually Strobist.com is highly addictive. While visiting the Strobist site, and the Flickr group several times daily is considered work for me, your boss might not be as forgiving as mine.

Why should I buy from Midwest Photo Exchange?
Midwest Photo Exchange has been family owned and operated for over 16 years. We do our best to offer the best of all worlds. Knowledgeable sales reps (we're all photographers,) competitive pricing, and customer service that is becoming rare in industries across the board. Bottom line, you can expect us to spend the time to answer your questions and get you set up with the gear you need. Our philosophy dictates making customers, not making a quick buck. None of the sales associates are on commission, so don't be surprised when we advise you spend less than you expected. Getting the right gear, at the right price, with a personal touch will have you shopping with us for years to come. Midwest Photo Exchange is a primary sponsor of Strobist.com. Expect that we will be helping to keep Strobist free for you all as long as it is around. We stay in close contact with both David Hobby and the Strobist community to offer the products you need. In addition to the custom gel packs, the exclusive 43” White w/removable black cover compact double fold umbrellas, Strobist kits, DIY accessory kit, we have many products in the pipeline created exclusively for Strobists over the next few years. Strobist has become it's own department here, so feel free to call and ask for Strobist help from a sales associate.

Does Midwest Photo Exchange have a retail store?
Yes. We are located in the heart of Columbus , Ohio and are open to the public year round.
Hours of operation are:
10-6 EST Monday-Friday
10-4 EST Saturday
Our address is:
3313 North High Street
Columbus , Ohio 43202

Is my camera compatible with Strobist gear?
If you have a Digital or Film SLR, Medium Format or Large format camera, the answer is 99% yes. All your camera requires is a hot shoe or PC outlet.
For cameras that do not have a PC outlet, you will want to look at the SN1, SN2, SW1, SW2, PW1 or PW2 kits. Cameras without PC outlets include:
Nikon D40, D40x, D50, D70, D70s, D80
Canon Rebel XT, Rebel XTi
All Sony and Olympus Digital SLR cameras.
For more details see: Options for triggering your strobe below.
What flash is right for me?
Dedicated camera brands/models, ie, Nikon SB-800/600, Canon 580/430EX.
Pros:
- Highly reliable TTL (Through the Lens Metering) functionality. Allows for quick and easy shooting when you don't have the time to make manual adjustments for every shot.
- Dedicated trigger systems, albeit optical/infrared.
- Nikon Dedicated Flashes have a PC outlet for syncing to your camera or slave.
Cons:
- Expensive when compared to the non-dedicated flashes.
- Many do not have a PC outlet for syncing to your camera. Examples include the Nikon SB-50DX, SB6-600, and all Canon Speedlights with the exception of the new 580EX II.
Non-dedicated flashes (Ie.Vivitar 285HV)
Pros:
-For most Strobist applications, a flash such as the Vivitar 285HV is perfect for most any applications. I am yet to see David use or recommend using the TTL functionality of the dedicated flashes above.
-Much less expensive than the dedicated flashes.
-The Vivitar 285HV comes with a Short PC cord for easy syncing with your camera.
Cons:
-No built-in remote control functionality.
-No TTL functionality.
-If you decide on something other than a Vivitar 285HV, make sure it has a way to sync to a camera.
-Many non-dedicated flashes have proprietary sync jacks, and while this is better than having no jack at all, make sure you get a short PC cord to effectively sync your camera, or investigate using a Wein HSH (Hotshoe to Household adapter.)
Other considerations:
Bounce and swivel head: Can you tilt your flash up and down? This is effective for bouncing off the ceiling in a small enclosed room for example, and makes it more versatile for adaptation. All flashes mentioned above have this functionality.
Mechanical vs computer controls: The computer controls on a new flash is flexible, but aree also often more complex and cumbersome to use. The mechanical controls on a flash such as the Vivitar 285 is simple to set up and use. And the configuration does not change when you remove the battery from the flash for storage.
Additional Comments:
There is no ONE right answer. These are tools in your tool box. It is your job to pick the right tool for the job. There may be a good reason to have both dedicated flash (SB800) and non dedicated Vivitar 285HV in your kit.
See section below: ‘Is my flash going to fry my camera?'
Thanks to Gary for his extensive answers above.
Is my flash going to fry my camera?
The newer digital cameras are sensitive to Voltage emitted by strobes.
For quick reference, any modern Canon and Nikon flash emits a safe voltage for your digital SLR. As well the new Vivitar 285HV is also safe. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH ANY OLDER VIVITAR FLASHES.
