Recommendations Wanted: I am seeking recommendations for a home studio lighting kit. I want something that is easy to put together, decent quality and not that expensive. I am 74 and...

johnh1944 Loc: North Las Vegas

I am seeking recommendations for a home studio lighting kit. I want something that is easy to put together, decent quality and not that expensive.
I am 74 and will use the lighting kit as a hobbyist trying to learn studio photography.

Thanks

OutBack Loc: North Central Florida

They make regular light bulbs now rated at 57-6900 kelvin light; cost a dollar at walmart, don't go hog wild unless you can afford it or someone here will get your unwanted extras at a very good price!

You can use gels and filters as you see fit and you will be able to set WB to your lights numbers for a very natural look.

CO

I would not get one of the continuous lighting kits. It does nothing to help freeze motion, it can make your model squint, and the power output is usually inadequate. I've used continuous lighting and have had situations where I had to boost the ISO into the stratosphere to get a proper exposure. Adorama Camera has their Flashpoint series of strobes that are economical. Paul C. Buff has good strobes at reasonable prices. I have two of their DigiBee DB800 strobes, their 22" white beauty dish, 10"x36" strip softbox with grid, and reflectors. Be sure to get a beauty dish for photographing models. They help to accentuate features more.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

There is a website dedicated to lighting and its uses and how to build home kits at various outlays I think it is called 'the strobist' but look at links and resources on UHH as the site has been around for a long time.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I bought 22W softwhite (3000K) led bulbs which create 150 - 200 watts equivalent each, but without the heat. I bought a three pack for $40. I use them for video with regular desk or floor lamps and point them at the walls and ceiling. The 3000K reproduces the look of incandescent bulbs. I find the 5000K daylight bulbs to not add warmth to the scene.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

johnh1944 wrote:

I am seeking recommendations for a home studio lighting kit. I want something that is easy to put together, decent quality and not that expensive.
I am 74 and will use the lighting kit as a hobbyist trying to learn studio photography.

Thanks

At age 78 I decided to learn studio portraiture. I bought two Honey Badger strobes and their remote. They have a very powerful modeling light so you can aim the strobes to achieve the shadows you want (or no shadows). You have your choice of flash modifiers from umbrellas (cheap) to soft boxes to beauty dishes. You will also need sturdy light stands. They probably cost more than you're prepared to spend, but my advice is to get a C stand.
https://digital-photography-school.com/review-interfit-honey-badger-interfit-universal-remote/

If you want more product recommendations, PM me.

mrtaxi Loc: Old Westbury NY, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Paul C. Buff has excellent strobes at reasonable prices. Go for the Einstein model. Best warranty in the industry. I have three with about five of their soft box modifiers and umbrellas , a beauty dish and their stands on wheels. For outdoor they have a super light powerful battery that’s worth owning. Paul C Buff is bought direct and is great value comparing to other lighting costing triple.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1323079-REG/savage_led60k_r_savage_500w_led_studio.html
--Bob

johnh1944 wrote:

I am seeking recommendations for a home studio lighting kit. I want something that is easy to put together, decent quality and not that expensive.
I am 74 and will use the lighting kit as a hobbyist trying to learn studio photography.

Thanks

ggenova64

Westcott has reasonable priced light kits.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I guessed you age from your screen name. I, too, was born in 1944. Take a look at Amazon and eBay. They have lots of reasonably-priced lighting kits.

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=photography+lighting+kits
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xlighting+kit.TRS0&_nkw=lighting+kits&_sacat=0

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

johnh1944 wrote:

I am seeking recommendations for a home studio lighting kit. I want something that is easy to put together, decent quality and not that expensive.
I am 74 and will use the lighting kit as a hobbyist trying to learn studio photography.

Thanks

I would go with LED lighting. They are balanced to daylight, are not hot to work with and give a steady light that you can observe what happens in real time as you move them around. You want three of the units and you want to be able to adjust the power on each.

tcthome Loc: NJ

G Brown wrote:

There is a website dedicated to lighting and its uses and how to build home kits at various outlays I think it is called 'the strobist' but look at links and resources on UHH as the site has been around for a long time.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/awesome-diy-pvc-flash-housing.html

tcthome Loc: NJ

rmalarz wrote:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1323079-REG/savage_led60k_r_savage_500w_led_studio.html
--Bob

1 heck of a price for starting out for a hobbyist just learning.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

jerryc41 wrote:

I guessed you age from your screen name. I, too, was born in 1944. Take a look at Amazon and eBay. They have lots of reasonably-priced lighting kits.

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=photography+lighting+kits
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xlighting+kit.TRS0&_nkw=lighting+kits&_sacat=0

Cheap tripods and cheap lighting kits suffer from similar issues. The quality is just not there. The light stands tip over; the electrical connections on the continuous light sockets fail, the soft boxes fall apart, etc. That doesn't mean that one has to spend over $1000 on a Profoto strobe, but I would definitely suggest that at minimum one should get a heavy duty Manfrotto light stand and, better yet, a good C stand on wheels. Powerful modeling lights are a real help in learning light placement so this eliminates using speedlights. And before you buy Paul C. Buff lights, read this review:
http://resourcemagonline.com/2016/07/paul-c-buff-announced-the-new-digibees-and-why-i-really-dont-care/68857/

I highly recommend the light modifiers from this company: https://strobepro.com/collections/softbox/products/36-inch-rapid-pro-folding-umbrella-octabox

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

johnh1944 wrote:

I am seeking recommendations for a home studio lighting kit. I want something that is easy to put together, decent quality and not that expensive.
I am 74 and will use the lighting kit as a hobbyist trying to learn studio photography.

Thanks

I have a Novatron 1600w kit with 3 umbrellas, 3 adjustable power strobes with modeling light, and a snoot. I used it to teach studio photography at a university. It is in like new condition. It comes with a case that fits it all. It costs over $1200 new. I don't use it any more so I will sell it for $500. But you pay shipping. Which could be $100 or more depending on where you live. PM me with any questions.