The light is OK for still life photography, not good for a portrait since it is not bright enough...

I bought this to help give my still life photos a bit of a boost. The soft boxes came packed very well with each component packed in its own separate box. The light stands are sturdy enough to support the lights and secure so you don't have to worry about the light sliding or tilting down. The soft boxes are well made and the velcro holds the diffuser panel in place well. Light bulbs are bright and consistent once they warm up a bit. I was really impressed by these and will be buying more when the time comes!

This photography box is a big help to me in terms of getting decent lighting and a uniform background for macro shots. I've gotten into photographing spiders and other small things and this box has made a huge difference in terms of even lighting and a more controllable setup. The box folds up nicely and fits in a bag. I do wish the storage bag zipped at the top, however, but it does not. There are several colors of thin poster paper that can be used for the background and held in place by an elastic band near the top rear of the box. I can use those or make my own (which I did with poster paper and some spray paint). There is also a sheer white panel that velcros to the top to produce even lighting. The circle light that comes with it has a controller on the cord that lets me go from very dim to very, very bright (I didn't measure the light) and so far, it has met all my requirements.This probably isn't relevant to anyone else, but in photographing spiders, I've found the use of the box to be invaluable because I can add a few decorations and the box itself serves to keep the spider in a controlled situation. It makes it a lot easier to photograph them before releasing the creature back into the wilds. It makes for much more attractive and creative photos, especially since Ican create backdrops easily with poster paper and a little spray paint.

Amazing on all aspects - most importantly the sound. The only improvement would be a clearer distinction between the two buttons on top.

I have been buying these since they came out and I've installed about 6 of them, for myself or friends. Everybody loves them, even if they barely use all the features. I turn off the learning because my schedule is random, but if you have a pattern, the Nest will learn it. Actually if you don't have a pattern turning that feature off is must or it will drive you nuts. Nest will also figure out your HVAC system's response time and predict how long it will take to heat or cool. That way it is better at achieving desired temperatures at desired times. App integration and wifi work great. For some reason it is just way more fun to to turn the heat on remotely using my phone from the couch than actually walking across the room. But it is also a pleasure to touch and operate this device. Like an iPhone, it so well designed you just feel smarter when you operate it. And of course being able to control the heating and cooling when away from the house is a very convenient feature.2022 update:I installed a Nest thermostat for a friend who had an old 2-wire thermostat, meaning there was no common wire to power the Nest and keep its battery charged. This is a known issue and google makes a small power adapter for this. You install it at the furnace wiring board. It’s easy. The device sends a trickle of 24v power up one of the thermostat wires to charge the Nest.

Much more than my expectations but good for videos only not still photography or blurred backgrounds

I only use Manfrotto and have because of over 25 years of experience in commercial photography. They are priced for prosumers but work well in professional use as well. I would not use them in film but in photography, they are simply the best value with pro features.

for the price this must be the best tripod I could find, mine has gone through harsh conditions I have moved like 3 times and it's still going strong!