digital photog discussion den - Page 497

jredford · 07-05-2010, 07:23 PM

Great shots guys!

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 08:49 AM

i've been toying around with the idea of getting some cheap lighting kits for messing around taking portraits of my girls (and maybe, eventually, if i ever get decent enough at it, pics for family members kids or something). i don't want to break the bank, so curious what others have used for "studio kit lighting". ryan, haven't you done some of this? hammer?

i keep eyeing this kit here........
http://www.amazon.com/PBL-PHOTOGRAPH.../ref=pd_cp_p_2

.... but then there's also this kit, which is similar, but more light.....
http://www.amazon.com/Fluorescent-Ph.../ref=pd_cp_p_2

not sure which path to go. anyone have any thoughts?

hammer · 07-06-2010, 09:21 AM

Years ago, I used a 'tungsten' continuous-lighting system. I always fought the heat, and had trouble with white balance. Perhaps the flourescent tubes are better, but I think you'd regret not getting 'strobes'.
Here's the current monolight I use for portraiture. You remember Sally .... don't you dipps !

http://www.adorama.com/FP320M.html

I put it into a 24" sofbox, and use a large white foam-core reflector on the other side.
Total cost = approx. $175 (for one).

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer

but I think you'd regret not getting 'strobes'.

why do you say that? (i'm asking cuz i'm definitely no expert on the subject)

hammer · 07-06-2010, 09:29 AM

HEAT, and (probably) the inability to get the shutter speed / aperture that you want. Continuous lighting systems are always underpowered. If you make sure your subjects set perfectly still, you can get lucky !
For portraiture, you'll usually use f/8, plus up to a 1/250 second SS. Try that with continuous lights.

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 09:57 AM

huh. i may have to study up a bit more.

did you read the descriptions/details on either of the two kits though?

they come w/ color corrected bulbs (tho i'm not so foolish as to believe that they're "pro" caliber), and the one set as four lights, or 1200w. you feel that even that set would be underpowered?

ryan the geek · 07-06-2010, 10:02 AM

I'm with hammer, hot setups are well... hot! Kids and fire hot bulbs is what got me away from them. I have a very cheap strobe setup, and if I had to do it over again I would go with pocket wizards and two 430 or 580 flashes, and get umbrellas cause soft boxes eat light bad. You then have a super portable setup you can take anywhere.

Trying to meter strobe can be challenging , especially since the the more lights you have the harder it gets. If I were in ur shoes I would buy a pocket wizard and use your current flash and test the waters with on light source. I find flash photography very challenging, so DD might be a better resource then myself.

hammer · 07-06-2010, 10:08 AM

Ryan has some good ideas, of course ! A 'strobist' setup with 430's or 580's is a fun way to go ..... especially because of the portability.

Dipps --- you realize (i'm sure) that the continuous-lighting systems can't be adjusted for output. You have to either change the light-to-subject distance, or change your camera settings to compensate. With a strobe, you just dial in the output that you desire.

hammer · 07-06-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan the geek

I'm with hammer, hot setups are well... hot! Kids and fire hot bulbs is what got me away from them. I have a very cheap strobe setup, and if I had to do it over again I would go with pocket wizards and two 430 or 580 flashes, and get umbrellas cause soft boxes eat light bad. You then have a super portable setup you can take anywhere.

Trying to meter strobe can be challenging , especially since the the more lights you have the harder it gets. If I were in ur shoes I would buy a pocket wizard and use your current flash and test the waters with on light source. I find flash photography very challenging, so DD might be a better resource then myself.

Umbrellas are great for large groups, ryan, BUT, soft boxes are much more controllable (light spill), and well, 'softer' !

Oh, I have some umbrellas also, although I generally use them in shoot-thru fashion.

Amadeus · 07-06-2010, 10:29 AM

Here's the kit that I'm eyeballing. Its an economical kit that gives me the flexibility to go with umbrella or pseudo softbox (those black covers can be put on the inside as well).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...lla_Mount.html

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 10:59 AM

that looks like a nice one, too. maybe i should wait for you to get it, then tell me how much you like it.

