Help me settle this dispute...

[AtuspidsGoddess]

...if you were on a tight budget and could only get one or the other, is it better to get a good lens or good lighting set?

The choice is between the 50mm 1.4 G series or an AB B800...both are about $300 give or take a few bucks.

What you already have in the bag is a 50mm 1.8D and a low grade continuous lighting set with shoot through umbrellas and one strobe.

To the tally board!

 

[manaheim]

Depends on what you need, dearie.

There is no other answer.

 

[raphaelaaron]

get the better glass. i don't know if it's the same for nikon, but on canon the f1.8 is cheaply made unless its the older model with the metal mount. the bokeh doesn't blow up any skirts either. the f1.4 in my opinion is a better choice, and i see no need in upgrading to the higher end f1.2L

the best lighting is always free.... sunlight!

the continuous lighting you can deal with. the one strobe is good, especially with a light modified in front of it. you can wait another time to upgrade your lighting. i think the photos won't do much justice with a less than par f1.8 and b800 lighting.

 

[fokker]

I'd go the lighting in this situation, just because the difference it can make to a shot far exceeds the difference in quality you will experience moving up from a 1.8 to a 1.4 50mm lens (minimal difference really)

 

[AtuspidsGoddess]

I'd go the lighting in this situation, just because the difference it can make to a shot far exceeds the difference in quality you will experience moving up from a 1.8 to a 1.4 50mm lens (minimal difference really)

I am of the same opinion...but my fiance is of the opposing opinion...har har...we are leaving it up to you peeps to help settle the score.

 

[MissCream]

I would get the AB for sure, no question about it for me.

 

[Derrel]

I would go for the lighting kit...in fact, I'd buy TWO Adorama Flashpoint 320M monolights, light stands, and light modifiers for about the price of one Alien Bee 800. The 50/1.8 AF or AF-D Nikkor lens is adequately good, and there are literally TENS OF MILLIONS of manual focus and AF Nikkor lenses that will mount onto a D200, and which the sensor can not out-perform. Definitely, with your people photography, lighting gear would be much,much more valuable than a new 50mm lens.

 

[Lyncca]

I would get the flash

 

[Kerbouchard]

Flash, without a doubt, but I would go with an SB800 or even a sb600 over the alien bee. A hotshoe flash that can be used off camera gives you a lot more flexibility than a 1.4 prime or even a studio strobe.

So for me, it would be SB800>AB b800>50mm 1.4

 

[AtuspidsGoddess]

Flash, without a doubt, but I would go with an SB800 or even a sb600 over the alien bee. A hotshoe flash that can be used off camera gives you a lot more flexibility than a 1.4 prime or even a studio strobe.

So for me, it would be SB800>AB b800>50mm 1.4

Yeah I picked up an sb600 the other week and am trying to get another one...but wow prices are in the $220s for a used one even...

 

[MissCream]

My god you are gorgeous!

 

[Kerbouchard]

Sorry, I guess I missed the part where you already had an SB600. In that case, I would either go with the SB800 which can be had used for around $300 and can act as a commander for your SB600 or the alien bee. Do you already have pocket wizards or some other device to trigger the alien bees? If not, that is a cost that needs to be taken into consideration. Also, light stands and modifiers.

Honestly, if I were you, and I had just picked up a flash a week or so ago, I would buy a 42" 5 in 1 reflector, a light stand, and a softlighter II and maybe a copy of Light, Science and Magic and save the rest of your budget until you know what you need.

Just my .02.

Flash, without a doubt, but I would go with an SB800 or even a sb600 over the alien bee. A hotshoe flash that can be used off camera gives you a lot more flexibility than a 1.4 prime or even a studio strobe.

So for me, it would be SB800>AB b800>50mm 1.4

Yeah I picked up an sb600 the other week and am trying to get another one...but wow prices are in the $220s for a used one even...

 

[AtuspidsGoddess]

Sorry, I guess I missed the part where you already had an SB600. In that case, I would either go with the SB800 which can be had used for around $300 and can act as a commander for your SB600 or the alien bee. Do you already have pocket wizards or some other device to trigger the alien bees? If not, that is a cost that needs to be taken into consideration. Also, light stands and modifiers.

Honestly, if I were you, and I had just picked up a flash a week or so ago, I would buy a 42" 5 in 1 reflector, a light stand, and a softlighter II and maybe a copy of Light, Science and Magic and save the rest of your budget until you know what you need.

Just my .02.

Flash, without a doubt, but I would go with an SB800 or even a sb600 over the alien bee. A hotshoe flash that can be used off camera gives you a lot more flexibility than a 1.4 prime or even a studio strobe.

So for me, it would be SB800>AB b800>50mm 1.4

Yeah I picked up an sb600 the other week and am trying to get another one...but wow prices are in the $220s for a used one even...

Researching the book now...it has great ratings!...I will most def pick up a copy...

I do not have any wireless triggers at the moment...looking into some...I found some info on some that might work...but it's also near 300 just for a receiver...geesh...I figured I was going to use the sync cord...but...I also read that my d200 can be used as a trigger for the sb600...is this limited? I haven't tested it yet.

 

[Kerbouchard]

It is limited, but it is limitations that can be worked with. It requires line of sight but it is pretty reliable if you don't ask it to do something unreasonable. No, it won't work at 50 ft, but then again, you won't often be at distances like that.

If you haven't tried out the commander mode, I would very much recommend experimenting with it. You're starting to get in to the world of external flash. It will change photography for you forever. Congrats and best of luck to you on a great journey.

 

[manaheim]

What any of you people would do is effectively irrelevant because you're not her.

She has not presented enough information to anyone in order for you to make an educated assessment for what SHE should do.

I would never, under any circumstances, buy constant lighting. I'd buy a lens. However, I shoot buildings and occasionally shoot people outside on location and deal with either no lighting or a flash. That's what I do, so constant lighting isn't something I use much.

Does that mean it's what SHE should do? No. My experience has zero relevance to her situation unless she happens to shoot what I shoot or something with the same requirements. Until she has stated what she shoots, every other "I would do XXXX!" post in this thread is useless at best, and misleading at worst.