sppedlites or monolights

[BobC]

Looking at entry level lighting equipment and have been reading through the Strobist. Seems like they advocate speedlites because of portability. Some i'm wondering which is a better way to go for entry level. 2 speedlite setup as described by the Strobist or 2-300watt monolite setup. Cost is a factor since this is a real learning experience for me. Don't want to spend alot of money on something I don't know how much I'll use it. But don't want to go cheap and be frustrated. Upgrading in the future is possible but after shelling out the money now don't know how soon I'll be ready to do that. So as a recap entry level lighting

Speedlites - pros: portable, less expensive
cons: not as powerful, no modeling lights

Monolites - pros: more powerful, modeling lights
cons: not as portable, costly

Additional pros and cons appreciated. Help me make a decision

[candleman]

Originally Posted by BobC

Speedlites - pros: portable, less expensive
cons: not as powerful, no modeling lights

Monolites - pros: more powerful, modeling lights
cons: not as portable, costly

Additional pros and cons appreciated. Help me make a decision

you prettymuch nailed it..
i went for speedlights.
they do three things at one price...
1. on camera
2. off camera in-home studio
3. off camera and on-location

at best a monolight will do only two of those.. but at a high price... and at beginner level... you dont need the power.

a monolight set-up will be vastly more expensive.. especially if you want to do on-location.

one battery for one monolight costs more than my entire set-up of three strobes with stands and radiotriggers.

i'd say go speedlight.. lern the tricks.. then upgrade.


(edit)
may i add the modelling light is a mute pro/con anyway.

all you need to do with speedlights is fire a shot and chimp.. just look at the image preview... then adjust the light and composition/pose.

[BobC]

I was leaning to speedlights mostly because of cost. Didn't want in a few months to be wishing I had saved a bit more and gotten the mono's

Anyone else?

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by BobC

I was leaning to speedlights mostly because of cost. Didn't want in a few months to be wishing I had saved a bit more and gotten the mono's

Anyone else?

Speed lights they are cheep and mobile. If your going with ac strobes I would recomend getting good quality. Not some ebay kit.

[LoveDSLR]

With modeling light and flash meter, you can visualize the result and nail the exposure quickly. The learning curve for basic lighting is shorter.

You can incorporate WB into the workflow using color meter for more accurate results . In the movie 'The Devil Wears Parda', Meryl Streep explains to Anne Hathaway that if a client hired you to shoot a cerulean blue sweater then it better came out as cerulean blue.

While speedlights's cost of entry is lower but you have to spend more time on trial and error method (chimping) to get each setup right. Once you know your gears and techniques inside out then you can visualize the result from experience (e.g., Joe McNally).

Have an open mind and learn both properly.

[zona5101]

I have both studio light (3 lights) and portable shoe mounted strobes a al strobist. I do not have a dedicated studio room so putting up the studio lights is a production in and of itself. Light stands are bigger, heaver. Modifiers, light boxes, are bigger. Boom stands, counter weights, and a wall out let nearby...you get the idea. But I can light up anything and usually have more light that I could ever use. Plus there are a lot more light modifiers I can use with the big lights.
The portables are great for putting up and down quickly. They are batty powered so I can go in the back yard or the park, etc. The stands, brackets, and umbrellas are light weight. Downside is they have limited power. This may be a telling point and falls in line with Candleman's recommendation go go portables first: I had studio lights before ...got the 'strobist' buzz later when I wanted to do some location stuff. Now I find even at home if I need a quick light set up, the portables come out.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

While speedlights's cost of entry is lower but you have to spend more time on trial and error method (chimping) to get each setup right. Once you know your gears and techniques inside out then you can visualize the result from experience (e.g., Joe McNally).

You can set speedlights manually just like monolights: your argument is invalid.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You can set speedlights manually just like monolights: your argument is invalid.

I was only referring to the advantage of using modeling light and a studio light workflow.

I do know something about manual setting since I owned both Canon and Nikon eTTL/iTTL flashes besides my many sets of studio light and dozens of manual and auto flashes (Nikon, Braun, Rollei, Metz 60, 45, Vivitar 283, 285, 4600) from the old days.

As I said in the previous post, have an open mind. What some beginners is doing today have been done by many of us long time ago. We had to face similar decisions, budget and learning too. Chimping is not new either. There was a thing called Polaroid Back.

[BobC]

Thanks for the responses. Modeling lights was one of the pros for Monolights. I'm still leaning to speedlites, again mostly because of cost.

I've also heard I should start with one light and learn that before moving on to multiple lights. I think though that once I convince my other half to buy lights I may not get another crack at it for awhile. So I'm thinking a two light and umbrella set. I would still have my SB600 I could use as a third light. All i would need is the trigger. I assume I could put a radio receiver on that using a shoe adapter.

Since this is a hobby and not a profession..... Cost is a big big factor.

If i go speedlites is the strobist set at Midwest the best way to go. Everything in one kit (and works toghter) or should I piece meal it

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

As I said in the previous post, have an open mind. What some beginners is doing today have been done by many of us long time ago. We had to face similar decisions, budget and learning too. Chimping is not new either. There was a thing called Polaroid Back.

I'm sorry if this sounds overly defensive, but I find many of your posts a little condescending. I understand that you're a pro and everything, but that doesn't mean others don't know what they're doing.

I do have an open mind: I've had experience with both monolights and speedlights and chose the latter for my personal work because of their flexibility and portability. One of your main pros for monolights was that they could be set manually: i merely said that speedlights could as well. I dont need a lecture.

I know very well that the techniques are not new: if they were, there wouldn't be nearly as much documentation on it. The thing is, though, that many find speedlights simply that much easier vs monolights, especially when it comes to learning them and, once theyve been perfected, using a light meter, you can basically use them like monos.

I just dont appreciate the tone, is all.