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

With a strobe, you just dial in the output that you desire.

good to know.

Amadeus · 07-06-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dipps

that looks like a nice one, too. maybe i should wait for you to get it, then tell me how much you like it.

You have the same flash as I do and after digging around potn there are lots of speed flash guys that have great portrait results with this kit. And $100? That's a cheap experiment in my book.

Did you read the 199 reviews?

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

You have the same flash as I do and after digging around potn there are lots of speed flash guys that have great portrait results with this kit. And $100? That's a cheap experiment in my book.

Did you read the 199 reviews?

no, i didn't read all 199.

and do you already have two 430EX II's? i only have one.

Amadeus · 07-06-2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dipps

no, i didn't read all 199.

and do you already have two 430EX II's? i only have one.

No I have one 430 and an old flash from my film days that I recently dug out (Vivitar 2800). I just picked up the Cybersync system to fire both flashes (I really dig these so far!) so now I want some umbrellas to mess around with.

Because my cheap vivitar isn't power adjustable I'll probably pick up either a Sunpack 383 or 540ez as a 2nd flash since they can be had for cheap.

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 12:34 PM

any link to the cybersync?

Amadeus · 07-06-2010, 12:46 PM

Here ya go:
http://www.alienbees.com/cybersync.html

Pocket Wizards seem a bit steep for the average joe and the cybersyncs get great reviews at a much cheaper price point. I ended up purchasing some mint used cybersyncs and they work beautifully (plus they're well built).

**dipps** · 07-06-2010, 12:56 PM

sorry, but i forgot which camera you have...... do you have a 7D? if so, is a cybersync necessary with the 7D's wireless flash control, or no? i'm not as studied up on this flash stuff as i'd like to be, as i've devoted what little reading time i have of late to trying to figure out a decent investment portfolio for my roth ira's.

Amadeus · 07-06-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dipps

sorry, but i forgot which camera you have...... do you have a 7D? if so, is a cybersync necessary with the 7D's wireless flash control, or no? i'm not as studied up on this flash stuff as i'd like to be, as i've devoted what little reading time i have of late to trying to figure out a decent investment portfolio for my roth ira's.

I'm pretty sure the 7d uses light pulses to communicate among the flashes, so there is line-of-sight issues, plus you are range limited. IMO, you're better off using radio freq to control flash.

hammer · 07-06-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

I'm pretty sure the 7d uses light pulses to communicate among the flashes, so there is line-of-sight issues, plus you are range limited. IMO, you're better off using radio freq to control flash.

Truth & Wisdom !

07-05-2010, 07:23 PM	#9921
jredford Musical Metal Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 11,873	Great shots guys! __________________ 2003 GSXR 600 Tracked 2005 BMW R1200 RT 2006 FZ1 2007 CRF450X Tarded

07-06-2010, 08:49 AM	#9922
dipps administrator Join Date: May 2003 Location: .... land of sky blue waters Posts: 51,361	i've been toying around with the idea of getting some cheap lighting kits for messing around taking portraits of my girls (and maybe, eventually, if i ever get decent enough at it, pics for family members kids or something). i don't want to break the bank, so curious what others have used for "studio kit lighting". ryan, haven't you done some of this? hammer? i keep eyeing this kit here........ http://www.amazon.com/PBL-PHOTOGRAPH.../ref=pd_cp_p_2 .... but then there's also this kit, which is similar, but more light..... http://www.amazon.com/Fluorescent-Ph.../ref=pd_cp_p_2 not sure which path to go. anyone have any thoughts? __________________ Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil -- the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be. "I've learned there are three things you don't discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." - Linus

07-06-2010, 09:21 AM	#9923
hammer Inside Out Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 11,297	Years ago, I used a 'tungsten' continuous-lighting system. I always fought the heat, and had trouble with white balance. Perhaps the flourescent tubes are better, but I think you'd regret not getting 'strobes'. Here's the current monolight I use for portraiture. You remember Sally .... don't you dipps ! http://www.adorama.com/FP320M.html I put it into a 24" sofbox, and use a large white foam-core reflector on the other side. Total cost = approx. $175 (for one). __________________ "The most massive characters are seared with scars" ___ Kahlil Gibran

