BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Which light set between these 2

It features:
Built-in reflector and power cable.
Remote slave sensor(For cordless strob)
Full and 1/2 power setting options.
75W Halogen Modeling light.
Recharge readylight.
Two-way fixing stand adapter.
Built in umbrella holder.
Easily changeable fuse holder.
Fast recycle time:1-3 seconds.
5600K color temperature

And one 45w/s light features:
Built-in reflector and power cable.
Remote slave sensor(For cordless strob)
Recharge readylight.
Built in umbrella holder.
Two-way fixing stand adapter.

This kit also includes the following accessories:

Two 3 section light stands that can be extended to 7 feet high.
One 3 section light stands that can be extended to 40" feet high.
Two 27" by 19" soft box kit.
One gold umbrella
One wireless remote trigger
One large 10x20 grey backdrop!
Two 6x9 polyfiber backdrops. 1 black/1 white!
Two 75W modeling light bulbs.
Two extra long 15 feet flash cords connect your camera and the light.
23" gold/silver reflector.
Snoot.
Barndoor.
One carrying case.

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July 31, 2006

First, you get what you pay for. While you don't include prices with your lists, I'll lay odds the equipment you propose to buy isn't very expensive. But, they tend to make it look extravagant by tossing in a bunch of cheaply made accessories to make less look like more.

Second, you don't really want to use hot lights to shoot portraits, do ya? 2500 watts is like a a cookout rather than a portrait shoot. Get strobes.

For portrait work, I either use natural light with a reflector or fill card, or a 1000W/S monolight in a 3x4 foot softbox with a fill card. I don't need hair lights, background lights or anything else really. If I need a neutral background, most of the time I just use a shallow depth of field so everything behind the subject just blurs out of focus.

You can get away using less w/s output, but when you start using umbrellas or softboxes as modifiers, your power is effectively reduced and if that happens, so is your depth of field. Shooting portraits, it's nice to be working at around f8.0 f11.0 so you can have more depth of field if you need it. Better to have more light available and not need it than less and not have it. See what I mean.

The flash lighting that you proposed is quite underpowered. 45 watt seconds? I have flashlights I think that put out more light than that. In fact, I think the 75 watt modeling light probably puts out more light than the strobe you mentioned. The flash cords and all that, 15 feet? In practice that doesn't give you much maneuvering room. Why does it need cables if it comes with a wireless remote? Or is that for your garage door opener?

Your light stands should be solid, not like little aluminium sticks. We use Matthews C stands with stud adapters to accept either monolights or strobe heads from pack systems. Having a light fall over from a breeze when someone opens a window can be troublesome.

You mentioned a light stand that extends to 40" feet high?? That must be SOME light stand. Even my tripod only goes to 9 feet with an extended center column. A 27x19" softbox may be sufficient to photograph a headshot with one person, but won't help you much for full length shots or more than one person in a photo.

Look at Norman Enterprises, Speedotron, Elinchrom, Bowens monolights, some people like Alien Bee systems, but I know little about them. I've used a Chimera softbox with a white interior for about 25 years now and it hasn't failed me yet. You can probably get some used Norman pack systems at KEH.com or elsewhere, with heads, light modifiers, etc., in the 800 w/s range for a few hundred bucks.

All I'm saying is I think you'd do better, much much better, if you study what lighting is available from sources like manufacturers and stores like bhphotovideo.com, among others, look more closely at your requirements for now and in the near future, say a few years from now, and then choose a lighting system that will provide you with horsepower and versatility without spending a fortune on replacement parts of equipment for stuff that is essentially disposable.

Once you get some other equipment in mind, feel free to ask us about it.

Take it light. ;>)
Mark

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July 31, 2006

1-1000 w/s Fotodiox Monolight Studio Strobe

1-8’4" Light Stand

1-24"x32" Softbox

Would that be pretty much all I need for portraits or should I look into a fill light too? Thank you once again for your time and for helping me.

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August 01, 2006