For a comprehensive article on the subject:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/06/dont-fry-your-camera.html
For a list of user recorded voltage readings, as well as how to test your own flash:
http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html
What light stand is right for me?
There are a few different light stand options. Here are the two we recommend for most Strobist applications.
LumoPro LP604 Compact light stand:
Pros:
-Extremely small, folds to 19”
Cons:
-Only 6.5ft. High.
-Limited Stability (still just a bit more stable than the Bogen 001B.)
-Not air cushioned (watch your fingertips when you are lowering it so you don't get pinched!)
-More expensive than an 8ft. Air Cushioned. $39.95
Bogen Nano 001B (replaces old item number 3373/3353. Are otherwise identical to the 3373):
Pros:
-Extremely small, folds to 19”
Cons:
-Only 6.5ft. High.
-Limited Stability
-Relatively expensive ($55)
LumoPro 8 foot AC stand:
Pros:
-Costs less than the Bogen 001B Nano.
-Air Cushioned
-8ft. high
-Bigger foot-print, more stability
Cons:
-Does not fold as small as the Bogen Nano or LumoPro LP604. 28inches vs. 19inches.
Bottom line, figure out what your priorities are. If compact is your biggest need, get the Nano 001B or LP604, for everything else consider the LumoPro 8ft.
What's the difference in umbrellas?
David Hobby recommends the 43” Westcott Compact Double-fold umbrellas. The reason is that they fold smaller than any other umbrella on the market, and are a good size for reflecting/modifying light from a shoe mount strobe. Umbrellas are also available in many other sizes, most commonly 32”, 45”, 60”.
The 43” Umbrellas come in 3 varieties:
White:
-Produces the softest light, with some sacrifice of power. Intended to be used as shoot-through, not reflective.
Silver:
-Reflects the most amount of light, but is not as soft.
White w/Removable Black Cover:
-An MPEX exclusive. As the White above, but intended to be used as shoot-through or reflective.
What are the different options for triggering a flash off camera?
Sync Cords:
PC sync cords:
This option requires that your camera and flash have PC connections. If your flash has a male connection (ie. Vivitar
285HV,) you will need a PC extension cord – PC Male to PC Female, also described as PC-PC.
If your flash has a female connection (ie. Nikon Speedlites,) you will need a Male to Male PC cord.
House hold (AC) Sync cords:
This will require a house hold connection to your flash, such as the Wein HSH adapter.
Pros:
-This is the cheapest and the most reliable way to fire your flash.
-Extra Extension for a house hold system can be accomplished with a standard house hold extension cord available at any hardware store for very cheap.
-Extension for the PC route is also cheap. $11 for 15ft. extension.
-To my knowledge, the only cord that is available for cameras with out a PC jack, but that have a Hot shoe is the Paramount Hot shoe to House hold cord (HS-15S). While it's a bit more pricy ($27,) it's definitely an advantage as an option.
Radio frequency slave (Pocket Wizard, Elinchrom Skyports and the Cactus Radio Slaves)
Pros:
-Works in the sunlight (some optical slaves don't work well in sunlight),
-Range (Pocket Wizards have the longest range)
-Can work around corners or behind objects where you do not have line of sight to the flash
-Pocket Wizards are every bit as reliable as using a sync cord, with all the features above.
Cons:
-Pocket Wizards are expensive.
-Cactus V2s are very cheap, but not very reliable. Don't be surprised if these slaves do not fire your flash everytime, and expect athere is a pretty limited range. There are a few modifications you can do to extend the range, check the Strobist Flickr group for more details.
-As with any trigger system, if you have a Canon flash or any other flash without a PC Jack option, you will need to get for a Pocket Wizard or Elinchrom Skyport system: Paramount Miniphone to Hot Shoe (PW-MHSF1), $38.95.
-Elinchrom Skyports will not work with Vivitar flashes at this time.
Optical slaves (Wein, Dot-line, Fotodiox)
Pros:
-Can be triggered by the pop-up flash on the camera or an on camera flash or a master flash that is triggered by wire or RF.
-For the most part they are Reliable and have no power issues (they don't use batteries.)
-Much cheaper than going the Pocket Wizard Route.
Cons:
-Anyone with a flash will trigger your slaves. Bad for places like weddings and parties where there are others with flash cameras. This is not an issue if you are shooting in a controlled environment like a studio.
-Limited range. Many are limited to less than 30 ft.
