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03/11/2005 04:40:21 PM · #1 |
I know next to nothing about studio lighting, but am trying to learn.
For those of you who know about studio equipment, is this
a good enough setup for a beginning studio?
I have read a lot in the forums about Alien Bees, as well. Are they a better way to go, and why?
Thanks,
Linda
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03/11/2005 04:47:20 PM · #2 |
| is this the set up you are looking at? |
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03/11/2005 04:52:18 PM · #3 |
| Hey linda: Looks good to me. It is not easy to select the ideal equipment until you are ready to feel the need for specifics. With the selection you made here rest assured that you will always use it even if you move to strobes in the future. Direct lighting is by far the best way to go at the start because you are able to control the light and further with tungsten, you can look through the viefinder and what you see is what you get. I would not get too hung up on brand names. One important thing to remember is to always show caution when handling any lighting equipment. The stands are sometimes knocked over and always keep spare bulbs. |
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03/11/2005 04:53:58 PM · #4 |
| These aren't strobes, so they'll be very bright and hot all the time. The alien bees are perfered lighting if you want monolights. If you're just gonna buy halogens you can get them for $15 or so a piece at the home depot. You'd still need to buy stands and umbrellas though. |
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03/11/2005 04:53:59 PM · #5 |
You'll want strobe over continuous. Halogen get hot to work with. Strobes don't. I have heard very good things about the Alien Bee lights. Sonifo just bought some and took 3rd place on light one white with them ;-)
-danny |
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03/11/2005 05:29:23 PM · #6 |
I have tried the halogen light bit - best deal is at sears (7' stand, dual lights with 500 and 1000w settings per light).
I have used them and 2000 watts MORE light - and still need a tripod. It is not very much light at all. Fine for still life or products. NOT acceptable for portraits or full length shots of people (due mainly to LONG shutter times)
I can only imagine how much less light you get trying to bounce it from an umbrella!
Strobes with modeling lights are more money, yes. Well worth it!
Two Alien Bee 800s, they can be had with stands and umbrellas. They include a PC cord,but you may need a hot shoe to pc cord adapter ($9 at ritz) The modeling lights let you see shadows and such.
How much brighter are strobes? How about the difference between 1/30 at f2.8 and 1/160 at F13? And the former was with the hot lights about 2' from the subject, the strobes were at 1/2 and 1/4 power!! and about 12' from the subject.
yes it sucks to have to save longer, but do it.
They make AB 400, 600 and 1600. The watt-second measurements are 160, 320, 640. I believe thse are true WS - one can measure 'effective' WS and it is a higher number - be sure you are comparing apples to apples.
I read a book about studio photography - the author uses 2000ws stobes, and up to 4 of them at times. - that is 8,000 ws.
That is equivalent to 25 AB 800s!!
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03/11/2005 05:29:58 PM · #7 |
| Check out KEH //www.keh.com/shop/product.cfm?bid=SL&cid=51&sid=newused&crid=10266631 for used strobe sets. I have bought from them before and they are a good source for all types of used equipment. Hot lights will be hard to work with especially if you are shooting portraits. Those beads of sweat cast funny reflections. lol |
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03/11/2005 05:38:33 PM · #8 |
| I just found these at KEH but here is the mufg site. Looks pretty good for 5the price. //www.jtl-lighting.com/ I may get a few for location shooting. |
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03/11/2005 05:46:13 PM · #9 |
| flood lights are more for commercial lighting or motion picture. If you want to shoot people ever, these will not provide enough light. You want strobe hands down. And you will probably need to spend a little more than $250 to get a set that you can grow into. Check out bhphotovideo.com. I have Photogenic monopods which are great because I can control the power seperatly. Power packs are ok, but take more work and thought to adjusts the lights how you want them. Good luck |
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03/11/2005 05:46:27 PM · #10 |
JTL offers strobe and continous lighting...be sure what is what if buying used.
//www.alienbees.com/packages.html is the alien bee page. You can sub other items (like stands, softboxes, etc) and replacement parts are cheap. (aka flash bulb). Modeling bulb is a reguler 100w incandscent i think.
You can also set the modeling light to adjust brightness in relation to the amount of light the strobe is set for, so if you have 2 or 12 lights you can see what the effect is.
teh modeling light is VERY handy if working in an otherwise dark studio!
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03/11/2005 06:10:56 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
JTL offers strobe and continous lighting...be sure what is what if buying used.
//www.alienbees.com/packages.html is the alien bee page. You can sub other items (like stands, softboxes, etc) and replacement parts are cheap. (aka flash bulb). Modeling bulb is a reguler 100w incandscent i think.
You can also set the modeling light to adjust brightness in relation to the amount of light the strobe is set for, so if you have 2 or 12 lights you can see what the effect is.
teh modeling light is VERY handy if working in an otherwise dark studio! |
I started with JTL110s, great for a small space and big imagination.
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03/11/2005 07:32:22 PM · #12 |
Thanks to all of you! I will wait and get the money together for some kind of strobe package. In the long run, it sounds like that is a much better way to go.
Again, thanks so much for the input, and the "educational" information. You guys, as always, are great!
Linda
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03/11/2005 07:36:53 PM · #13 |
| There are akways jtl kits selling on ebay. The jtl 160 is the same wattage as the AB400. I ahve the alien bees and am a huge fan, but have seen the jtl's recommended as starters if you are on a very tight budget. Also, you can use jtl 160s and AB400s together, so you could keep the jtls for backdrop lighting or a hiar light if you move on to alien bees later on. |
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