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How useful is a second studio strobe?

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EKB

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I have an AB800 and an SB700 that I set up off-camera and trigger with the pop-up of my D90. I'm still in the experimenting/messing-around/learning stage, but I'm wondering: How useful do people find having a second studio strobe?

Right now I'm trying to decide between:

a. Getting an AB400 as a second studio strobe (and/or a backup)

b. Getting another speedlight as an additional off-camera slave

c. Getting a reflector or rigging up a diy reflector

d. Firmly telling myself that this is just Gear Acquisition Syndrome, and that none of the above would be worth my buying right now.
 
EKB said:
I have an AB800 and an SB700 that I set up off-camera and trigger with the pop-up of my D90. I'm still in the experimenting/messing-around/learning stage, but I'm wondering: How useful do people find having a second studio strobe?

Right now I'm trying to decide between:

a. Getting an AB400 as a second studio strobe (and/or a backup)

b. Getting another speedlight as an additional off-camera slave

c. Getting a reflector or rigging up a diy reflector

d. Firmly telling myself that this is just Gear Acquisition Syndrome, and that none of the above would be worth my buying right now.
Click to expand...
You left out the most important information needed for anyone to be able to intelligently answer your question--what type of photography you are pursuing.

--

 
The simple answer is that a second light is very useful indeed; a reflector is not going to be able to replace it.

A second light can be used as a hair-light or to illuminate the background, among other things...

Don't forget the usefulness of light modifiers such as grid spots, etc.

As someone mentioned, it all depends on what you are wanting to accomplish in the studio. From my perspective a good basic studio lighting kit includes three strobes plus whatever light modifiers that you find useful for your particular subjects/style.
 
Oh - "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" - there's my diagnosis! LMAO!!!

Honestly though, you can find loads of studio lighting technique guides on the net (The Strobist 101 couse on lighting and his whole blog is a must-read) or in books - just check you local library.

They won't all say the same, but IMHO to be fairly versatile you'll probably want at least three strobes for your studio plus a number of modifiers: softboxes, beautydishes, barndoors, grids, snoots, shoot through/reflective umbrellas. Plus a nice set of reflectors. The good part is that it's fun to experiment and you don't need it all at once. Buy as you learn.

Studio strobe or battery powered flash? That very much depends on what you would use the most. I'd go for the studio strobe, but that's just me.

This is based on my experience/experiments with portrait photography, if you are pursuing other goals, or just plain disagree, disregard this.

Happy shooting!

--
Less is more
 
Yep, three lights, but in the beginning one of those can be, and possibly should be, a reflector. Using a reflector will teach you a lot about lighting and will make transitioning to using a fill light easier.

A flat white fabric reflector with a flexible mount on a stand is great. You should be able to position it any way you want, at any angle or distance. This will be what teaches yo a lot about lighting. You can buy this or make it yourself. Just remember, bigger is better.

Another great reflector is a "V" reflector made by taping two sheets of white foam together so that the tape forms a hinge. You can use Styrofoam or high density foam, which better since it is stronger. Paint the back of the V with black texture paint so that the V can be either a white or a black reflector or act as a gobo.

Another great way to use this V is as a huge light source. Aim one, or two lights with one above the other, into the V and let them bounce back onto the subject.

The SB700 will work well as an accent or background light. Make some snoots or honeycomb grids for when you use it as an accent light. Be sure you know the beam spread so you will now how to position it when you use it as a background light - it will be rectangular. Get a Roscolux gel sample kit to use with it and you can turn a gray background any color you want. Lots of how to do these things can be found in Lighting 101 on David Hobby's Strobist blog and in the DIY link below.

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

http://www.diyphotography.net/43-photography-hacks-mods-and-diy-projects

By the way, the desire for more gadgets never goes away once you have caught the bug. Plan on a lifetime of wanting more camera gear. You may start with one studio strobe and one softbox, but you will want more, and more, and more. ;-)
 
Surely, a second would be a savior.

I own six Buff Einstein studio flashes. But I never plan a shoot that calls for more than five. That way, one is always available as a spare.
 
And the third also..

Really for serious work you NEED a least 3 strobes. main, fill, hairlight, you may need two more for the background, and two more for rimmlight from the two side is also very good

That is where I am now 7 lights + a lot's of speedlight cheap YN from E-Bay etc...

