Reddit mentions of Julius Studio 660W Photo, Video, Portrait Photography Studio Day Light Umbrella Reflector Continuous Lighting Kit with Bulb Socket, Carry Bag, Velcro Cable Strap Tie, JSAG1

/u/CaptainDoP - I'm sorry - your "friend" is selling you an obsolete camera and lens system with zero video capability and low resolution 12.3MP stills for a lot more money than it is worth.

With a $2500 budget, you can get a modern camera and accessories. Here is what I would recommend:

Camera and Lens

• [Panasonic G85 with in-body image stabilization, the 12-60mm kit lens and a free 32GB SD card - $997.99] (https://www.amazon.com/DMC-G85MK-Mirrorless-Interchangeable-Camera-Kit/dp/B01N3W3ZH1/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  Tripod
  
  
• [3Pod V3AH Anodized Aluminum Video Tripod with 2-way Fluid Head and Quick-Release Plate - $79.95] (https://www.amazon.com/3Pod-V3AH-Anodized-Aluminum-Quick-Release/dp/B00F8VU3CQ//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  Audio
  
  
• [Saramonic SR-PAX2 preamp/XLR adapter (for recording clean audio to the camera) - $149] (https://www.amazon.com/Saramonic-SR-PAX2-Adapter-Mirrorless-Cameras/dp/B0163BFDHO//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• [Azden SGM-250 professional XLR shotgun - $229] (https://www.amazon.com/Azden-SGM-250-Professional-Powered-Microphone/dp/B00XWG2YBW//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  Lights and Backdrop
  
  
• [Julius Studio Photography Studio Video Portrait Umbrella Continuous Bulb Triple Lighting Kit - $49.99] (https://www.amazon.com/Julius-Studio-Photography-Continuous-JSAG1/dp/B015QPG3P4//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  This setup will cost you just over $1500 and give you the ability to produce well-lit Ultra High Definition content that looks like this:
  
  
• [Maldives - blue lagoon of LUX* hotel (Lumix G80/85) by ONCE and for ALL] (https://youtu.be/XPJ6Y7HuOIU) (1080p)
  
  
• [PANASONIC G80/85 Showreel by Damon Heather] (https://youtu.be/-JK0fR6jD6A) (1080p)
  
  
• [Panasonic Lumix DCM-G80/G85 | "Carmel Market" (4K) by 4KFM] (https://youtu.be/RftUzQ_2QBk) (2160p - handheld with shake added in post for ambiance)
  
  
• [Panasonic LUMIX G85 “Coast to Coast” by VUEPOINT COLLECTIVE] (https://vimeo.com/185559893) (4K)
  
  
• [Video Testshots with the NEW Panasonic DMC-G80/G81/G85 - 5 axis Stabilizer by Klaus Müller] (https://vimeo.com/189214883) (1080p - handheld)
  
  
• [Exposition l’Envers du Corps by Pier-Yves Menkhoff] (https://vimeo.com/188874407) (1080p)
  
  
• [Colors / Lumix G85 by Alden Miranda] (https://vimeo.com/191193740) (1080p)
  
  
• [Boursin & Bacon Pizza by Alden Miranda] (https://vimeo.com/195572165) (1080p)
  
  It's a pretty good still camera too, as seen [here] (https://youtu.be/eDQJzln8-5M).
  
  Hope this is helpful and good luck finding the right camera and setup for your needs!

I've actually been looking into getting lights (and a green screen) for my channel recently, so I'm interested to see the responses to this. Out of what I've looked at so far, I think these umbrella lights are what I would go with. I don't really have any experience with lighting, so I can't say much as to how good those would actually be, but the price is definitely right, and my understanding is that umbrella lights are a little more portable than softboxes, which is a definite plus for me since I don't film in a single location.

I have these lights from Amazon