Can we talk lighting? ( beat a dead horse)

[8ball]

Im sure this has been talked about over and over and over butttt. I have been looking on google/you tube and on here. What do you guys suggest for someone just starting out?

Something cheap like work lights? or something like a ql 1000? or osmehting with a model light and flash built in?
AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! man on man!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! man on man!

:lmao:

 

[supraman215]

What are you taking pictures of? What settings?

EDIT: settings for the photo background, not settings on your camera.

 

[Derrel]

Flash with modeling light built in. Adorama Flashpoint monolights for example. Lower-powered, 300 watt-seconds or less, like 150 watt-seconds, or 200 watt-seconds. A light stand,and a reflective umbrella or a small to medium-sized softbox.

 

[edouble]

I recommend used speedlights from the manufacturer of your camera. This way you are insured that the speedlight will work perfectly with your camera's built in functions like ttl. I picked up two used speedlights off of eBay. You can easily and cheaply get wireless triggers for off camera manual flash if your camera does not support ocf.

Check out the Strobist website for pertaining useful information.

 

[GeneralBenson]

AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! man on man!

:lmao:

 

[8ball]

thanks guys!

 

[8ball]

Derrel and edouble i think you have the right idea for me

 

[icassell]

Read Lighting 101 Archive here ...

Strobist

 

[Village Idiot]

I recommend used speedlights from the manufacturer of your camera. This way you are insured that the speedlight will work perfectly with your camera's built in functions like ttl. I picked up two used speedlights off of eBay. You can easily and cheaply get wireless triggers for off camera manual flash if your camera does not support ocf.

Check out the Strobist website for pertaining useful information.

Multiple first party speedlights are pointless unless you absolutely need features like wireless TTL and/or weather sealing or you have the money to blow.

You can buy small manual speedlights that will operate just as well as say a Canon 430EX II for the fraction of the price and will have better syncing options.

A set of 3 lumopro LP120 flashes and a set of cheap triggers will run you about $420, iirc. That's without stands and everything else. 3 Canon 430EX IIs will run you $840 and depending on how you're going to fire them, up to another $800 for wireless radio TTL.

Some one made the comparison that using off camera speedlights were completely uneconomical. Well of course they are when you're comparing Canon 580EX II speed lights to something like an Alien Bee B400.

You can also find Alien Bee packages with two 160w/s strobes, 2 carrying bags, 2 light stands, and 2 umbrellas for $600. You can bump those up to 320w/s strobes for $55 each, making it about $710. But as monolights, they require a wall outlet or a battery that'll run you about $300-$430 depending on which of the cheaper brands you go with. You just have to decide on what you're shooting, where you plan on shooting it, and what your budget is.

 

[icassell]

You should check out the Strobist kits at mpex.com

The new Lumipro 160 looks like a great deal and you can get a 1 light kit including flash, stand, umbrella, etc. for about $280. Other options on that site abound.

 

[Derrel]

Here's an article I wrote in 2006, on the then-burgeoning interest in multiple, first-party speedlights as a way to learn lighting.

Derrel's Photography Blog: Multi-Speedlights or Studio Lights?

Speedlights are fine for experienced shooters, but they retard your progress compared with lights that have modeling lights.

 

[supraman215]

The new LP-160 is a great deal. I dunno about their kit but as for the Flash it's very powerful at 145 Guide Number. If he's talking ABs or other off brand mono lights he's talking manual flash anyway right?

I agree the monolights would be a helpful aid. But I like the easy portability of the speedlights. And with digital I'm not sure they are entirely necessary, as you can bracket and move move lights around and see the effects in the panel. Also as our Speedlight guru (Hobby) tells us "be the light!" lol.

EDIT: FYI I fear for this thread as VI and Derrel are both posting, and they don't make good bedfellows.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I fear for this thread as VI and Derrel are both posting, and they don't make good bedfellows.

AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! man on man!

:lmao:

 

[Village Idiot]

Here's an article I wrote in 2006, on the then-burgeoning interest in multiple, first-party speedlights as a way to learn lighting.

Derrel's Photography Blog: Multi-Speedlights or Studio Lights?

Speedlights are fine for experienced shooters, but they retard your progress compared with lights that have modeling lights.

Budget and portability issues really come into effect here. "Studio" lights are generally more expensive vs. some one getting into lighting with small manual speedlights. If portability is an issue, then you can carry a few speedlights, triggers, and compact stand in a much smaller space than what's needed for a larger setup with more powerful lights.

If a person is using a light that requires AC power, then they'll need a battery for shooting on location where there is none available. They won't really be able to use monolights in that situation because it'll suck the battery dry way too quickly.

There's also a lot more modifiers available for speedlights that there were 4 years ago. Softboxes, beautry dishes, barn doors, etc...

It all depends on the OP's need and budget. If he can afford a more powerful set of lights and that's what he wants, then go for it. If they need absolute portability or the initial cost is a factor, then they may be better off with some speedlights to start off with.

Not to mention, both types of lights can be mixed and matched and eventually it's always better to have both types. That way, you're never stuck in the situation of having one and needing the other.