New light or reflector & stand?

I have two AB800s. I'm debating whether to get a Photoflex 42" reflector and stand for fill and use second light for background or to buy a AB 400 for background light. Any opinions or suggestions?
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

I'm a fan of using as few lights as you need (of course this is a convenient philosophy when you don't own many lights), so my personal preference would be to get the reflector. Reflectors are also nice and easy. If you don't already have a reflector, getting one would be my vote. It's adding a different lighting tool -- assuming you don't have another reflector already.

--
http://www.happysoda.com

Uh oh-- now you have a vote for a new light, Juli.

I love reflectors too-- but I find it faster sometimes to set up a light rather than fiddle with a reflector. Depends on your shooting style. If you have a lot of time to set-up and won't be quickly switching your set-up, the reflector would work fine. I use a reflector on location all the time-- but I have the MUA or hair person hold it-- when you're outdoors a reflector stand tends to blow over and swing in the wind and all that. White bookends (foamcore) are another option for studio shooting.

All that said, there's really not a downside to adding a reflector to your kit. They're cheap and don't take up much room and the stands work well if you're indoors. Okay-- so I guess my vote isn't absolutely for a new light-- it just depends on your shooting style and where you'll be shooting.
--
Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com

and no softbox yet. I shoot through one and use the other for fill. Should I get a softbox before I add the third light or reflector?
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

Reflectors and a stand for them are cheap on Amvona ebay.

Three studio lights with modifyor is a minimum. Key, fill and
background light are basic. That includes as many as three reflectors
of different sizes.

Juli Valley said:

I have two AB800s. I'm debating whether to get a Photoflex 42"
reflector and stand for fill and use second light for background or
to buy a AB 400 for background light. Any opinions or suggestions?
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

Click to expand...

Well, I like softboxes but some folks say they're overused. If you're happy with your umbrellas, then I wouldn't bother. A decent softbox (ie photoflex) isn't cheap, but they are useful, and the light they produce can be fantastic. I love the look of a softbox as key and an umbrella as fill, but I also like the look a single umbrella can produce. It's all a matter of personal preference-- so I'm afraid I can't help you there!
--
Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com

Hi Juli...my answer depends alot upon what you are looking to do or what direction you plan to go w/your photography. If you're stuck by yourself having a stand w/reflector is handy, but not so handy if there is a wind...lol

Umbrella's scatter light over a great area, sb keeps it more controlled, w/grid even more directional. If you always have an assistant w/you reflectors are great. Eventually it's like tools in your toolbox, just pull out what is needed when you get there. I'm from the old school of you can't have TO much power or light. Not true w/digital. I'm spoiled, if I need to poke a light in an area I simply stick one there. Then you have to learn how to control it. So what do you want to do w/your photography, Juli?
--

I've just been taking photos of kids at church that are in a pageant. Actually buying a lot of stuff is probably more than I need. I wish I had some space at home, but I'm very limited.
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

A lousy stand is a liability. I've had good luck with manfrotto (bogen)

I've had the best luck with the manfrotto/bogen/avenger 20 lb stand and the combo boom , (Avenger A635B Bogen/Manfrotto 3078, Avenger A470(75) Bogen/Manfrotto 3397 kit) Manfrotto make both and B&H usually have a good price.

You can buy better but they're pretty good. oddly the Avenger light stand is the best buy and the manfrotto boom. The boom will work as a very robust lighting stand as well. The kit includes a sand bag that will hold a six pack if you don't have any sand handy )

I stay with the screw locks since they don't bite or pinch your hand like the quick locks. You don't save any time with the quick locks and the lcapacity is less because they will slide

Absolute minimum is the 3086 which will hold 11 lbs. I have an avenger grip arm for my reflectors. Together it adds up to a sailboat even in a mild breeze so sandbags are in order.

Sew up some cotton duck sleeves and fill with sand, sure beats $40 for sandbags. leg weights are usually $10 a set and work great to steandy light stands and tripod. If I really want to steady my video tripod i buckle two leg weights together and set them over the top so they apply weight evenly on all 3 legs. That would work on lightweight tripods and lightstands.

I've even used winshield washer jugs filled with water as anchors

Julie,

I would get the big PhotoFlex softbox and get the speed ring from the folks at AlienBee (it's cheaper). If you move in close with the big softbox you will get nice soft light.

For fill get a reflector and reflector holder to mount on a light stand. You can then use your second light for the background light, as a hairlight or a kicker light.

You can always add another AB monolight later after you figure out what you really need.
--
Bob

Use the preview feature before you post your message to see if you any words or letrs out. You can check your links to see if they work too.

That's about what I've been thinking.
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

Hi Julie,

In my opinion, basically, 3 lights would allow to get a quick and easy set-up.

Using reflector(s) without an assistant to help you to place it at the right place with the right angle is very time consumming (not only in the space XYZ direction, but also in the 3 axis setting). Saying that, it/they but could give very stunning result. Also for efficient reflector effects you have to use it with soft boxed light(s), ihmo.

Also, the basic for close portraiture efficience apply too. 1 for background, 1 for the Boom, 1 for the model (if possible some refectors would help also to lite the subjet).

As I read, you don't have softboxes yet ? So if I was you, I would invest on one first (36" or higher with removable grid) and AB ring as you have AB monolights. Ihmo, one the most known on 1 light application is butterfly lighting. There a lot more also, for me, the most efficient photographer here in DPreview at this game is M. Eastwood.

Good luck,

Bach.

If I got a reflector, I would get a stand to hold it. But I'm leaning toward a B400 for a background light.
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

Hi Julie,

Whether you purchase another light, a reflector or both really depends on your own shooting style. If you do most of your work on location, then you may find that transporting as few lights as possible will be much easier and fumbling with a reflector will not be an issue since you will have to set-up each time anyway.

Good luck!

Rodney
--
Homepage: http://www.rodneyblair.com

Juli Valley said:

If I got a reflector, I would get a stand to hold it. But I'm
leaning toward a B400 for a background light.
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

Click to expand...

Using reflectors you usually need both ... asistant AND stand.

The asistant will help you to find the right place at the right angle. When it is done he/she jump to the next reflectors. If you use say 3-4 reflectors, and are alone, each time you fine tune a reflector, you have to go back to you camera take a pic to see it effect and re-fine tune again .... imagine this is just for one, when all reflectors are 'pre-properly' placed and set, you have to fine tune them again as a full set-up.

With the same location you can do it yourself with time and practise, but when you have to change location, these reflectors would drive you nuts without any asistant.

Silver reflectors have more punch and are less critical. White ones are more subtle but also well harder to get out all the subtle reflection.

That's why I think 3 light set-up is more easy and efficient to use, for a none guru, than a couple of reflectors.

Bach.

I didn't realize it was so tricky.
--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

Juli Valley said:

I didn't realize it was so tricky.

Click to expand...

Oops perhaps it could be easier. In fact, with modeling light on trobe would help a little but you still have to place yourself in the camera axis after settings and there is nothing more accurate than firing stobes when using a lot of reflectors.

Bach.

Hi Juli,
Don't forget that some reflectors can also be converted in diffuser.
This can be very useful when the sun light is to harsh.

A third light is good but adding options like diffusion and light shield in your equipment is important too.

--
Michael Ouellet
Quebec city, Canada
http://michael.volcan.ca/