Small Home Studio - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom for Nikon

02/16/2006 10:15:54 PM · #1

Heya...

I'm thinking of spending a little money to get some gear for a small home studio.

I have a 2 year old and will soon (couple weeks) have a newborn to be taking pictures of. I figure with the cost of going to Sears/JCP/or wherever at least twice a year for the next few years alone, I could pay for $500-$1000 in my own gear.

My question is...what do I need?

I'm thinking about a couple lights and a backdrop system...

Does anyone have an opinion on what I might need as well as a good place to buy?

Thanks

Picture This

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

02/16/2006 10:24:27 PM · #2

Yes, 2 lights would be a good start. I started with 3, they came as a set, two softboxes and an umbrella. I use 3 when shooting with a white backdrop but don't need all 3 when using my black or pastels. I got my lights on ebay actually. Nothing fancy or expensive and they've worked great.

As for backdrop stands. I got mine on ebay through Amvona. I've bought several things from them and have always been pleased with my purchases. They typically list many of the same item and if you keep an eye on the auctions and are patient you can get a great deal! I use clips for my backdrops that came from my husbands shop. Cheap plastic ones from the hardware store, work great!

The only other thing I really love that I would suggest is a reflector! They're inexpensive and I have loved mine since the first time I used it.

As for backdrops, i've bought some on ebay and my black one is just fabric from Walmart! I get seamless paper from a place called Calumet in SF. You really have to shop around to get it online for a price where they don't totally stick it to you for the shipping, so if you like paper, try to get it local. Places like Ritz and stuff have it too.

I get my simple props from Walmart, small chairs and crazy fuzzy fabric, etc.

Hope that helps!

Message edited by author 2006-02-16 22:25:19.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

02/16/2006 10:39:39 PM · #3

Thanks for the info...

Would you recommend strobe or constant lighting?

Can I sync up the strobe to my D70?

dleach

Canon EOS-20D

02/16/2006 11:03:58 PM · #4

Originally posted by Picture This:

What kind of lights did you get?

fotomann_forever

02/16/2006 11:11:27 PM · #5

Originally posted by Cooz:

Thanks for the info...

Would you recommend strobe or constant lighting?

Can I sync up the strobe to my D70?

Strobes definitely for shooting young children... hot constant lighting wil make them very uncomfortable.

The D70 doesn't have a PC Terminal for strobes, so you will need
One of these to link to the strobes.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/16/2006 11:15:03 PM · #6

Totally go for strobe lighting - not hot and more variable - more bang for ya buck. How many depends on the size of the space you plan to use. 3 large studio lights in a tiny bedroom would be massive overkill, however 2 small strobes with umbrellas in a garage or basement-type space might be lost.

For reference, I use 3 heavy strobes in a 21X21 all white space and its almost more than the space can handle (I find I keep the lights on close to lowest settings most of the time).

Message edited by author 2006-02-16 23:16:30.

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom for Nikon

02/16/2006 11:15:32 PM · #7

Alienbees are great, a pair of their AB400 units would be plenty. A couple of good softboxes too, but not their's as you can get better quality for not much more money.

backdrop can be most anything - i currently have black and white sheets and dyed muslin (walmart in the fabric section with the qulting fabrics - 90 and 108" wide). Put some hooks in the ceiling and use a piece of pipe or even clothesline to hang the backdrop from.

Picture This

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

02/17/2006 12:15:19 PM · #8

Originally posted by Cooz:

Thanks for the info...

Would you recommend strobe or constant lighting?

Can I sync up the strobe to my D70?

I agree, Strobes.
I hear great things about Alien Bee's but am just not up for the investment yet, lol. But your budget sounds like it would allow for it.
As for the softboxes. I got some new ones not long ago. They are umbrellasoft by Amvona. I absolutely love these things. They look pretty cool too. I got them on ebay and they were very reasonably priced.
I use a remote trigger thing (or whatever you call it, lol) to trigger my strobes. I like it. Some people I know don't love it because occasionally it doesn't fire. It's worth it to me to not have to deal with cords, etc.

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

02/17/2006 12:24:00 PM · #9

I tried the cheap ebay wireless triggers. No thanks. too unreliable for human or animal subjects where you are trying to capture an expression or look or something fleeting.

pocket wizards. not the cheapest things in the world, but they work. quantum has a system that is good too. Alien bees has a system for their strobes as well but i have not heard from any acutal users.

yes, shooting tethered is not ideal.

