studio lighting set up
 

I'm thinking of setting up a mini-studio to do some portrait work in... I started looking through the lighting options earlier today and got a bit lost! I found a couple of set ups that seemed ok as a starter but wondered if others could give opinions on them or other options. Also any advice on where to buy from?

First is this one - http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1023816 lighting and a background...

or this one - http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1002618 just the lighting.

Edit: getting even more confused the more I look - it seems I could get a constant light set up or a flash set up for similar money... any opinions on which is the better way to go?

2 x 1000 watt bulbs :eek: . Thats some serious heat generators and bright.

Tricky one Postie. Some people find a constant light source easier to work with. Determining where the shadows will be, and their intensity. Trying to think who said that in an old post in the Flash Forum. The downside of constant light outfits is heat generated by the bulbs. Turn the lights on and you know it. In this case 2 x 1000watt bulbs in a fairly small room is to the eyes pretty bright. No idea how you can chimp in that light. I think Clive ( Gidders ) uses a constant light set up. I'm sure he posted a pic of his set up in a thread somewhere. I will search.

Personally I am 100% for flash. Once you have had a bit of a play its not as tricky as you might think. Again personal opinion but I think it far more versatile than a constant light source.

Best bet for now is to see if Clive picks up on this thread and see what he thinks.

Don

thanks Don - having never used such a set up I really have no idea of quite what any given power will give (though now you mention it 1000w does sound a lot). I guess that the twin 500w would be more than enough for a small home studio set up. The flash set up that I was looking at was this one - http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1025920 any opinions?

Also do people think that proper background cloths are worth buying or do you use other stuff?

Minimum you really want is 250 w/s as that is roughly equal to a camera flash with a guide number of 45.

150w/s is probably closer to guide number 30 so you would be limited to a fairly wide aperture.

Remember diffusion whether of constant light or flash absorbs output. A bounce brolly will loose you one stop minimum over direct lighting.

I know you are starting off thinking portraits but once you have the kit its surprising how quickly you will want to try something else so these are important considerations.

Lucky out time now :D ( Lucky is the budgie and he shouts if he feels left out :rolleyes: ) , so I will look through WHE around 7:00pm if you give an idea of total budget.

Catch you later.

Don

cheers Don, very useful info - It's good to get advice from someone who knows what they're talking about!

Total budget it a tricky one as I've not discussed it with my wife (as she's the one earning the money I guess I should check) but I was thinking of about £3-500 (though I'd like to get some background materials out of that too). That said if I don't want to find myself wanting/needing to upgrade in a years time. So if I need to I'll wait and save some more as I'd like to get it right first time.

I'll leave you with the WHE Steve Aves page to keep you going while i have a rummage.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/Home...s/reviews.html

Lots of general stuff here.

Don

Your starter for 10 here. Both manufacturers I would be happy to recommend.
Elinchrom D-Lite http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1012337

Bowens Esprit http://www.warehouseexpress.com/prod...px?sku=1019168

Both are 200 w/s so thats ok. Both are 2 head outfits complete with stands etc. If you have a camera flash of reasonable power we could consider a single head and use the camera flash as the second light to reduce outlay on the flash heads.

Now to have a look at backgrounds.

Don

So many options for backgrounds - cheap to expensive that I am going to see if I can find the thread where Clive shows his set up to post a link.

This thread really needs his input as the portrait guru anyway.

Don

There's a bit of luck. Found in no time. :)

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=2387

Don

You're right Don - I do use continuous lights, and as they are daylight (ish) balanced fluorescent tubes - 5 per soft box giving 500w without the heat issue :)

Clive,
I'm sure the pics of your set up will be very helpful to Postie.

Your lights look interesting and would certainly be a lot better than my early tungsten lighting kit. That was a killer for heat hence my early move to flash. I've taken the liberty of finding a link to Interfits web site for these.
http://www.interfitphotographic.com/...l-lite%205.php

I guess the next question will revolve around backgrounds - materials, colours etc.

Don

Thanks to you both for all the useful info, that other thread is very helpfful, it's good to see the shots of your set up. It was interesting to hear that you had made the switch from flash to continuous light, have you noticed any obvious advantages of one over the other.

I do not know if Clive has used a flash set up in a studio for his views on comparison, so I'll chuck these comments into the ring.

The primary advantage of Continuous Light is that it is significantly cheaper than flash. Easy to work out light positioning, although decent studio flash units do have modelling lamps. Easy exposure calculation - meter direct off the subject. The downside of continuous light is lack of faster speeds to freeze motion. Serious light output from pro kit needed to get you there.

The only down side of flash that I can think of is the higher initial cost and the learning curve. Once you understand the basics of flash you may find you do not even use the modelling lights and setting up is just as easy as with continuous light. Either way set up is just the same.

The main advantage of flash is the ability to freeze motion. It is the short flash duration rather than shutter speed that helps here. So even if your camera has a slow sync speed the flash duration will exceed 1/500 sec. Studio units have faster recycling times than camera units and can withstand far heavier useage over a short period of time without overheating.

I hope this is of some help.

Don

Not wanting to sound sexist, but if you get into serious tungsten lighting then you can have Blondes and Redheads. :D :D

Technical name for certain types of light. :rolleyes:

Don

Thanks for all the advice Don... but I've decided to be guided by my wallet!

A friend bought a continuous light set up earlier in the year for a specific job but is no longer using it. He's been very upfront about it's limitations and the advantages that a flash set up would have. But he's willing to sell it on at a good price (including a background set up) so I figure it's a good way to dip my toe in the water. If I don't get on with it then I won't loose too much, if I do I can look to add a flash set up later on (when I'll hopefully be able to afford a better one).

Excellent job, and I am sure you will have a lot of fun. Also well worth going back through Clives gallery for some portrait tips.

I am sure that I speak for others as well when I say we will be interested to know how you get on.

Don

Now I'm having a re-think (could I be more indecisive) and am now swaying towards a flash set up... I've been reading a lot and it seems that while continuous light is fine for head and shoulder portraits it's not so good for groups. Having looked at the ones Don linked to I'm thinking I may go for an Elinchrome D-lite set up. Looking at the D-ilte 2 it has a faster recycle time but lower power than the D-lite 4, anyone got any opinions on which is better?

In lighting there is a saying " You can never have too much power ". So it really is down to what you can afford. The price difference of £100 between the D light 2 and 4 buys you one more available stop of light. If you are thinking of groups then that could be valuable from a dof point of view.

Specs wise both D lights are adjustable over a 5 stop range. Reclyle times are 0.7 secs. The lower powered D-Light 2 gives a 1/1200 sec flash duration and the D-Light 4 gives 1/800 sec duration.

Ignore flash duration as it is immaterial for what you are going to do.

So in the end if you can run to a D-Light 4 then thats the one to go for.

Link to Elinchrom web site
http://www.elinchrom.com/

Don

Postcard, someone on Birdforum is selling a set-up you may be interested in.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=117946

thanks for the info, but I'd just order a D-lite 4 kit from WHE... hopefully I'll be able to work out how to use it.