DIY Lighting

[TommyBoyNasty]

I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations as I what could be effective for cheap, DIY studio lights. For example maybe a fluorescent work light or something. Does anyone have experience in this kind of thing? Anybody have any tips on what or how to choose my ghetto lights? Or is this a bad idea? Lemme know your thoughts!
Thanks!

 

[tirediron]

It depends on what sort of studio work you're doing; people, or objects. Almost any kind of light will be fine for objects, however, if you're shooting people you want as much light as possible, since even the brightest continuous lights aren't really all that bright compared to a flash. A couple of these would be more what you're wanting for portrait work, unfortunately they get hot. Very hot. What's your budget? You'd be surprised how inexpensive some of the consumer-grade strobe sets are. For instance, this unit from Adorama is only a few dollars more and infinitely more versatile...

 

[TommyBoyNasty]

The adorama seems like it'd do the the trick! So it can be used as a flash (strobe?) or continuous? (Sorry if my terminology is lacking, pretty new to this!). I AM trying to do more portrait style as I plan to use it primarily for video. But in a portrait/ studio setting.

 

[tirediron]

The flashpoint light from Adorama is ONLY a strobe; it does have a modelling light which is continuous, but that's just meant so that you can see where to adjust your light and NOT to shoot by. If you want to shoot mainly video, then you will need continuous lighting, and unfortunately, that's a little outside my area of expertise.

 

[Derrel]

Go to one of the best, one of the originals...

Lowel · DV Lighting, Video Lighting, Photo Lighting, DV Lights, Video Lights, Photo Lights, Location Lights, HD Lighting, Green Screen, Fluorescent,LED, Lighting Kit

 

[lennon33x]

I bought these...

Amazon.com: NEEWER 250W Studio Flash/Strobe Modeling Light - Great for Amateurs OR Professional Studio Photographers: Camera & Photo

Super deal for the money. They've been really consistent to work with. Additionally, they're not marketed as strobes used for high speed sync, but because of their flash duration, I am able to utilize with my Pixel system. They have optical slave and modeling lights on them too.


Edit: I didn't see until after I posted that you're doing mainly video (?). If you do flash, these will work great...if you're doing video, well then I'd go with what Derrel recommended