Beach_mel

Nikon D70s

02/17/2006 12:27:52 PM · #10

Ditto to everyone else. However, if you are not going to be mobile with your backdrop then I suggest getting one of these instead of a backdrop stand. You can mount it to the wall or ceiling and you leave your backdrops "up" on it because storage of long rolls of paper is difficult and folding fabric makes for wrinkle fest. I've had mine for about a month and LOVE it. The chain drives make it very easy to put the drops up and down by yourself which is another big thing, backdrops especially paper are heavy and you usually need another person to help get them up on the bar. I shot with a wire trigger for a while and finally broke down and got a pocked wizard plus and LOVE LOVE LOVE shooting untethered. They are a little pricy but our local store had a generic wireless trigger for about $80. I don't shoot with an IR trigger because I kept getting pink casts from it.

HTH, Mel

Message edited by author 2006-02-17 12:29:06.

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom for Nikon

02/17/2006 06:10:30 PM · #11

Got to looking, and found that the lights/background will be cheaper than I expected...

So, I'm thinking of buying a good lens for portraits as well...

Anyone have an opinion on a good lens for the D70 for taking kid portraits...

I currently have the kit lens and a Sigma 70-300

Picture This

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

02/17/2006 11:08:00 PM · #12

One lens thats cheap and I use it most for my portraits is a 50mm 1.8.
Got mine for $89 on B & H about 6 months ago. I use it a LOT! It was just one of the best deals out there.

I'll let everyone else guide you on other lens as I don't have any others I would rave about. But for the low price, I think everyone should have one of the 50mm's.

ShadowBox

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

02/18/2006 01:07:20 PM · #13

Just to throw my two cent in... I've been looking at doing the same, namely putting together a small portrait studio in my basement. After some digging this past few weeks, I've found a couple of links that might be of benefit (I'm on a much tighter budget than you apparently are):

//www.designinflight.com/04July/diy_photography_on_the_cheap.html
//www.photo.net/learn/studio/primer

They helped me better understand what goes into the studio setup (I'm very much a beginner)...hopefully they'll help you as well.

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

02/18/2006 01:53:42 PM · #14

I think at the bare minimum, a nice backdrop, an AB400 and a nice reflector would get the job done...

That being said, I'd go with an AB400, an AB800 and the backdrop -- if you do decide to get more in the future, your 400 will still be a nice light to light up the backdrops and what not...good luck...I really do think AB is the way to go.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

02/20/2006 07:51:24 PM · #15

Ok...

Here's my final shopping list from Alien Bees...

B400 AlienBees B400-Deep Space Black $224.95 ea. 2 (2 strobes)
FT10MM 10mm Flashtube $25.95 ea. 1 $25.95 (one spare bulb)
HSA Hot Shoe Adapter $14.95 ea. 1 $14.95 (adapter for my D70)
LS3050 10-foot General Purpose Stand $39.95 ea. 2 (2 stands)
UB48 48" Brolly Box $39.95 ea. 2 $79.90 (2 brolly boxes)

I'm about to submit this order and was wondering if anyone had any input on how that would work in a basement 12x12 (ish) studio...

I didn't want to spend the extra money on true softboxes, as I'm already over $600 before getting backdrops (which I'm getting on E-bay I think)...but I didn't want just plain umbrellas...so I went with the Brolly Boxes

Thoughts?

kostyc

Nikon D70

02/21/2006 04:12:32 PM · #16

Cooz,
I'm actually going to buy a studio myself. Since i'm a fairly new photographer I thought i'd get a kit from ebay. The one i'm getting is 299 and from what i've been reading from others is that it is pretty good for the price. Once i get mine i can let you know how i like it. The kit comes with 3 backdrops, 2 softboxes, 1 umbrella, 2 strobes, reflector, hot shoe adapter thing, etc. If i dont like it then i'm not really losing much. Besides 299 it's worth a try.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/28/2006 02:28:46 AM · #17

Other that the about $55 difference between the 400 and the 800 why not get the 800 and not have to worry about not having enough power? Is there a disadvantage to getting 800 over 400?
I'm also looking at getting a two light package and AB 800 with umbrellas look pretty good. Should I go with 800 or stay with 400 if the money difference does not matter?

Can you buy AB anywhere else of just AB or E-Bay?

Message edited by author 2006-02-28 02:29:23.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/28/2006 10:15:25 AM · #18

bumb for the day crew

nomad469

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

02/28/2006 10:26:31 AM · #19

Originally posted by Beach_mel:

I have the pocket wizard plus and WT1A for my d2x... along with the nikon capture software... works great for portrait stuff ...

same setup when I do the d70 except the teathering to the computer is USB1 and a bit slow

02/28/2006 12:09:19 PM · #20

Originally posted by PhantomEWO:

Ab or ebay are the only sources.
the 800s can be too powerful, and dialing them beack below 1/4 can cause issues with color. if you plan on using a large softbox then an 800 might be good choice.

Also consider Paterson Stellar lights, the 2 light 300ws kit is $525 or so and the accessories are less costly. From what users tell me the paterson 300ws actually puts out more light than the Ab400.