In Home Lighting - DPChallenge Forums

02/28/2006 01:05:16 PM · #1

I'm looking to purchase some in home lighting (with the 30D and 70-200 2.8 L IS to follow shortly) and am looking for a little advice.

When browsing my B&H buyers guide I see packages ranging from 200 to 2000+ dollars. I am looking to use the lighting to take stock photography in a small basement studio.

My questions:

Would buying 2 or 3 580ex (or 1 580 and 2 550ex's) give me what i'm looking for or...

Do I need to buy a set like this?:

//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=298604&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Obviously the advantage of the first would be the ability to use the 580 on my new 30D, but is certainly most costly.

... or am I off base alltogether and need something completely different?

02/28/2006 01:51:18 PM · #2

I have that exact set of lights and love them. They are just enough for my small indoor studio in the basement and with the work lights I have for bounce when needed, great for the bigger studio room out back. They also are perfect with the light tent I have (28 x 28).

02/28/2006 02:03:11 PM · #3

You have the Impact set? That's a constant light set right? Would there be any advantage to buy strobes?

02/28/2006 02:06:33 PM · #4

Yes, the Impact set. Yes they are constant light. Along with the two umbrellas, I have some diffusers I use with them. Sorry, I can't help you with strobes. I have never used them.

02/28/2006 02:06:47 PM · #5

Also, would I need any extra's to be able to use the set with my 300D? I plan to get the 30D within a couple months, however.

02/28/2006 02:08:41 PM · #6

Thanks a lot Alienyst. You've certainly eased my anxiety about buying a 200 dollar set when most are 1000+. Is the b&h photo price close to what you paid, or do you have a better source?

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

02/28/2006 02:10:44 PM · #7

I purchased them from B&H and they were on sale when I got them - just before Christmas last year. Regular price was what they show for now, I got them on sale for 180.00.

Not sure about extras you would need...there are always things that are nice. I tend to be somewhat handy and build a lot of stuff I use. I make picture frames from scratch so a lot of times I have frames that just don't work for someone or they change their mind. So I have a bunch laying around. Took some white sheet material and stapled it around the frames for diffusers. I have some smaller frames where I put colored glass or plastics for tinted lighting or filtering (like blue to get rid of yellow) etc. Frame sections mounted on the walls as tracks allow me to slide sheets of reflective board on the walls for bounce (up to 4x8 sheets).

Message edited by author 2006-02-28 14:19:08.

wheeledd

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/28/2006 02:11:37 PM · #8

Originally posted by aReKay:

... or am I off base alltogether and need something completely different?

Hi,

Let me suggest something completely different.

A lot depends on what you will be shooting. If you are planning to shoot relatively small objects, a set of hot lights may be better for your purpose. I find it easier to judge the lighting with continuous lighting rather that with strobes, even with modeling lights.

I took a lighting course a few years ago. You can see the assignments I did (including diagrams and photos of the setups) at:

//wheeler.uc.edu/learn/

I bought everything I used for about $100 at the hardware store. This includes halogen work lights as the primary light source, diffusion screens of white cloth held up by plastic plumbing pipe, and a bunch of plastic diffusion panels for florescent ceiling lights from which I made a light tent and a light table.

Here is a more recent example of what I have done with this:

There will be another example available as soon as the Odd Couple results are out.

--Dan

02/28/2006 02:17:22 PM · #9

I will use them for some small subject work, but mostly for people shots:

People In Business Suits Doing Various Things
Mock Graduation, Prom, Special Occasion Shots
etc. etc.

... So mostly they'll be used for shots with one or two people in a 10x10 space.

02/28/2006 02:23:14 PM · #10

I have been experimenting trying to learn portrait photography and have been using these lights. The work lights I have I use for bounce and so far I have been happy with the results. Now all I need is someone to take a portrait of besides me.

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

02/28/2006 02:29:53 PM · #11

My Model:

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=301549

dleach

Canon EOS-20D

02/28/2006 02:56:19 PM · #12

Wheeledd, very nice instruction on your photo assignments! I've book marked it for future reference.

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

02/28/2006 03:10:15 PM · #13

Will I need any kind of adapter to be able to use the Impact lighting kit?

wheeledd

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/28/2006 03:10:56 PM · #14

Originally posted by aReKay:

I will use them for some small subject work, but mostly for people shots:

Then forget what I said.

The B&H set that you and Alienyst have been talking about will be much better than what I built for taking my photos of small objects.

But my concern would be that the constant light set from B&H would not be bright enough to get the depth of field you need for some stock shots. You want to get both the face and the diploma tack sharp. I do this when I shoot objects by using exposures around a second--something that won't work with models. I'd like to get a set of strobes but I don't do enough portrait work to justify the expense.

--Dan