If you can buy a set that can be controlled from some central unit that is great also

One light is more than nothing but you NEED more ...
 
EKB said:
I have an AB800 and an SB700 that I set up off-camera and trigger with the pop-up of my D90. I'm still in the experimenting/messing-around/learning stage, but I'm wondering: How useful do people find having a second studio strobe?

Right now I'm trying to decide between:

a. Getting an AB400 as a second studio strobe (and/or a backup)

b. Getting another speedlight as an additional off-camera slave

c. Getting a reflector or rigging up a diy reflector

d. Firmly telling myself that this is just Gear Acquisition Syndrome, and that none of the above would be worth my buying right now.
Click to expand...
What light modifiers do you have and what are you shooting? If you shoot portraits for instance, you can get quite good results already with only one light and a large softbox. You can use a white wall as a reflector and another white wall for a grey background.

But really the most important thing to know is what are you shooting.

Also: Don't be too obsessed with gear, just go out and shoot. Experiment, don't be afraid of failure. Try to get the most out of what you have, then move on.
 
EKB said:
I'm still in the experimenting/messing-around/learning stage, but I'm wondering:
Click to expand...
Do more experimenting-learning and less wondering.
Then the answer you have been seeking will present itself!

It will arrive in the form of a revelation: You will say to yourself "You know, to do this better, I could really use a ..."
--
Robert
 
I find a second strobe to be extremely useful. Just make sure you experiment with it a lot to learn, and also build up your shots one flash at a time so you know what each one is doing. Some of my favorite portrait shots are with flashes on both sides of the person. They are also great for a backlight, or hairlight.
--
------
Connor Walberg
http://www.actionphotoschool.com
 
Forget about learning how to use a reflector with a single flash, that's
what you do before you can afford a proper set up with all the tools
you need at hand. Or as a challenge. Or under less than optimal conditions.

Learn how to use a main light and a fill light.
It may be old fashioned but learning how to set ratios
will teach you how to match the DR of the subject to the medium. And knowing

the quality of the light from each source is preferable to trying to figure out where
to aim the reflector and how to prop it up.

Want to play with reflectors, try using them as 'kickers' or 'rim lights'.
That experience should convince you that having dedicated units is preferable.

But if you like DIY lighting, you'll end up with a big collection of pieces of sheet metal, cardboard, mirror and fabric and lots of devices to hold them in place when you're trying to aim them.

I'd suggest that having a more or less complete multi-source kit (albeit limited in
power as the budget permits) with a few heads and a variety of proper modifiers

will serve you better than a single source and a bunch of bounce boards. And if you
use APS-C, you can shoot a f 5.6 so pure power isn't as critical as if you were
shooting 4x5 film.

If nothing else, using a main and a fill will get you away from the ubiquitous
single umbrella/big box style of lighting.
 
I can shoot all day with only one light source and do just fine. However- a second gives me more flexibility and a backup.

With two lights I can use clamshell lighting, blow out a white background, use a rim or hair light, use flat front (45 degree) lighting or easily set ratios, put gels on one light, use different modifiers (grid and use the other for fill) and so on. I can also light a larger area that one light wouldn't cover, say a big room or outdoors.

And if something blows up...you aren’t stuck.

Having said that- a speedlight can substitute for a studio flash (and vice versa.) Sometimes well, sometimes poorly. Regardless of what you decide, know the weaknesses of each and how to use them effectively.

I have several studio lights and mostly use them or ambient light with models. I never use flash when shooting landscapes. Speedlights tend to be finicky and awkward to use so my Sunpak 622's and Vivitar 283 rarely come out of the bag.
 
A caution for those considering the SB-400 an an "extra"-the SB-400 can only be fired from atop a CLS camera or connected via a SC-28 or equivalent cable to a CLS camera. It will not fire any other way.
EKB said:
Right now I'm trying to decide between:

a. Getting an AB400 as a second studio strobe (and/or a backup)

b. Getting another speedlight as an additional off-camera slave
Click to expand...
 
rockjano said:
...or a radio trigger or a light sensitive hotshue or similar..
Click to expand...
if you're writing in regard to the SB-400, no it will definitely not fire on any sort of trigger.

As I said, if it's not directly connected or via SC-28 or equivalent to a CLS camera it will not fire. Period. No exceptions.
rockjano said:
But the SB400 is not the ideal solution for studio work
Click to expand...
Is anyone arguing that point?
 
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