MyStudio™ 20 Professional Tabletop Photo Studio w/ 5000K Lighting for Product Photography, 20x20x12 inches

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by: GraceP (San Diego)
on: Monday, 17-May-2010

Initially I was going to buy the least expensive of the table top photo studio kits, but after reading comments and comparing specs I went with MyStudio MS20. It was more expensive however after receiving it I was glad I went with it. The overhead light fixture sheds light over the product more evenly than using two separate lighting sources. You can finesse the light further with the two included bounce cards. The product was well made, instructions were crystal clear with the accompanying CD, and the end results are magnificently professional quality photos. I only wanted to buy one studio kit for our start-up business and the MS20 provided the best value for the investment. The only drawback is that the background is one solid piece and pretty hefty so youve either got to have a place to store it or, in our case, a dedicated location to leave the studio set-up. Thats the only reason I gave it four stars instead of 5.

by: SinCityTed (Las Vegas, NV)
on: Friday, 14-May-2010

Very simple to set up in minutes. Works just like you would expect for taking pictures of small objects. Money well spent.

by: Andrew (new york)
on: Tuesday, 20-April-2010

We are starting a business and looked all over for a dependable solution to photographing our products. We could have rented out a studio that cost $400 a day, instead we bought this here on your site. Assembly takes only a couple of minutes and then you can just put whatever product you need to photograph on the cyc and point and shoot. Photos come near perfect, you wont need to hire expensive retouchers either.

by: A. York (Vancouver, Canada)
on: Thursday, 1-April-2010

I purchased this for my husband who sells currency coins and golf equipment after reading the great reviews it received from others here on your site.

I dont have anything to compare it to, but I have to say that it does not disappoint. Its been a challenge to take a decent photo without the tabletop studio as we have dark and colorful walls, which cast unique shadows on items weve tried to photograph in the past. Not so any more. The set up was relatively easy and the light is fairly powerful.

The fact that this studio box isnt a closed cube is great, so photographing something like a golf club head is easily accomplished.

The downside is that the 2-sided box is large and awkward to store. Other products I researched fold down for easy storage but this one doesnt. So far, thats the only negative to this tabletop studio.

by: G. Wozney (United States)
on: Friday, 22-January-2010

I recently purchased the MyStudio20 from your site. I am pleased I made that decision. The results Im getting are better than I had hoped. Great product, demos, and tips guide. You cant go wrong.

by: Joe MacBu (United States)
on: Thursday, 15-October-2009

This MyStudio kit is a great tool for anyone looking to improve their product photography. It provides flexibility in lighting and rather pleasing results. Ultimately, I think that it provides more benefit for someone that only has a point and shoot camera and not a prosumer level dSLR.

Since most of the benefits have already been spelled out in the other reviews, these are some of my brief observations:

* The MS20 can be a bit too small for certain objects. You may want to consider the larger models.

* It takes up a decent amount of storage space. The light unit and the unfoldable background make this kit hard to store in a small apartment space. Its something that needs to be considered, especially with the larger models.

* With a little bit of skill and practice, you can get equivalent results using a bounce flash instead. Normally, I use a bedsheet to provide a light background and a strong flash with a bounce head to provide the diffuse light. You can get one of these flashes for about the same amount as this kit costs. It takes up much less space and is portable. It does require a camera with an external flash mount, however. So if all you have is a P&S, the MyStudio is probably your best option.

by: Lightly Scored (Wrightsville, GA USA)
on: Thursday, 27-August-2009

I received the MyStudio MS20DEL 20x40x12 studio system with a part missing. One phone call to Pro Cycs service department had the problem resolved in less than five minutes. I received the missing part 48 hours later. Im now using the system to create great looking photos for a set of instruction manuals Im writing for a small manufacturing company. Excellent customer service for an excellent product.

by: T. K. Paul (Zanesville, Ohio USA)
on: Thursday, 23-July-2009

I am really happy to have this little studio kit. I love the pictures I create with it. The lighting and white box create a gorgeous all-around glow for all the objects, even the weird ones, placed in it. Ive taken pictures with both my Canon Rebel XSi and Panasonic TZ1, both with great results. My son uses the kit for animation projects and is thrilled. I use it just for fun and have plans to photograph greenery from different seasons for framed photos in my hallway. Its great to turn simple objects into works of art.

by: Katharena Eiermann (1,000 miles from Nowhere...)
on: Tuesday, 7-July-2009

suggested stance for this project: put on a favorite music CD and sit in the middle of the floor, cross-legged... :)

Inside the MyStudio® MS20 Professional Tabletop Photo Studio Kit w/ 5000K Continuous Lighting for Product Photography, 20x20x12 inches box I found an itemized list of parts -- devoid of pictures, (except for the stand hardware) -- which should be checked against the included hardware before attempting to assemble. A phillips screwdriver with an average sized head will be needed -- as I saw no such tool in the box.


