Cheap lighting - DPChallenge Forums

04/08/2012 10:33:31 PM · #1

Hey,
Wondering if you guys can give me any advice. I'm looking for an inexpensive lighting setup for pictures. Most of my photography atm is for on here (to work on improving my skill) or of my son/wife. I've done some small events for friends and wouldn't charge them for my services (given that i can't guarantee expert quality) but I was hoping to get something dynamic for lighting (ideally something that could do flash or just act as a straight-up light source). If anybody would be kind enough to offer some input on this, i'd appreciate it. (my budget would be a few hundred at most given that it's mostly for hobby photography).

04/08/2012 11:06:13 PM · #2

I think you should head over here:

Strobist.com

Lots of info for you there.

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

04/09/2012 07:41:33 AM · #3

Thanks!

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

04/09/2012 09:56:10 AM · #4

If you have some inexpensive shop lighting you can use that and a white shower curtain to produce a nice large softbox. Just hang up the Shower curtain and put your lights about 3 feet away from it. depending on if you already have some lights or not your talking a set up of about $4 to $15.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Canon

04/09/2012 11:11:25 AM · #5

Interesting idea. I'll keep that in mind.
I just bought a second nikon speedlight for setting master/slave lighting, will pick up a pole and mini umbrella reflector next pay.

james_so

Canon EOS 77D

04/09/2012 11:39:45 AM · #6

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/09/2012 11:46:30 AM · #7

Originally posted by RamblinR:

I think you should head over here:

Strobist.com

Lots of info for you there.

+1000

This is one of the most fundamental sites you will ever find for off camera lighting.

I purchased this lighting kit. It's very cheap and flimsy, but at only $70 it has been a great learning tool and gives you a lot of stuff to play with.

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/09/2012 11:53:19 AM · #8

Originally posted by james_so:

Nice, I'll have to try the cellophane thing. I use the Rosco swatchbook gels and place them between the flash and the flip out wide angle panel. The balloons look a little more sturdy :). I also find that if I run my strobe at 1/2+ power the heat will start melting the gels.

slickchik

OM System OM-1

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

04/09/2012 12:29:42 PM · #9

Originally posted by james_so:

Wow wow wow!!!! TY to

beetle!!

Message edited by author 2012-04-09 12:30:00.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/09/2012 01:54:18 PM · #10

this thread reminded me i really need to learn strobes. i just bought another yong nuo 460 for $40 on amazon. now i just need to get some stands and an umbrella.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/09/2012 02:01:58 PM · #11

Since you already have the two flashes all you need are some stands and a remote trigger, and some knowledge of how the make an off camera lighting setup work. Joe McNally's The Hot Shoe Diaries is worth reading. He runs through quite a few situations, what his thought process was in the lighting and how he ended up shooting the image. Im not sure you need to own this book, it is not the kind of book you go back to time after time, but it is worth getting out of the library or buying and selling on your favorite online auction house.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

04/09/2012 02:57:59 PM · #12

or one could just read the book online... really, amazon has the entire thing in preview???

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/09/2012 03:25:28 PM · #13

Originally posted by mike_311:

or one could just read the book online... really, amazon has the entire thing in preview???

No you get the part where he shows off all his toys and makes you think the book will be useless to those of us without TTL and 45 different strobe bodies. They don't show the part where we goes into a complex situation, figures out how he needs to improve the light and comes up with clever solutions with minimal technology so shmucks like me, with a cheap radio trigger and 2 flash bodies that can only shoot in manual, can get some of the effects that the big boys get. The pages between 36 and 299.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

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

04/09/2012 03:34:15 PM · #14

It is actually a pretty good book, getting at the mentality behind the shot, not just the tech needed. McNally has 10,000 SB800's at his disposal, so no average person will have the equipment, but the book does a great job of going through the thought process of light where and why. Keep in mind that Hobby has the opposite view of McNally, that manual is more useful than TTL, which is why the Flashbus tour was a worthwhile thing to attend. At it's heart, light is always light, and the basic idea is always the same, regardless of where that light comes from. If you're starting on the super cheap and just working to improve your light technique, I'd suggest just converting everything to b/w. Why? Because understanding how light falls is what you're looking to do, it's not about various white balances and color casts and nonsense like that. You want to look at the tonality, and with cheaper lighting, you are going to get weird WB and casts, so just skirt that issue entirely.

