Home studio
Nov 10, 2012 15:04:07 #
Hi people I'm looking at setting up a home studio my question is do I go for constant lighting or studio flash.
Nov 10, 2012 15:10:45 #
Jeez, tough question. You may wish to consider renting equipment to try both ways. One of the lighting approaches may suit you better than the other.
Joelbarton87 wrote:
Hi people I'm looking at setting up a home studio my question is do I go for constant lighting or studio flash.
Beach House, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Nov 10, 2012 15:19:41 #
Jeez, tough question. You may wish to consider renting equipment to try both ways. One of the lighting approaches may suit you better than the other.
Joelbarton87 wrote:
Hi people I'm looking at setting up a home studio my question is do I go for constant lighting or studio flash.
Bungalows, Ocean Beach, California
Nov 10, 2012 15:42:42 #
I think strobe lighting will give you more power even on the low end. Decent continuous lighting isn't much less expensive than enthusiast level strobes.
I just did a quick search of lighting rental and it might cost you more to rent than buy depending on your price point. You can get a 2-300ws monolight kit from Adorama for $500. You can get cheaper but this would give you decent power and they're fan cooled (I believe in cool running equipment). Interfit also has some nice kits in that price range with a good reputation. About 2 years ago I tried a cheap 150ws monolight kit from National Camera Exchange in Minneapolis and 1 burned out within a day, the replacement burned out in 2 hours so I just returned the kit and got the Adorama Flashpoint kit which has worked flawlessly. You could easily spend thousands though...
A good fluorescent continuous light kit will cost you at least $300 for 2 units with 6 bulbs in each head with 2 or more power level selections and softboxes.
Ultimately you'll end up with both :)
I just did a quick search of lighting rental and it might cost you more to rent than buy depending on your price point. You can get a 2-300ws monolight kit from Adorama for $500. You can get cheaper but this would give you decent power and they're fan cooled (I believe in cool running equipment). Interfit also has some nice kits in that price range with a good reputation. About 2 years ago I tried a cheap 150ws monolight kit from National Camera Exchange in Minneapolis and 1 burned out within a day, the replacement burned out in 2 hours so I just returned the kit and got the Adorama Flashpoint kit which has worked flawlessly. You could easily spend thousands though...
A good fluorescent continuous light kit will cost you at least $300 for 2 units with 6 bulbs in each head with 2 or more power level selections and softboxes.
Ultimately you'll end up with both :)
Nov 10, 2012 16:27:30 #
FLASH LIGHTING:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html
http://neilvn.com/tangents/2011/05/20/off-camera-ttl-flash/
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/
http://www.lightingrumours.com/flash-triggering-guide
http://super.nova.org/DPR/Canon/
http://photo.net/equipment/canon/guide-to-canon-speedlites/
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html
http://neilvn.com/tangents/2011/05/20/off-camera-ttl-flash/
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/
http://www.lightingrumours.com/flash-triggering-guide
http://super.nova.org/DPR/Canon/
http://photo.net/equipment/canon/guide-to-canon-speedlites/
Nov 10, 2012 17:12:54 #
IMO, Get two or three of the GOOD flash units for your camera brand, two or three light stands and umbrella adapters and two umbrellas.
Continuous lights ( the inexpensive ones) just are too weak and you have nowhere NEAR the power and control you will have with speedlights.
The new daylight fluorescent stuff is pretty cool (literally) but still not the power of flash.
Continuous lights ( the inexpensive ones) just are too weak and you have nowhere NEAR the power and control you will have with speedlights.
The new daylight fluorescent stuff is pretty cool (literally) but still not the power of flash.
Nov 10, 2012 17:14:09 #
Joelbarton87 wrote:
Hi people I'm looking at setting up a home studio my question is do I go for constant lighting or studio flash.
First question is: What are you trying to shoot? If it's commercial product, flowers, still life, etc., the 'subjects' don't mind the constant lighting and will sit still for slower shutter speeds (which might be necessary due to lower wattages and/or greater dof requirements). People, especially children, don't tend to like the constant lights and don't sit quite as still as products. Ergo, strobes. Not a hard rule, just a thought.
And to add to the Captain's two cents, flash units, especially some of the good ole Vivitar 285s, 283s, etc., can be had for very little (under $50) and do a very credible job.
Nov 10, 2012 17:21:47 #
unclebe1 wrote:
quote=Joelbarton87 Hi people I'm looking at setti... (show quote)
Yes - the Vivitar units are super. But you do give up TTL and some of the features of the mfg. units like high speed sync, but then 50-60 bucks each instead of a few hundred is something to consider.
Nov 11, 2012 02:46:53 #
Nov 11, 2012 02:53:33 #
Also what type of umbrella white and black shoot though or silver please ?
Nov 11, 2012 05:29:57 #
Joelbarton87 wrote:
Hi people I'm looking at setting up a home studio my question is do I go for constant lighting or studio flash.
Depends how much you want to spend! The downside of constant light is the bigger the f stop you need hence less depth of field. Also the amount of room you have. Constant light gets very hot for the model. I prefer to use strobe which have modeling lights.
Nov 11, 2012 05:41:31 #
i travel a lot and need to cart around my equipment...so i opted for speedlights and found them to be perfect for my needs ..light is light ..and if you use outdoor light combined with the speedlights and umbrellas and reflectors you can get great results..since i can't afford the big studio lighting this works well for me on a tight budget..i am still saving up for one more speed light but for now am working with 2 SB700s...
Nov 11, 2012 06:21:30 #
anotherview wrote:
Jeez, tough question. You may wish to consider renting equipment to try both ways. One of the lighting approaches may suit you better than the other.
Joelbarton87 wrote:
Hi people I'm looking at setting up a home studio my question is do I go for constant lighting or studio flash.
I guess I missed the part where it said post pictures to my post. Kinda rude.
Nov 11, 2012 07:39:35 #
berchman
Loc: South Central PA
Joelbarton87 wrote:
Hi people I'm looking at setting up a home studio my question is do I go for constant lighting or studio flash.
If money is no object, you'll love these:
http://www.kinoflo.com/Lighting%20Fixtures/Tegra_4Bank/Tegra_4Bank.html
Nov 11, 2012 08:09:36 #
Something like this one should serve you well: http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet_45_umbrella_with_removable_black_cover/au3045
Removing the black backing allows shooting through the umbrella for a different lighting effect.
Further, with a simple reflector, you can add light bounced from the umbrella back onto the subject, like a second light source. A reflector set like this one will do: http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/westcott_6_in_1_illuminator_reflector_kit_30_square/hl3601
Or you could buy a simpler one. Shop around.
Resist the urge to overbuy for your home studio. Use and learn what you have until you sense the need for more gear.
Good luck.
Removing the black backing allows shooting through the umbrella for a different lighting effect.
Further, with a simple reflector, you can add light bounced from the umbrella back onto the subject, like a second light source. A reflector set like this one will do: http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/westcott_6_in_1_illuminator_reflector_kit_30_square/hl3601
Or you could buy a simpler one. Shop around.
Joelbarton87 wrote:
Also what type of umbrella white and black shoot though or silver please ?
Resist the urge to overbuy for your home studio. Use and learn what you have until you sense the need for more gear.
Good luck.
Umbrella
Diffuser Kit
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