There is a trick to assembling the legs...put the straight bar on the outside of the leg flange and then screw in the thumbscrews. I dont know why they are called thumbscrews, as I had to use a screwdriver. :)

Done!

Crossbar attachment could use more detailed photos, i.e. Fig. 4 -- but, if you drop down to the photo Fig. 9 and stare at it long enough, the crossbar assembly becomes a bit clearer.

Reflector and fluorescent light placement -- try laying the assembly on the floor to attach the reflector and fluorescent light fixture to the crossbar -- I found it a lot easier to connect the three, this way. Dont forget the wing-nuts! :)

If you have never installed a fluorescent light bulb into a fluorescent fixture, you will need to read the instructions -- as, this happened to me -- it, too is a bit tricky and requires a final twist forward.

I found MyStudio® MS20 Professional Tabletop Photo Studio Kit w/ 5000K Continuous Lighting for Product Photography, 20x20x12 inches to be compact, adjustable, easy to clean and use, product being photographed to be sufficiently lighted when using the Reflectors and Fluorescent light in conjunction with a simple camera flash. I tested MyStudio® MS20 Professional Tabletop Photo Studio Kit w/ 5000K Continuous Lighting for Product Photography, 20x20x12 inches using two different point-and-shoot cameras and a high dollar DSLR mounted on a tripod and found MyStudio® MS20 Professional Tabletop Photo Studio Kit w/ 5000K Continuous Lighting for Product Photography, 20x20x12 inches perfect for product and macro photography. --Katharena Eiermann, 2009

by: Bojan Tunguz (Greencastle, IN USA)
on: Wednesday, 1-July-2009

I have been reviewing your site products for many years now, and oftentimes I like to add one of my own pictures to helps potential buyers get a better idea of what the product may actually look like. I have taken most of those pictures with my Canon XSi DSLR camera, and have additionally improved the images in Photoshop, but despite all of these efforts images would still look very unremarkable. Even with neutral backgrounds that I could get at my home, most of the objects in pictures would not stand out all that much. This has all changed after I started using MyStudio® MS20 Professional Tabletop Photo Studio Kit.


The product does not come preassembled, and putting it all together can be a bit tricky. There are a few stages where it is crucial that parts should be put together in a right order, so following the instructions that come with this kit is essential. Some of the parts seemed at first glance to be rather cheaply made, but once all of it was put together they all looked right at home with this kit. The whole kit is a bit smaller than I had originally thought based on pictures, and it comfortably fits even on a smallish table.

When I assembled everything I took a couple of test shots with my iPhone 3GS, and even with a 3MP phone camera the difference as compared to the regular object shots was quite noticeable. So far Ive gotten the best results with my Canon DSLR camera, used without flash, and a telephoto lens. The telephoto lens helps convey the whole infinite-depth effect very well.

My only complaint is that it would have been useful if this kit came with a stand that would be used for propping up flattish objects. Right now I have to improvise with all sorts of random objects from around my house. This is not too much of a hassle, so the overall impression with this kit is very favorable.

If you are someone who is posting images of objects online on a regular basis, this would be an invaluable photographic tool to have.

by: LEE (Le Château, USA)
on: Thursday, 25-June-2009

The MyStudio® MS20 Professional Tabletop Photo Studio Kit is satisfactory, and its white infinity background is perfect; however, this product certainly could use improvement.


The unit itself is constructed of low quality materials, such as cardboard and partial wood, which may be unsturdy for photographing heavier items. Plus, the lighting is sometimes off kilter.

We shoot product photography with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II on a tripod. Assumingly, because of our camera, photographs are sometimes picture-perfect; however, often great adjustments are necessary with background lighting, filters, or camera settings to avoid the use of time-consuming photo editing software.

