Inexpensive Lighting Setup for Portraits

02/07/2007 11:29:22 PM · #1

I am not looking to spend a ton of money. I have the Canon 580EX flash which does a great job of lighing the subject. But, I want to see if I can improve portrait photography.

Is there an inexpensive setup I can rig that would cover additional sources of lighing (side/top, etc). For example, what about using fluorescent bulbs (9000K) for fill lighting while bouncing it or diffusing it off something reflective. Then, use my main flash. Will this work? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Paul

02/07/2007 11:30:56 PM · #2

i would get a couple of inexpensive slave flash units... and use the 580 as a master. Get a couple of stands and umbrelas and you'll pretty much have a couple of strobes at your disposal...

-Dan

02/07/2007 11:31:48 PM · #3

So, how much do you think this would all run?

Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:

i would get a couple of inexpensive slave flash units... and use the 580 as a master. Get a couple of stands and umbrelas and you'll pretty much have a couple of strobes at your disposal...

-Dan

02/07/2007 11:32:39 PM · #4

im looking it up right now... gomme a couple of minutes :)

02/07/2007 11:46:32 PM · #5

i would get two of these slave units which should be compatible with your set up, might want to do a little bit more research on that..

a couple of these to hold these umbrellas

ans two stands like this

and the total is...
215.70

you couls probably also just do one flash, and the accessories and it would cut the cost on half...

-Dan

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/07/2007 11:51:00 PM · #6

Thanks. I'll look into it more. Can the flashes be used with the Canon 580EX?

Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/07/2007 11:54:21 PM · #7

Originally posted by PGerst:

Can the flashes be used with the Canon 580EX?

Only on manual since the E-TTL Pre-flash will trigger the slaves.

You would also be unable to control how much light the flash puts out, since it's automatic.

Message edited by author 2007-02-07 23:56:34.

02/07/2007 11:54:30 PM · #8

Originally posted by PGerst:

Thanks. I'll look into it more. Can the flashes be used with the Canon 580EX?

Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:
i would get two of these slave units which should be compatible with your set up, might want to do a little bit more research on that..

a couple of these to hold these umbrellas

ans two stands like this

and the total is...
215.70

you couls probably also just do one flash, and the accessories and it would cut the cost on half...

-Dan

yep, they are auto flash units so they would work with pretty much anything ther flahses and conects to a camera...

02/07/2007 11:55:23 PM · #9

Thanks again for the information! This is very helpful!

02/07/2007 11:55:31 PM · #10

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by PGerst:
Can the flashes be used with the Canon 580EX?

Only on manual since the E-TTL Pre-flash will trigger the slaves.

thanks for pointing that out spaz :)

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

02/07/2007 11:55:33 PM · #11

Wanna know the honest truth?

You can get inexpensive studio strobe kits for not much more than you would the slaves, umbrellas, stands and everything else you would need.

Two head kits start at around $350. All you need is about 100ws strobes.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

02/07/2007 11:56:11 PM · #12

Those umbrellas still need lights

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/07/2007 11:57:24 PM · #13

oh almost forgot to add... another route to take where the flash could still be used on auto, would be to get another cheaper canon flash, such as the 420 or 430 ex. The cheaper 420ex runs for about 290$ new... a little more pricey, but you knwo you're getting a product that will work flawlessly with your current setup..

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/08/2007 12:06:30 AM · #14

Here: 2 lights, $250

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

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

02/08/2007 12:11:09 AM · #15

Isn't photography fun?

02/08/2007 12:11:35 AM · #16

Can you give me an idea of where I should look for something? Thanks.

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

02/08/2007 12:12:20 AM · #17

Sure is...and not that I'm sucking up or anything, but I've looked at a lot of your photos to get ideas.

Originally posted by idnic:

Isn't photography fun?

02/08/2007 12:12:39 AM · #18

Originally posted by PGerst:

Can you give me an idea of where I should look for something? Thanks.

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Wanna know the honest truth?

You can get inexpensive studio strobe kits for not much more than you would the slaves, umbrellas, stands and everything else you would need.

Two head kits start at around $350. All you need is about 100ws strobes.

Spazmo99 just did :-)

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

02/08/2007 12:13:32 AM · #19

Originally posted by PGerst:

Sure is...and not that I'm sucking up or anything, but I've looked at a lot of your photos to get ideas.

Me too... :-)

And, I'm sucking up :-)

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

02/08/2007 12:13:45 AM · #20

Originally posted by PGerst:

Sure is...and not that I'm sucking up or anything, but I've looked at a lot of your photos to get ideas.

That's awesome! Hope I've been helpful! lol :D

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

02/08/2007 12:17:54 AM · #21

Certainly. And this site definately has helped a lot in general.
Its 12 am here on the east coast. I just finished taxes, getting a bunch back and now I have things to go buy!

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by PGerst:
Sure is...and not that I'm sucking up or anything, but I've looked at a lot of your photos to get ideas.

That's awesome! Hope I've been helpful! lol :D

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

02/08/2007 12:18:27 AM · #22

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

And, I'm sucking up :-)

02/08/2007 12:20:17 AM · #23

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

And, I'm sucking up :-)

You got that right ... :-)

02/08/2007 12:24:15 AM · #24

Here's the set I use Impact 2 Head Kit

angela_packard