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08/23/2008 03:04:47 AM · #1 |
I am looking for best bang for the buck in a studio lighting kit. I have some cheesy stuff I got on ebay: 1 bounce umbrella slave, 2 flash units w/ continuous also but variable power is not variable enough (too high). I also have the 580EXII. What I am looking for is a prosumer type kit for studio portrait work - just hobbyish right now. Price range $350 - $500. Would an alienbees kit be best? Any suggestions or advice? I'm a total noob at studio lighting, so stuff that's easy to use would be a plus. My "studio" is in about a 15ft x 12ft room in my office with an 8ft ceiling. I can expand lengthwise a little as needed, but have to go through a 6ft double doorway into an adjoining room. Here's my basic layout:
Any advice, suggestions or wisecracks are appreciated. Links to specific kits if ya got em. :) |
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08/23/2008 04:14:53 AM · #2 |
I am feeling a bit tired. I need to brush my teeth and go to bed, I'll talk to you about this is in the morning.
Goodnight. |
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08/23/2008 05:29:44 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by ben4345:
I am feeling a bit tired. I need to brush my teeth and go to bed, I'll talk to you about this is in the morning.
Goodnight. |
Sure. G'night Pa. LOL |
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08/23/2008 05:55:49 AM · #4 |
Hey Art... I have a set of Elinchrom D-Lite400's and have to say they are absolutely brilliant, I also got the radio triggers too and I use these lights with my cheapo ones I have too, these are the main and I use my old cheapos for backlighting and highlighting.
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08/23/2008 08:36:24 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I also have the 580EXII. What I am looking for is a prosumer type kit for studio portrait work - just hobbyish right now. |
Artemis, that 580EXII is crap. Better send it to me, just so it won't go interfering with your studio, messing up the lighting and whatnot. I'll send you a nice thank-you card on behalf of your fledgling studio setup.
:-)
Seriously, all I have only read good things about the performance/price ratio of the ABees.
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08/23/2008 09:26:21 AM · #6 |
Ken, I have four ABs, and you know I swear by them. Mine are Martian Pink and I think yours should be too. :D
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08/23/2008 10:32:47 AM · #7 |
| I think you should go for the ABs. You can pick one of their packages, but mixing and matching is better, and you can easily find stuff in your price range. I had El Cheapo lights to start, but quickly got tired of them and replaced them with ABs. A really good decision. |
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08/23/2008 10:43:21 AM · #8 |
With a little room like that...just paint everything reflective white and light it with 1500w halogen from the hardware store. Or go Christmas Vacation Style and staple a kagillion Christmas lights to the walls and ceiling and pluger in. (this may actually look very cool) and you could always change the bulbs for some effect!!!!
"wisecracks are appreciated" - someone had to do it! : ) |
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08/23/2008 11:41:25 AM · #9 |
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08/23/2008 01:15:45 PM · #10 |
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08/23/2008 07:28:04 PM · #11 |
Ken I started with some cheaper studio flashes and while they are great to learn with, they can also be frustrating. And while the strobist route may be neat especially if you need to be mobile, you can spend just as much on a couple of quality flashes as a kit from AB.
Currently I use 2 AB800's as a main and fill light, and I have one AB400 as a background or hairlight. They work great and I'd love at some point to add either another 800 or 400 to the mix. Right now I'm just not doing enough to justify it.
Some of the great things about AB.
Very consistent output, very consistent color. Great customer service if you need them. Great warrenty as well. I just ordered the new wireless system to replace the original one that I got from them as it had some issues.
Here is the deal, if you bought the first set and now order the second set, you ship the first set back and they give you full purchase price for it. Now how many companies will do that? That should tell you something about them.
With a one light setup and a good reflector you can do amazing things. This would be the beginner bee kit which is in your range. If you can adjust your kit by $100 I'd get the two light setup with 2 AB400's in it. You wouldnt be disappointed.
Matt
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