Do I need Color Correction filters?
For doing photography indoors, I highly recommend having a set of Rosco Gels on hand. One of the huge advantages of using a digital camera is the ability to control White Balance. By using a Gel on your flash, you are able to imitate the color temperature of fluorescent or tungsten (household, incandescent) which will assist you in obtaining consistent White Balance between subject and background. The Rosco Pro Gel pack will cover corrections in just about any lighting situation. The Rosco Filter Facts handbook can be found as a PDF here.
How do I get a Rosco Sample Gel pack?
Sample packs of Rosco Gels are shipped with every Strobist order as long as supplies are available. Rosco has not been able to keep up with our production needs yet. We run out for at least 1 week every month.
How do I attach my Flash and/or Umbrella to a light stand?
This is most commonly accomplished by using an umbrella swivel. For more information visit:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594509310065
Do you offer Strobist Kits?
We are happy to announce in March 2007 we began to offer Custom Strobist Kits. Please keep in mind that kits may be unavailable from time to time as some of the common items get nationally back ordered.
For a list of the kits visit:
http://mpex.com/Strobist/StrobistKits.htm
At this time we are offering 14 kits starting at $105.
Can I customize a Strobist kit?
One of the reasons for purchasing a kit is that it is discounted up to $40 for the total purchase. We are able to do this based on the volume of the order as well as our ability to preassemble it. Too many changes take away that preassembly advantage.
Up to one item in each kit can be substituted or subtracted. Of course you can always add items.
If you need to make more than one substitution, you can just purchase the items individually.
What is a DIY Accessory Kit?
We have created a DIY accessory kit which should provide hours of entertainment. There are many things you can use this kit for, I see new ideas popping up on Flickr everyday. Keep in mind that the Rosco Cinefoil is metal and has sharp edges, so if you are planning on doing any Origami, put on some gloves. Many of these items can be substituted by common household items, but we have attempted to put together a kit for a reasonable price which includes a few things that may not be readily available. The Cinefoil and Smooth Silver come in 25-50ft rolls, and for the end user, that is usually just not practical.
The Kit includes:
1x Sheet of Rosco Cinefoil 1x2feet (Excellent for making Snoots, Barn doors and Gobos.)
1x Sheet of Smooth Silver 1x2feet, with Sticky back. (For building reflectors of all types.)
2x Packs of Black Straws, 3mm and 4mm. (For building Gridspots.)
Cost of kit: $9.95
For some ideas on what to do with your new kit, here are a few links from the Strobist Flickr group:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/idreaminir/2080418669
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruimleal/543898185/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157600056846795/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594559173628/?search=snoot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeroneg1/1046039870/

Can I get a shipping quote before I place my order?
Absolutely. We are happy to provide a quote over the phone, and for International rates see the answer below.
At the current time our website does not support auto generation of shipping quotes. After you place your order, you will receive an order confirmation with the cost of the shipping. If the cost is unacceptable, email or call and we will cancel or adjust your order accordingly.
We understand that this is far from ideal and are working on solving this issue. By November 2007 we will have a new website that will automatically generate shipping quotes. Thanks for your patience.
Please bear in mind that we DO NOT profit in any way from our shipping charges. We are competing with some of the bigger photo houses out there that in many cases do 100x the amount of business we do and are given rates based on their volume from 3 rd party shippers.
What are you international ship options and rates?
There are many reasons for customers overseas to place an international order with us. In many countries the majority of Strobist gear is not available at all, or at a cost that is much higher than purchasing from us in the US . In addition, you will find that our international shipping rates are usually much better than the competition.
For details on our shipping policy, click here.
How do I track my order and my shipment?
If you place your order online, you will get a confirmation email when your order is being processed. From that time, expect that your package will be shipped that day or the next. If you have selected delivery via UPS, you will receive an email when your package is in transit as well. If you have additional questions about your order, or believe your package has been lost in transit, feel free to contact us to help track your package.
Feel free to call or email at anytime to get an updated status.
What if I have additional questions?
Feel free to call or email with any additional questions you might have. For technical questions, it is often better to call as answers often require more information than may be provided in an initial email.
I highly recommend that you first do a search on the Strobist Flickr group as the knowledge base there is just astounding. http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist
This is also the place to go when you have questions about technique. While we are photographers, and are more than happy to spend the time to help you figure out what you need to get going, we can't teach you how to shoot a wedding or basketball game. Please visit our contact page here to contact us by email or phone.