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Newbie all over again with studio lights

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Gordon Leitch

Gordon Leitch

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In the sixties I used Larsen Enterprises Refelctsols and small flash units. Now, forty years later. I want to do a little studio fun and want to use continuous lights with boxes or umbrellas. I need to start off with a beginner's kit for under four hundred dollars. Can anyone be kind enough to comment on kits available from Photoflex, Impact, Westcott, Interfit, Photogenic, etc. ? I have access to two great studio locations, just no lights. One is am abandoned shopping mall from the seventies. Lots of marble and collums.

Thanks so much.

Gordon
--
'Who loves yah, Baby?'
... Lt. Theo Kojak, Manhattan South
 
Are we to assume that you're going to be shooting PEOPLE? I'll assume that for now.

I've got some experience with continuous lighting, but I'm first compelled to know why you are looking at continuous rather than strobe or flash. If you're a newbie all over again, you may not be aware of the advances in flash technology since you were last a a newbie. Indeed, even speedlites can easily put out more light than a continuous light kit in the price range you mentioned. And speedlites have the advantage of being portable and lightweight, and not requiring a massive power source. Their biggest drawback is no modeling light. But then, too, even inexpensive monolights DO have modeling lights, and can easily be powered by AC, just like the continous lights. (At weddings, I don't even want to have to rely on AC or taping chords down and so on. I just carry a small AC battery pack which sits underneath the lightstand.) One major drawback to continuous lights is the power requirements and limitations. Standard household circuits, for instance, top out at about 1650 watts. Plug in 4 400W lights and you're entering risky territory. And 400W would get you there with only a couple of subjects, moderate shutter speeds, and no light modifiers. Add an umbrella or softbox and you're going to start needing much more powerful -- and expensive -- lgihts. (And those bulbs don't exactly last a long time, either!)

Because of all the disadvantages and inconveniences associated with continuous lighting for location portraiture, you've really got to have a compelling reason to go with it to begin with. I'm just curious how you arrived at continous light as your jumping off point.
Gordon Leitch said:
In the sixties I used Larsen Enterprises Refelctsols and small flash units. Now, forty years later. I want to do a little studio fun and want to use continuous lights with boxes or umbrellas. I need to start off with a beginner's kit for under four hundred dollars. Can anyone be kind enough to comment on kits available from Photoflex, Impact, Westcott, Interfit, Photogenic, etc. ? I have access to two great studio locations, just no lights. One is am abandoned shopping mall from the seventies. Lots of marble and collums.

Thanks so much.

Gordon
--
'Who loves yah, Baby?'
... Lt. Theo Kojak, Manhattan South
Click to expand...
--
Michael Thomas Mitchell
http://michaelphoto.net
 
Thanks James and Thank you Michael. Michael: I was just looking for cheap and with fairly nice results. The electricity is free and the place has sockets on many walls. Could you recommend a starter kit for strobes for me? I am going to be doing local models whom I have only done outdoors so far, but it is cold as out now in Maryland. I do crime photography for a living and models (live ones) for fun. My crime scene lighting is 100% ambiant and I use ultra-wides and fisheye and a tripod if necessary. My daughter got me into doing (photographically speaking) female models. :) Thanks for any suggestions you make.

Gordon
--
'Who loves yah, Baby?'
... Lt. Theo Kojak, Manhattan South
 
Alien Bees are good for the money. They might be a bit more expensive than some of the stuff that you could find on the B&H website, but the Alien Bees models often have a faster recycle time and brighter modeling lights. Even if you started with the AB400 (160 w/s unit), it would still be far better for portraits than any continuous light setup (it may be cold in Maryland today, but it's not a climate for hotlights).
 
As Michael noted..Flash has made tremendous steps lately, particularly the Nikon CLS system. No sync cords or AC plugs, etc. I have two Arri 650 Plus, which I seldom use anymore. I prefer a SB-900 Commander and SB-800's Remote. Tell us what camera you use and maybe we can be of more help. Good luck...Brent
 
Thanks again. I usually shoot at f2 or f2.8 so the 200's would be enough I assume. I love it when the eyes are sharp and parts you really want to see are not. :) Otherwise I'd shoot at 5.6. I will order something in a week as I am on my way to my son's in LA for next week. Wouldn't want to be not here when whatever arrives. I'll add to this thread when I do order ... just in case there is any general interest.

Gordon
--
'Who loves yah, Baby?'
... Lt. Theo Kojak, Manhattan South
 
Hi Gordon,

I believe that I saw that you live in Maryland.

If you live anywhere near Glen Echo, MD then you are welcome to test out continuous lights vs. both inexpensive and expensive studio flash lighting in my studio location. You are welcome to try it out for free for family fare images.

You can test:

3 Photoflex Starlights (continuous) with softboxes
3 Photoflex Starflash (Strobe 650w/s, 300w/s, 150w/s) with Octodomes
3 Interfit EXD250 (Strobe 200w/s)
3 Canon dedicated flash units (580EX, 430EX,420EX)
3 background setups.

The Interfit EXD200 is the equivalent of the Calumet system another suggested. The great thing about both systems is that they use digital controls which is really helpful in getting a handle on lighting ratios.

Just let me know.

--
http://focusonliberty.blogspot.com
 
The studio is set up in a church annex... so, 'family fare' is that which would be appropriate in a church environment. That, of course, precludes scantily clad models, etc. The idea is to test lighting, not the patience of the elders. :)

Even though you may not be ready to buy any time soon, you are more than welcome to try out the full complement of lighting sets there. It will be helpful to see how each of the lighting scenarios work as you plan what to buy. Just let me know.

Here is the Photoflex StarFlash 650/300/150 setup



And, here is the Interfit EXD-200 Setup in the same room, diferent location



The Interfit system also includes a beauty dish, which was used to take this image.



The dedicated flash (580EX, 430EX, 420EX) setup, not seen, is modified with either the Softlighter (pictured above with the EXD-200 on the left) or umbrellas.

--
http://focusonliberty.blogspot.com
 
Well, thank you Tom. I am north of Baltimore (do most work in Baltimore) and to get the chance to even look at you using that stuff would be worth far more than the trip. Would you and a guest be available for lunch on a weekend? You are too kind. :) I am almost 70 years old and my youngest kids are 18 daughter at UofM College Park and a son who is only in 5th grade. I would not dress either inappropriately and could shoot one of them for a few minutes. I did my daughter's senior pictures (using only reflectors outdoors) as she didn't like the ones that she paid for. I've shot a couple of weddings in big churches and didn't like the stress at my age. I still shoot murder scenes professionally and consider that much less stressfull, even alone in the dark.

Gordon
--
'Who loves yah, Baby?'
... Lt. Theo Kojak, Manhattan South
 
My profile email should not private. So, you should be able to send me an email to set up a time. Sunday afternoons are the best time for me because I'm already over that way.

We can go through a few basics and then you can have the run of the place for at least several hours to experiment. Your kids will get tired before we do. :)

What I expect will happen is to loan you the Interfit kit and a portable backdrop setup for a week or so. I go past where you live on my way to Delaware just about every week on 95. So, we could meet to get it back. Equipment is meant to be used.

And, yes, there IS a good place to eat nearby! ;)

--
http://focusonliberty.blogspot.com
 
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