On the upside, the 90-degree corner design does optimize shooting angles and provides a decent background width from left to right. We know of no other product photography tabletop available on the market. Hopefully, creators of MyStudio® are paying close attention to product reviews in efforts to make their next model even better.

by: Aileen Chen (SF Bay Area)
on: Thursday, 25-June-2009

REVIEWER BACKGROUND: Ive never used any studio equipment before, and am really just starting to get into product photography since I plan to host a garage sale online soon. I used a DSLR with the built-in flash.

PACKAGING/ASSEMBLY:
The product comes disassembled and took me about 20 minutes to put together with a Philips head screwdriver. The instructions are barely sufficient. The photos are (ironically) are not very clear, since they appear to be grainy BW photocopies. I found the glossy product ad that came with the instructions to be very helpful in understanding how the assembled product was supposed to look, and what the names of each of the pieces were.

Heres a video review that includes assembly: http://www.slashgear.com/pro-cyc-mystudio-20-tabletop-photo-studio-review-0843301/

USE:
Once set up, I followed some of the camera setting tips (1/30, wb at 5000K, no flash) from the instructions and took a few photos. Overall, I was pleased with the output. The whole setup was effective in distributing the light evenly around the focal area. Since Id never used a studio before, Id never really noticed how small 20 really is. My mom asked me to photograph a flower arrangement she did, and I was disappointed that it easily cleared the walls of the background...rendering a full shot of the arrangement impossible.

The entire unit is lightweight, and probably could be easily disassembled but doesnt appear to be designed for mobile or infrequent use. I dont shoot that frequently, so I am not looking forward to figuring out how to store the studio. Also, the overall kit machinery was flimsy, so I suppose the selling major point is that this is an all in one package.

FINAL SAY:
If you have a bounce flash for your SLR, I think you could put together your own studio for a lot less. If you have a built-in flash with your camera, and need to quickly and frequently photograph small objects then this is for you.

by: Kevin Nicholls (Milford, MI)
on: Thursday, 25-June-2009

Before I say anything, make sure you read the description and understand the dimensions, This item isnt designed to be portable, and it isnt tiny.

That said, because its not designed to be portable, you can get consistently good photos without doing much (if any) post processing. This alone is a huge time saver.

Assembling everything was relatively easy, and the instructions were well written. One minor contention I have is that the description seems to suggest that you dont need to know anything about photography to use this. Personally, I disagree. While it is incredibly easy to get great results, youd still do well to understand some photography basics. It isnt shadow-free, and understanding how to properly use different flash techniques can still be helpful with this product.

The other contention I had, is that this is fairly difficult to store. Not so much because of its size, but because dust and debris arent impervious to cardboard boxes. It would have been nice if some sort of cover had been included.

If youre serious about selling items online (even eBay), and you have items that change often, youll get your moneys worth from this product quickly. But for casual use, you might want to consider other options.

by: Nathan M. Rose (Delray Beach, FL United States)
on: Monday, 22-June-2009

Where to take photos in my house and what lighting to use has always plagued my eBay photos for years. Enter the MyStudio tabletop photo studio kit. With this product it gives me great photos with ease. Every picture taken has is perfect and looks like it was done professionally.

The only draw back I have so far encountered was the set-up. The directions where extremley hard to follow and pretty much useless. Unless you have great patience you will end up either throwing it in anger or returning it to your site.

However, all the frustration of the install provides some great results in the long run.

by: Nuknuk (Springfield, VA United States)
on: Sunday, 21-June-2009

The most important part of this assembly is the cyclorama, the seamless white (offwhite) plastic repository, where you place your product models - and the main key to shoot professional looking model photos. Otherwise, most of the parts can be constructed by a handy man with a shop in his garage.

The package comes with a 590 lumens, 5000k temperature natural daylight Philips fluorescent lamp housed in a lighting fixture equipped with a rocker switch

What I like:
- The cyclorama
- Aluminum frame is nicely finished with clean white baked paint.
- Included instruction for using the product (and some photography tips).

Rooms for Improvement:
- A thicker gauge aluminum frame
- A more simple and easier to follow assembly instruction.
- Heavier footings. Manufacturer suggests adding college textbooks for added support to make it stable. The aluminum footings has a couple of holes, probably intended for screws for a more permanent installation.
- Light reflector bounce cards. 2 bounce cards are included made of...cardboards. The cardboard stands has a sticker tape and requires assembly to stick with the cards. Now, this looks cheap. I do not expect a $200 product with cardboard accessories.
- 15W lamp 590 lumen package seems to be inadequate; but you can remedy this by overexposure and slower shutter speeds than 1/15 sec.

