ebay studio lighting

[ericbloemersphotography]

I am on a limited budget, and I was wondering if anybody had any experience with these type of lights. I am going to be setting up a home studio, and I need some lights to get started. The camera I am using is Nikon d90, and I have the kit 18-105mm lens as well as the 50mm f1.8 prime lens.

let me know what you think of this setup. I think its a pretty good deal, but who knows

2800W Video Photo Softbox 3 Lights Hair Lighting Kit | eBay

Thanks.

[scootermcq]

I don't know of anyone who has used constant lighting and stayed with it. Everyone tends to change to strobes when they find the CFL lacking. You will usually end up with a higher ISO to get a usable shutter speed.

[zona5101]

I agree with Scott but will add that I am encouraged by this set because two of the heads hold 5 bulbs. 45w is pretty useless but 225w may work in a small studio setting...plus you have another 5 light head and a 4 light head. For $200 it is a pretty small risk and a decent chance that you'll get usable light. And if you decide to trashcan it all and go with strobes you aren't out a whole lot of coin.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by zona5101

I agree with Scott but will add that I am encouraged by this set because two of the heads hold 5 bulbs. 45w is pretty useless but 225w may work in a small studio setting...plus you have another 5 light head and a 4 light head. For $200 it is a pretty small risk and a decent chance that you'll get usable light. And if you decide to trashcan it all and go with strobes you aren't out a whole lot of coin.

I agree it might fly, but for $200 bucks wouldn't you go with strobes vs constant.... I mean they are both no name kits, but.....................

540W STROBE STUDIO FLASH LIGHT KIT LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHY | eBay

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

I agree it might fly, but for $200 bucks wouldn't you go with strobes vs constant.... I mean they are both no name kits, but.....................

540W STROBE STUDIO FLASH LIGHT KIT LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHY | eBay

Yes - for me, I'd go strobes.
The OP didn't indicate if they had a reason to go constant lighting but without such I'd go strobes. And I'd add, for a relatively inexperienced person constant maybe easier because WYSIWYG - especially vs a strobe kit with no modelling lights.

Either way! Seems like you can't loose for a bargain kit: Strobe or Constant kits for right around $200!!! {That's cheaper than my flash meter}

[ericbloemersphotography]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

I agree it might fly, but for $200 bucks wouldn't you go with strobes vs constant.... I mean they are both no name kits, but.....................

540W STROBE STUDIO FLASH LIGHT KIT LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHY | eBay

I didn't see that one, but that kit as a total of 540 watts, the 45w cfl bubls are equal to 150w of incandescent bulbs, and 5 of them in one light would be pretty powerful right?

I have never used either, so I dont know if they are actually equal or not. I am just trying to find the best I can for the little money I can spend right now to get a home studio started.

so would those strobes be better?

[ericbloemersphotography]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Yes - for me, I'd go strobes.
The OP didn't indicate if they had a reason to go constant lighting but without such I'd go strobes.

The only reason I was going with constant lights, was because they were cheaper, and I could see how the light was hitting the subject.

[scootermcq]

That kit does have a modeling light and would be brighter than cfl..... If you think about an SB900 speedlight, it is about 90 w/s each one of those lights would be light firing a pair of sb900s....

[BrianD]

This would work for what you're going for - but you'd still need a backdrop (white/gray).

You could try an even cheaper DIY system:
1) White poster board from wal-mart (under $2)
2) White foam board from craft store ($5) (Hobby Lobby, etc)
3) 500W work lamp from Home Depot ($10)

Put a table/desk next to a wall and drape the poster board so that it has a curve between the desk and the wall.

Put the work lamp 45 degrees from the object and next to you.

Use the foam board to reflect the shadows appropriately.

Set your camera on the indoor 'lamp' setting (I forget the proper name...tungsten?).

This setup is decent for the price (pretty darn cheap).

The setup you linked to will give you more control, more ease of use, and less-harsh shadows to deal with. It's also 10 times the price...but hopefully in the grand scheme of things it still isn't that much. I have a similar 2-light setup that I purchased for video work.

The attached file is using the setup I described...it's not epic studio work by any means - but for the occasional craigslist/eBay picture - the price is right.

[ericbloemersphotography]

I already know what I am going to get for the backdrops, and setup of the photo area, I just wasn't sure of the lights. I really appreciate all the input!