lighting power questions - DPChallenge Forums

01/25/2007 05:43:07 PM · #1

I'm looking at ordering a full set of studio lighting tomorrow (woohoo!) and need a little help advice.

I will primarily be working in large rooms (30X40 would likely be the largest) and I'll need to be able to freeze motion on running / jumping models etc. as well as light groups of 30+ people at times.

I've been thinking of getting (ABs or White Lightnings) two 800s and two 1600s.

I keep reading that the 1600s would likely be too powerful for smaller work though. What exactly does that mean? With studio strobes am I still limited by my camera's flash sync speed?

Would you recommend I get:
smaller lights (and risk getting in a situation where I need more)
ND gels (and have to fiddle with gels possibly between models / shots)
White Lightnings - since they can be set to 1/4 power mode (but they would cost a good amount more)
Go a whole different route.

Basically I'm looking for a studio in a box that will allow me maximum flexibility - one that has everything. For the price difference between the White Lightnings and the ABs I could add on two AB400s (giving me two 1600s, two 800s and two 400s).

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

01/25/2007 06:07:11 PM · #2

I just bought this kit:

//www.alienbees.com/digi.html

with a 32X40 softbox..........it all came highly recommended by

idnic

I just got mine yesterday or else I would tell you how they do. I would PM Cindi and get her thoughts if I were you. She is the lighting queen.

Message edited by author 2007-01-25 18:08:10.

01/25/2007 07:22:51 PM · #3

anyone else before I PM the lighting Queen?

Perhaps just the simpler questions - Are studio stobes limited to the cameras flash sync speed? What does "too much light" mean in terms of studio strobes - just that I wouldn't be able to use a very wide aperture?

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

01/25/2007 07:31:49 PM · #4

I'll also give you the site Cindi gave me:

//www.studiolighting.net/

It may have answers to your questions.

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

01/25/2007 08:13:25 PM · #5

Originally posted by Megatherian:

lighting Queen?

A bump for ya cause she is online.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/25/2007 08:24:57 PM · #6

I heard my name! :)

Saying that a light is too powerful for a given space means that you will never use the light at its full power and so should save your money and buy a lesser one that is more appropriate to the space. You are shooting in dance studio, right? An AB1600 would almost light a football field. Serious overkill. I would suggest just AB800s, and save that extra money for things like barn doors (for more directed light, spotlights, etc), wireless triggers and wireless remotes, etc. - all of which will make you love your work SO much more!! Yes, you will be limited to 1/250th shutter speed with any of the ABs, regardless of power.

alfresco

Nikon D700

01/25/2007 08:25:55 PM · #7

Hey Lighting Queen!!!

You are the lighting queen, young and sweet, always f/8-ing
lighting queen, feel the beam from the alien-bee
You can light, you can meter, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the lighting queen

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/25/2007 08:27:15 PM · #8

Originally posted by alfresco:

LMAO I have an ABBA theme!

That first line scared me till I read it more carefully!! :P

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

01/25/2007 08:45:15 PM · #9

On the "too much power" idea... I just want to offer one additional thought: With higher powered strobes, you simply dial them down to the power you really need. So then the gain isn't in the wattage ... it's in the much shorter recycle times.

I upgraded my lighting a few months ago. Not because I needed more power, but because I wanted faster recycle times. So keep in mind that the recycle times that they list are for a full recharge. If you don't fire at full power, the recycle time will be shorter.

Message edited by author 2007-01-25 20:45:28.

01/25/2007 08:51:38 PM · #10

Recycle time on ABs isn't really an issue, even my AB400s can keep up with my camera's 5fps without a problem. The larger units will heat up and trip to OFF, however, if you shoot 5fps for long (more than about a minute) and the smaller ones don't do that.

Message edited by author 2007-01-25 20:51:48.

01/25/2007 09:00:42 PM · #11

#idniC - awesome, you rock :) I am planning on getting all kinds of goodies with them - reflectors, gels, barn doors, soft boxes etc. Basically last night I was looking at getting The Busy Bee (swapping out 2 of the 800s for 1600s) and then about $800 in extras.

One of the things I've liked to do in the past with my camera flashes is put a colored gel on one and then put it behind a white paper backdrop. That gives it a pastel kind of look but it's a bit too weak right now. Do you think an 800 would be bright enough to shine through white background paper?

@dwterry - The smaller ABs have shorter recycle times so I suspect cutting the power of a 1600 by 50% would give yo the same recycle times as an 800.

01/25/2007 09:03:03 PM · #12

Originally posted by idnic:

That's part of why I'm thinking I might be better off with White Lightnings, from what I understand they have a bit better cooling.

oh, and I forgot to answer your earlier question - yes I will mainly be shooting ballet but I would like to expand my horizons.

01/25/2007 09:06:36 PM · #13

Originally posted by Megatherian:

Originally posted by idnic:
Recycle time on ABs isn't really an issue, even my AB400s can keep up with my camera's 5fps without a problem. The larger units will heat up and trip to OFF, however, if you shoot 5fps for long (more than about a minute) and the smaller ones don't do that.

That's part of why I'm thinking I might be better off with White Lightnings, from what I understand they have a bit better cooling.

oh, and I forgot to answer your earlier question - yes I will mainly be shooting ballet but I would like to expand my horizons.

Think about that.... at 5 frames per second if you shoot that speed for more than about a minute most of the people in the area will be falling out with epileptic fits! That's 300 shots/minute. lol That's a LOT of shooting at once, chances are you will never need it. I only know this because I've put mine through some tough paces.