07-06-2010, 09:29 AM	#9925
hammer Inside Out Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 11,297	HEAT, and (probably) the inability to get the shutter speed / aperture that you want. Continuous lighting systems are always underpowered. If you make sure your subjects set perfectly still, you can get lucky ! For portraiture, you'll usually use f/8, plus up to a 1/250 second SS. Try that with continuous lights. __________________ "The most massive characters are seared with scars" ___ Kahlil Gibran

07-06-2010, 09:57 AM	#9926
dipps administrator Join Date: May 2003 Location: .... land of sky blue waters Posts: 51,361	huh. i may have to study up a bit more. did you read the descriptions/details on either of the two kits though? they come w/ color corrected bulbs (tho i'm not so foolish as to believe that they're "pro" caliber), and the one set as four lights, or 1200w. you feel that even that set would be underpowered? __________________ Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil -- the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be. "I've learned there are three things you don't discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." - Linus

07-06-2010, 10:02 AM	#9927
ryan the geek Stinky Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 2,955	I'm with hammer, hot setups are well... hot! Kids and fire hot bulbs is what got me away from them. I have a very cheap strobe setup, and if I had to do it over again I would go with pocket wizards and two 430 or 580 flashes, and get umbrellas cause soft boxes eat light bad. You then have a super portable setup you can take anywhere. Trying to meter strobe can be challenging , especially since the the more lights you have the harder it gets. If I were in ur shoes I would buy a pocket wizard and use your current flash and test the waters with on light source. I find flash photography very challenging, so DD might be a better resource then myself.

07-06-2010, 10:08 AM	#9928
hammer Inside Out Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 11,297	Ryan has some good ideas, of course ! A 'strobist' setup with 430's or 580's is a fun way to go ..... especially because of the portability. Dipps --- you realize (i'm sure) that the continuous-lighting systems can't be adjusted for output. You have to either change the light-to-subject distance, or change your camera settings to compensate. With a strobe, you just dial in the output that you desire. __________________ "The most massive characters are seared with scars" ___ Kahlil Gibran

07-06-2010, 10:29 AM	#9930
Amadeus Believe Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: CA, USA Posts: 3,730	Here's the kit that I'm eyeballing. Its an economical kit that gives me the flexibility to go with umbrella or pseudo softbox (those black covers can be put on the inside as well). http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...lla_Mount.html __________________ Open the throttle and its Milennium Falcon fast, though mercifully devoid of Wookies. (Simon Bradly on the 2005 GSXR)

07-06-2010, 10:59 AM	#9931
dipps administrator Join Date: May 2003 Location: .... land of sky blue waters Posts: 51,361	that looks like a nice one, too. maybe i should wait for you to get it, then tell me how much you like it. __________________ Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil -- the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be. "I've learned there are three things you don't discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." - Linus

07-06-2010, 12:34 PM	#9936
dipps administrator Join Date: May 2003 Location: .... land of sky blue waters Posts: 51,361	any link to the cybersync? __________________ Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil -- the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be. "I've learned there are three things you don't discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." - Linus

07-06-2010, 12:46 PM	#9937
Amadeus Believe Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: CA, USA Posts: 3,730	Here ya go: http://www.alienbees.com/cybersync.html Pocket Wizards seem a bit steep for the average joe and the cybersyncs get great reviews at a much cheaper price point. I ended up purchasing some mint used cybersyncs and they work beautifully (plus they're well built). __________________ Open the throttle and its Milennium Falcon fast, though mercifully devoid of Wookies. (Simon Bradly on the 2005 GSXR)

07-06-2010, 12:56 PM	#9938
dipps administrator Join Date: May 2003 Location: .... land of sky blue waters Posts: 51,361	sorry, but i forgot which camera you have...... do you have a 7D? if so, is a cybersync necessary with the 7D's wireless flash control, or no? i'm not as studied up on this flash stuff as i'd like to be, as i've devoted what little reading time i have of late to trying to figure out a decent investment portfolio for my roth ira's. __________________ Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil -- the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be. "I've learned there are three things you don't discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." - Linus

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