MyStudio® MS20DEL Deluxe Tabletop Photo Studio Kit w/ 5000K Continuous Lighting + Dual Seamless Backgrounds for Product Photography, 40x20x12 inches

I have been reviewing Amazon 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 I've 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.

Before I say anything, make sure you read the description and understand the dimensions, This item isn't designed to be portable, and it isn't tiny.

That said, because it's 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 don't need to know anything about photography to use this. Personally, I disagree. While it is incredibly easy to get great results, you'd still do well to understand some photography basics. It isn't "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 aren't impervious to cardboard boxes. It would have been nice if some sort of cover had been included.

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

REVIEWER BACKGROUND: I've 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 B&W 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.

Here's 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 I'd never used a studio before, I'd 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 doesn't appear to be designed for mobile or infrequent use. I don't 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.

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.

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 Amazon.

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