devolution Loc: Dubuque. IA

I know this topic has been visited before, but please indulge me. I'm looking for a decent beginner lighting kit. I know I want flourescent lights. 2 umbrellas or shadow boxes and another on a boom. I've researched Cowboy Studio and Linco. I've got a $400 to $500 budget. Any opinions on these or any other brands would be greatly appreciated

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

Year's ago I decided I should have a light set up but I didn't have much money. There's was a set up for a mobile light at Adaorama that was really reasonable so I got a number for that company and found out they had a three light set up for around $500. I drove for a living back then so next trip to L.A., I went by and got one. Worked great! JLT is what I'm thinking it was called.

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

Please excuse the mess in my basement; it doubles as a family room, studio and toy room for my granddaughter.

My first lighting setup was a continuous light setup from Cowboy studio. The quality was fine but I was disappointed with the performance. With one large 85 watt light and a shoot through umbrella at approximately 2-feet from the light meter, the readings were ISO 100, shutter speed 1/100 at f/1.6, that’s not much light. That means you would have to go to ISO 3200 to get shutter speed 1/100 and f/8.

My advice would be to go to flash.

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wolfman

I agree with Wayne that most continuous light setups do not provide enough light to shoot at ISO 100 @ 125-160th sec.
I would suggest saving up a little more and check out PaulcBuff's Alien Bee's studio strobes.
You don't have to start out with 2 or three lights to get decent portraits.
Currently I have 1 640 watt Alien bee, a 47" octagon softbox, and a 50" silver reflector, and I can easily do 3 to 4 people.
You can always add more lights and light modifiers down the road.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhi4I20s10

Bob

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Good demo, Wayne.
My advice as well! :thumbup:

Dennis, you might want to take a look at a recent post HERE.

devolution Loc: Dubuque. IA

Thanks to everyone so far.

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

I would guess that the reason the constant light's didn't work well is simply because the light's weren't hot enough. An 85w light is not much light to push through an umbrella. My understanding about them is the draw back was they made the model uncomfortable because they were so hot. I'd try a min 750W bulb if I was going that way. I really have little use for studio light's of any kind, I don't often shoot indoors and when I do I use a flash and try to bounce off a ceiling.

devolution Loc: Dubuque. IA

Yes, but if you want nice, professional results, don't you need some kind of off the camera lighting?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Problem with budget lighting systems like the one you are considering is that often, the specs are seriously inflated. For example, the 105w CFL lights from Cowboy Studio have output that is consistent with a 45w Alzo light. Color temp and balance is also an issue, often measuring 4500K and weak in magenta, resulting in a green cast - though this is easily handled if you shoot raw and employ an Xrite ColorChecker Passport. The weak power means you need to place your umbrella very close to your subject, which is hard to do with the umbrella shaft sticking out as it does. Using them in a softbox or shoot through umbrella cuts down the light output even more.

The result is less than optimum aperture and ISO settings. Are you sure you'd rather get cheap amateur lighting as opposed to some decent used pro quality lighting? The cost many be similar, but when you are done, you can sell what you have for close to what you paid for it - with the beginner system you might get $50 for the whole thing.

donnahde Loc: Newark, DE

I'm considering selling a light kit I have that's had very light use. It's a Novatron V240D. You can look that up by googling. It has a transformer that will actually power 3 lights but this one comes with two lights plus two umbrellas and two light stands and a carry case. The light stands don't fit in the case but everything else does. I got this by second shooting a wedding. I was amazed to see the value of it when I searched everything in it. Anyway, it's an option for you in your price range. I'm still a little hesitant about selling it but I use mostly LED lights coupled with my aux flashes these days. PM me if interested. And good luck. You'll get a lot of great advice here from those who know. ~Donna

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

You can do a lot with one light and a reflector. The accompanying photo shows a Godox V860 flash in a shoot through umbrella at approximately 2 feet from the meter gives you f/13 at ISO 100 and shutter speed 1/100, much more light that the fluorescent light. The flash unit will work E-TTL or manual, on or off the camera. The flash goes for about $170 on Amazon and the trigger a Yongmou 622 goes for about $90. Add a light stand, umbrella and a reflector and you have a basic lighting setup that will work indoors, outdoors, on or off the camera.

If you want to spend a little more you could invest in a Sekonic L-308S light meter. It will measure reflected, incident and flash.

There are 100 of videos on You Tube showing how to do portraits with one light and a reflector.

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Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Dennis,
While you have a budget to invest in lighting, perhaps you need to look at why the Fluorescent lights. You may discover more Post Processing (PP) in your workflow to correct for color balance. There are many other choices that work just as well and might be less expensive.


You can check out Home Depot, Harbor Freight, and Lowe’s for lighting equipment, these also come with support stands. The important element is the light output and color temperature for each lamp. They must be the same. If these are Halogen lamps, they need to have a safety glass on the reflector unit. Then you can add a diffuser to scatter the light.

You may be able to find Fluorescent lights and construction stands, and then add ‘Shoot Through’ Umbrellas for greater diffusion and softer lighting. You can create any type of lighting set-up yourself without blowing the budget out the window. Just make sure all the lights have the same output and color temperature.

If you look for the least expensive (Cowboy Studio) you will get the least expensive supporting equipment money can buy. The photo strobes perform wonderfully. After a year one of the lamp bulbs broke; it was replaced with the required bulb from CS Within the first year the three supporting stands, literally, flew apart at the adjustment seams, and on the day of arrival, the carrying bag zipper was defective. Although, Cowboy Studio replaced the carrying bag, the replacement bag had zipper problems as well. When the supporting stands flew apart I had, had enough of the cheap Chinese crap, drove into town to a camera store, and purchased three replacement stands. At $10.00 each, they were inexpensive.

For what it’s worth, shoot through umbrellas provide more options. They can be used as a reflective umbrella to provide greater dispersal of light on the subject, or they can be used as a shoot through to provide greater brilliance and softer light on the subject. In addition, they can be used in a Mix-in-Match order for more diversity. Later, as you gain experience with the umbrellas you can add a Gold lined umbrella to add warmth to the subject from your “Key Lamp”.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I bought a kit not long ago that is well within your budget and will leave room for other things as well.

Take a peek. It's all CFL and creates very soft, easy light.

http://www.amazon.com/Chromakey-Flourescent-lightstand-Fancierstudio-9004S-3/dp/B003Y31CAC/ref=sr_1_80?ie=UTF8&qid=1413650202&sr=8-80&keywords=photography+lighting+kits

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

You need softened, wrap-around light, no matter WHERE it comes from! ;-)

You could also look at used lighting. I see used here occasionally.
Craig's list is a good place to look. Mostly older lights, but good light, is good light, no matter how old! Good luck. ;-)
SS

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My advice, FWIW, would be to buy decent equipment the first time. You will get less for your budget, but you will have started and will be able to use what you bought for many years. I personally do not use studio lights all that often, but when I do, I need them to work. I bought White Lightnings from Paul Buff years and years ago and they still work well. They are neither as light, nor as expensive as better or newer stuff, but they really have served me well and they produce consistent and quality lighting to help me do what I need. I have used them in arenas, very high up and for portraits and headshots with ease. Can't say very much about the Alien Bees, but they seem to be popular.