Electronic Vs Continuous - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/21/2006 04:16:39 AM · #1

I am looking at buying some studio lights and from past experience would have gone for flash. However I have heard a lot about continuous lighting, for digital.

Anyone like to advise if I should be looking at continuous lighting for portraiture?

David.C

01/21/2006 06:56:50 AM · #2

While your waiting for the more knowledgable answers, I'll throw my observations from a few portraits with continuous lighting (worklights) and no strobe experience.

As I see it continuous light has the advantage of being able to see the interplay of light and shadow as it will be captured, but comes with the price of three disadvantages. The first is the heat that will likely make the model uncomfortable. This goes hand in hand with the second, which is with the amount of light needed on continuously the model is probably going to be squinting a lot. And finally, the bright lighting is going to cause the models eyes to dilate, removing much of the expressiveness of the eyes.

And on top of all that is the cost. I went with continuous because I could pick up a couple of work lamps fairly cheap and figured it was the best option for now. I soon found out 1000W isn't enough to take pictures of anything that is moving even a little. A bit a calculating to find out how many more lights I would need to be able to stop even moderate movement (doubling the number of lights for each stop faster movement) and I am looking at getting a couple of strobes when I buy buy some lighting. Needless to say, the cost quickly climbed higher than the cost of decent strobes, so I just couldn't justify it -- especially since the three problems I mentioned earlier would have only increased with more lights.

David

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

01/21/2006 07:21:52 AM · #3

Continuous lighting will run very hot and be dangerous to touch, and can even be a fire hazard, so be careful if you choose this route. Since they put out a lot less light than strobes, and because you will have to adjust white balance to avoid dingy yellows, I would go strobes. Check out Alien Bees.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/21/2006 08:03:04 AM · #4

I was given to understand that they had developed for digital photography. Obviously to get the light output they still need to be powerful and therefore HOT.
Unfortunately it seems Alien Bees are not on sale in UK. I have my eye on some others but I think I will stick to what I know.... Flash.
Thanks for your input

Message edited by author 2006-01-21 08:03:59.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

01/21/2006 08:41:30 AM · #5

Originally posted by Mr Tee:

They do ship to the UK and Anywhere else in fact...They can even get you units that run on 220-240V

01/21/2006 10:43:13 AM · #6

Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by Mr Tee:
I was given to understand that they had developed for digital photography. Obviously to get the light output they still need to be powerful and therefore HOT.
Unfortunately it seems Alien Bees are not on sale in UK. I have my eye on some others but I think I will stick to what I know.... Flash.
Thanks for your input

They do ship to the UK and Anywhere else in fact...They can even get you units that run on 220-240V

I will check them out again, thanks

rjpat

Canon EOS-20D

01/21/2006 10:54:47 AM · #7

Another thing about hot lights, they are bright all the time (obviously) and I find that it makes it more difficult for you subjects to relax with the bright lights shing in there face. I have been using hot lights, but just recently switched to strobes. Haven't had a chance to do much yet, but with the palying that I have done, I am impressed.

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/21/2006 11:02:21 AM · #8

Don't know why I asked really, all the years I spent in a portrait studio with strobes, why did I think Digital would change it? :-) Must be my age.....

Message edited by author 2006-01-21 11:03:20.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

01/21/2006 11:21:54 AM · #9

My 2 cents:
I have no flash except on camera. I bought two sets of 'work lights' at Home Depot and they worked for some stuff but even diffused they were harsh. I purchased a set of continuous lighting lamps, reflectors, umbrellas, boom, etc. and the difference is amazing. Very little white balance correction compared to the work lights. Not nearly as hot as the work lights but still hot. Did not warm up the room like the work lights did. The work lights made wax get soft when trying to shoot a close candle shot. The photo lights didn't come close when trying the same shot. Better control with diffusion, bounce, etc. with photo lights. The work lights have now become extras for surrounding light/back light/bounce so they don't have to be close to anything/anyone.

Never worked with strobes/flashes so cannot compare those.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/21/2006 11:26:45 AM · #10

Regarding "seeing" the lighting when working with studio strobes, unless soemthign has changed since I used them last they come with modelling lights built into the heads so yuou can see your shadows and your reflections during setup and posing.

R.