Studio Lighting

[idcrewdawg]

I'm looking to get into studio lighting, and would like a little advice on what to get.

I looked at the 3 light kit from F.J. Westcott "Photo Basic" that comes with a DVD and such, but there were mixed reviews on how well it worked.

Amazon.com: Westcott Photo Basics 503 Three-Light Kit: Electronics

My budget is about 600, but I can probably consider more if the price increase is reasonable.

[scootermcq]

One of the reviews states that this is constant lighting....

Get hot fast & can make for some squinty subjects... I would suggest to look for something with strobes, not constant

Did you see this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:X:RTQ:US:1123

Another member just bought it.

[Dennismc]

Yup, I just picked it up. That is a nice kit so far from what I can tell. Being completly new to it though I can not say it is good for you. I can say they put out a lot of light!

Build quality is about what you would expect from an import. But not the bottom of the barrel either. The only complaint I would have with it, the screws that hold the softboxes on the strobes are typical of the imports and the threading is a little tight. Other then that, not bad.

Honestly though If I had 600 to spend I would look at a couple AlienBee 400's and a couple smith victor stands, with added either umbrellas or softboxes, and mounts would be right around 600 bucks, and those would last quite awhile and are one of the main choices for most around here.

Wouldnt get the backdrops or third light, but would be better quality to start with.

[zona5101]

be sure and at least look at theses: Alien Bee 400, Calumet travel lights 375s or genesis 200s, Photoflex 150s or 300s. All have tons of modifiers, softboxes, rings etc, etc. more money but you get what you pay for. You can do a LOT of nice lighting with one light and a reflector...then build your system as your needs and funds allow.
All are available packaged in kits too...

Happy shopping.

AlienBees: Illuminating the Galaxy with Professional Photographic Lighting Equipment
Calumet Genesis 200 - CF0502 -
Calumet Travelite 375R Radio Enabled Monolight with Pocket Wizard Card - CE1101K1 - CALUMET KIT
StarFlash 150
StarFlash 300

[idcrewdawg]

Thanks all! I'm probably gonna go with the Alien Bees stuff. I'm looking at the 4 light kit, and have some questions about it. So I will be waiting until their open to ask them.

[NaturalWoman]

I'm looking at this light kit

Impact | Two Monolight Kit - 200 Total Watt/Seconds | EX100A-2KI

it says it comes with a sync cord. where is this plugged in on my camera. or does something go on the hot shoe and then to one light and the other light fires as a slave. thanks.

very new to this.

[Benji]

Some cameras don't have a pc socket, but most camera stores sell one that fits into the hot shoe and has the needed socket. You plug the pc cord into it and into the socket on the unit. I use that light as my fill light because the fill light is usually positioned above and behind the camera, which makes the pc cord short and sweet (harder to trip over.) The fill light fires and the burst of light fires all the other units at the same time. It works well provided the other units have slaves that are easy for the fill light to "see."

Benji

[NaturalWoman]

thanks benji. i just purchased and found out yesterday the items i needed. incidentally, i have an old strobe set (novatron 240), with modeling lights i purchased a while ago. i'm going to give strobe lighting a try and see what happens.

thanks.

[bhursey]

I just use Speed Lights on stands with cactus v4 radio triggers.. Saves the need for outlets and big expensive battery units. I had a CFL kit to start with used it for 1 month before getting a 1 speed light setup.

[NaturalWoman]

after contacting novatron about my older 240 power pack and light set up, i was told that i could not use this older system without an adapter to regulate the voltage or it might fry my digital. i'm scared as crap now.

i don't want to be bothered with strobe lighting, which is what i think this is. i would prefer the lights just stay on and don't want to be bothered with a light meter, etc. most of the stuff i want the light for is table top photography. i don't want to spend a lot of money, i'm not doing portraits, just want decent lighting (high wattage) if i need to.

can anyone recommend a Continuous Lighting kit...is the one from cowboy any good, does anyone have any experience with their lights. what's a decent or minimum wattage recommended.

Amazon.com: CowboyStudio 2 PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO CONTINUOUS LIGHTING KITS W/ TWO FREE 30w 5000k Day-Light Fluorescent Photo Light Bulbs: Camera & Photo

questions on the umbrellas, if the light stays on all the time, what are the umbrellas for. it's not like light is being flashed or bounced off of them. would different color umbrellas matter or are they just reflective.