I am satisfied with the photos. You might still need to tweak the pictures with photoshop here and there, but after you get familiar with the camera settings, the preparation procedure, and a little post processing; it should be enough to obtain consistent satisfactory results.

I use a Canon Digital Rebel with a 55-250mm zoom lens, shooting on a tripod with the camera built-in timer. Mostly at 5.6 aperture priority, 1/15sec shutter, and daylight setting, 2 stops overexposure. The manufacturer also suggested to use the zoom lens to maximize depth of field. Making it more easier to achieve a floating illusion.

[...]

by: Anthony Durante (Bronx, NY)
on: Tuesday, 16-June-2009

I purchased this item about 6 months ago. As an Ebay Powerseller and one who strives for excellent photos, I can attest that within a short period of time, this studio paid for itself. The curved white background gives a shadowless appearance and the illusion that your item is floating on air. Highly recommended - A Must Have Tool!

by: David Morrison (Tuscon, AZ)
on: Friday, 12-June-2009

I photograph a lot of computer and electronic equipment for my companys website and after reading a review about MyStudio 20 in SHUTTERBUG magazine I had recommended that we buy the larger MyStudio 32 model as some of our equipment seemed too large to fit in the MyStudio 20. They bought it for me (thank you guys!) and I have been putting it to use ever since. It was a bit of a chore to set up but I found some videos on the companys website which helped me through it. Im not the handiest person so it might be a breeze for someone a bit more mechanically minded. But once it was set up all I do is flip on the lights and start shooting and presto! The only thing I have ever done in post processing on some shots is to brighten and increase the contrast by 10 - 15% (takes about 20 seconds), which is way less than I used to do with my previous set up. But I would say more than half my photos dont need any post processing at all. I would recommend using a gray card or doing a custom white balance for the absolute best results, and make sure to use a long enough exposure. But for a product photographer like me it is so nice to have a perfect white background and continuous 5000k lighting available at the flick of a switch.

Overall MyStudio has made my job a whole lot easier and has already paid for itself many times over.

by: Amber (Renton, WA)
on: Monday, 8-June-2009

I just received this as a gift on Mothers Day from my wonderful husband to help with my ebay business (more of a hobby actually). I just read some of the other reviews and I can definitely echo those that say how much Mystudio has helped them take great photos! I dont know what J. Bills is complaining about - sounds more like a lack of knowledge than a problem with the product. You didnt know you needed a tripod to take product photos?? I dont know much but I do know that.

My husband gave me the MyStudio 20 and after assembling it in about 10 minutes I was taking good photos within about 2 minutes. After some tweaking with the settings (mainly slowing down my shutter speed) I was taking GREAT photos with a beautiful white background and great detail within about 5 minutes. I cant tell you what a relief it is to be able to take photos of my products (mostly pottery and clay sculptures) without trying to create a perfect background on my bed or floor! Not having to use the flash also really helps the detail stand out. I am using a Nikon D50 and what worked best for me was shooting in Aperture Priority (Av) at about F5.6 and a shutter speed of either 1/20th or 1/30th of a second depending on the object. I also boosted the Exposure by +2/3 on some shots which worked great when the background wasnt quite white enough. I just leave the white balance on Auto (AWB) and I am very happy with how the photos turn out, but maybe a custom white balance would work even better...I will have to learn how to do that. One other nice feature is that if you get any marks on the surface it is plastic so it washes off very easily with a sponge or rag.

I am very happy with my MyStudio 20 and would recommend it if you need an easy solution to take photos. The only downside is the size of the MyStudio 20 limits me a bit with my larger pots so I am thinking of saving up and getting the larger 32 model at a later date. But for now the 20 is seeing plenty of use!

by: Heather Maltais (Chicago, IL USA)
on: Monday, 8-June-2009

Thought I would add my humble opinion in here since apparently at least one person is blaming the product for their poor photo skills. Anyone who does any kind of product or close up photography where detail is important should know that you need a tripod for the best results, and if you dont know that then you probably are in the wrong business. That said (and assuming you will be using a tripod) you can really get some great photos with the MyStudio product with very little effort, and once you have your white balance and camera setting dialed in you will be AMAZED at how quick and easy it is to get consistently great photos with very little effort. I have already received several comments on my photos and my company is very pleased!

by: C. Bartolotta (Ebay)
on: Saturday, 23-May-2009

We saw this product at EBAY Live! and it works as well as the demonstration.