What speedlights do you currently have? If you need any help working with Nikon's CLS, ask away and I'll get back to you, as I've used it quite a bit and know the ins and outs.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

04/09/2012 04:13:45 PM · #15

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

If you're starting on the super cheap and just working to improve your light technique, I'd suggest just converting everything to b/w. Why? Because understanding how light falls is what you're looking to do, it's not about various white balances and color casts and nonsense like that. You want to look at the tonality, and with cheaper lighting, you are going to get weird WB and casts, so just skirt that issue entirely.

You can shoot a grey card and set your white balance for the whole shoot and have correct colours. You will be using nikon speed lights so you shouldn't have much of a problem but worth understanding how to set that up in your camera.

That cheap package for $70 looks like a great starter kit and you will be surprised at the results you can achieve with it. I do all my lighting work with flashes in manual. I use RF602 Yongnou triggers and they are excellent.

Just did this shoot on the weekend Pregnancy Portfolio on DPC.

A lot are in b/w in this case as it suits the occasion.

Cheers

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/09/2012 04:32:41 PM · #16

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

You and the raving online reviews have convinced me. I decided to pick up this book.

spiritualspatula

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

04/09/2012 04:42:33 PM · #17

Originally posted by RamblinR:

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
If you're starting on the super cheap and just working to improve your light technique, I'd suggest just converting everything to b/w. Why? Because understanding how light falls is what you're looking to do, it's not about various white balances and color casts and nonsense like that. You want to look at the tonality, and with cheaper lighting, you are going to get weird WB and casts, so just skirt that issue entirely.

You can shoot a grey card and set your white balance for the whole shoot and have correct colours. You will be using nikon speed lights so you shouldn't have much of a problem but worth understanding how to set that up in your camera.

That cheap package for $70 looks like a great starter kit and you will be surprised at the results you can achieve with it. I do all my lighting work with flashes in manual. I use RF602 Yongnou triggers and they are excellent.

Just did this shoot on the weekend Pregnancy Portfolio on DPC.

A lot are in b/w in this case as it suits the occasion.

Cheers

You are right, but one of the big problems with cheaper lights is an inconsistent WB, which means their WB changes based on the power selected so a grey card will not work. As such, if you select a high power for your key light and a low power for your fill, you may have two color temps from your lighting, which is very difficult to correct in post and is frankly better dealt with by using BW. My comment was more aimed at those reading this to start out lighting on the cheap, who may choose other options. Presumably, both Canon and Nikon speedlights will have consistent WB, but mixing and matching may present the user with an issue.

04/09/2012 04:52:33 PM · #18

You just can't go wrong for this kind of kit. I purchased one with two lights, around 170... came in a very good condition, works awesome.

just sayin!

04/09/2012 04:59:24 PM · #19

Originally posted by FocusPoint:

You just can't go wrong for this kind of kit. I purchased one with two lights, around 170... came in a very good condition, works awesome.

just sayin!

What does 'Flash Power Supply - Stepless' mean?
Do they shoot full power all the time?

Great price for a light setup but you would definitely need the lights to go from 1/1 to 1/16 or even 1/32 if possible.

Message edited by author 2012-04-09 17:01:48.

04/09/2012 05:12:03 PM · #20

Originally posted by RamblinR:

Originally posted by FocusPoint:
You just can't go wrong for this kind of kit. I purchased one with two lights, around 170... came in a very good condition, works awesome.

just sayin!

What does 'Flash Power Supply - Stepless' mean?
Do they shoot full power all the time?

Oh no, there a dial... I am not sure what that means, but those lights are working as slaves as well... Comes with a remote trigger, sync wire, and everything else in the photo. I am very happy with them so far, it's amazing how inexpensive set that is. I am going to buy one of the battery packs for them to use outside, which seems very promising.

Google Glass Google Glass

04/09/2012 05:16:07 PM · #21

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

I see where you are coming from now.

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

04/09/2012 05:17:10 PM · #22

Stepless means continuously variable, as opposed to discrete steps.

Think of it is as the volume knob on a radio, as opposed to the the click style channel selector on an old TV.

04/09/2012 05:34:51 PM · #23

Originally posted by ambaker:

Stepless means continuously variable, as opposed to discrete steps.

Think of it is as the volume knob on a radio, as opposed to the the click style channel selector on an old TV.

that's it... you just adjust the power whatever you want ;)

04/09/2012 05:44:02 PM · #24

these photos taken by the same lights... with flash or just using the modeling lights.

link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4
Link 5
Link 6
Link 7

So, unless if you are super dupper high profile studio photographer who can't take any risks of losing a level of white balance, those lights work just fine, with a budget of a pair of shoes...