Lightinig Kit Question - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

10/22/2009 03:53:54 PM · #1

I have a 12 x 14 room that I use for my computer/photography room. My biggest issue is lighting. I've purchased about a dozen different types of lights/lamps from Home Depot - none effective. Its time to move up. This is just a hobby for me. But I want to improve. Lighting has been an issue for me. Now my questions is: Do you think this would be sufficient for me? Is it worth it? Do you have alternate suggestions? Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

3x200w Focusable Digital/Video Halogen Light Kit 600BHK
//www.photographystudioequipment.net/product_info.php?cPath=30_32&products_id=63&osCsid=936eb47ce6a6dc3d6f737284fe3e750f

Diane

faidoi

Pentax K10D

10/22/2009 04:20:16 PM · #2

Originally posted by DCrest01:

//www.photographystudioequipment.net/product_info.php?cPath=30_32&products_id=63&osCsid=936eb47ce6a6dc3d6f737284fe3e750f

Portraits? Still life?

10/22/2009 04:21:47 PM · #3

Mostly still life. I don't have alot of subjects for anything else.

Louis

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

10/22/2009 04:32:23 PM · #4

That's a continuous light set. In other words, the lights are always on during your shoot, unlike flash units, which generally have modelling lights that let you see what the light setup looks like without high-powered lights heating up your subjects, making the room hot, etc.

Have you considered the venerable Alien Bees? Lots of people here use them, including me. They are more expensive than the set you've linked to--about $300 for a 400W light, a shoot-through umbrella, one 10' stand, and a carrying case. They're high quality lights, though. I started out with a cheap set I only used for a few months before buying some bees, and I've had my current set for years. They're great. Example shot with my bees:

10/22/2009 04:35:39 PM · #5

I did look at the Alien Bees, but was confused as to what I should be looking for. I agree, I don't want to buy something I will quickly outgrow. I'll check out the set you recommeded. Thanks for the help.

Louis

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

10/22/2009 04:40:00 PM · #6

Here's the Beginner Bee. If you choose a 400W light instead of the default 800W, it's $303. You can also just build your own system as you see fit, which is what I did.

Message edited by author 2009-10-22 16:40:29.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

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

10/22/2009 04:43:02 PM · #7

I'll second the AlienBees suggestion. If you go with some sort of continuous lighting system, you'll wish later on that you had sprung for something better, I guarantee you.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

10/22/2009 04:43:26 PM · #8

I was just looking at that. Wish I could take someone by the hand and have them tell me what was right. But I guess that would take all the fun out of it. Thanks for the help.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

10/22/2009 06:45:43 PM · #9

You might want to look into this set...

Elinchrom D-LITE2/D-LITE4 2-Light Kit

You get 2 lights, plenty of power, umbrellas, stands, carrying case and a fast "Recycle Time".

eta: I played with them today and set up this shot, powered down pretty low.

Message edited by author 2009-10-22 18:55:07.

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

10/22/2009 07:44:22 PM · #10

continuous lights suck plain and simple. The light coming out of the cheap units is mostly yellow, they get very hot very fast and also if you\'re in a model shoot or in fact shooting people at all the eyes look terrible because the pupils contract because of the light and makes everyone look weird and kinda threatening. Avoid.

I recommend Alien Bees also. I used strobist stuff for years and recently got into Bees. I love them. The quality of light is fantastic. The modifiers are fantastic. I bought all my stuff used and saved a ton of money. Look into it.

senor_kasper

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/22/2009 08:29:50 PM · #11

Originally posted by DCrest01:

Do you have a speedlight? If a budget must be met you may want to consider starting with a speedlight; an added advantage of going this way is the obvious portability of the speedlight. There are light modifiers (umbrellas, soft bowex, etc) for speedlights that will allow you to use them in your studio. Obviously, you would not have the flexibility or power that you would get from a monolight (alienbees or otherwise) but it would not be a bad choice to begin with.

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

10/23/2009 05:03:45 PM · #12

yeah but the softboxes for speedlights are nowhere near as big as the ones for studio lights. The small ones would suffice for a headshot but I wouldn't like one for a group.