Lost, Confused and in need of help.

[BlakeM]

Well I’m kind of a newbie; I’ve had SLR cameras for a few years, but just recently decided to actually learn how to really use them. Currently I have a Canon 5D with two lenses, an EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and an EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM and a Speedlite 580EX. Ok so I need some help in figuring out studio lighting, I’ve been reading for several days/weeks now and I’ve read tons of really good information, but I haven’t come up with a clear answer about whether to get flash strobes or continues lights. This may seem naive but the only real difference I can find is that continues lights can be hot on the subject, and that flash strobes are more difficult to setup and use.


Blake :)

[scottbergerphoto]

Your observations are correct. Continuous lighting gets very hot, but wysiwyg. Strobes require flash metering and adjusting the lights based on results from the initial shots. One way to get the benefits of continuous or hot lights using strobes is to attach your camera video output to a TV or color monitor. That way you get immediate feedback from your shot that you really can't on a small LCD. I do that routinely now for immediate visual feedback. I look at the full image and the histogram and make my adjustments. I find it much easier then trying to use the LCD.

[tim]

Welcome back Scott! :)

Have a read of this (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=113639) Blake.

You'll possibly want a better lens than the 28-135 on the 5D, a 24-70 F2.8 would be a great lens for you. The studio lighting book from http://www.lightingmagic.com is a great starter book.

[BlakeM]

Yea I've read the FAQ, it helps, but I'm still unsure whether to use continius or flash strobe. Thanks for the book recomendation. I've actually been trying to decided between the EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM or the EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lenses.

[FlashZebra]

Yea I've read the FAQ, it helps, but I'm still unsure whether to use continius or flash strobe. Thanks for the book recomendation. I've actually been trying to decided between the EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM or the EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lenses.
I have both "continuous” lights and studio strobes at my disposal, and almost always use the studio strobes.

A stream of conscious upside/downside narrative.

The strobes are lighter, have more available light modifiers, and the modifiers are typically less expensive. The raw light power is far greater with studio strobes, so you have more choices of camera settings (smaller F#s).

The only real advantage the continuous lights have are the ability to view what you are getting in advance, but the modeling lights on the studio strobe units do a reasonable job of mimicking the resultant lighting effect.

You must have a flash meter if you use studio strobes.

The “continuous” lights are typically very hot, but there are some nice florescent bank lights available now that really cut the heat down.

I personally think studio strobes are the better choice for studio based still photography (if you can only have one).

If you were also interested in video work, the “continuous” light would be of use there.

For general studio work on a 5D, I think the EF 24-70mm is a bit short. If you are only going to only do portraits, the 85mm would be a good choice, but this may be a bit confining for more general studio work. The EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS should work fine for general studio work, especially in a flash based studio as you are likely to be working at about F/8 (or so). The EF 24-105 F/4 IS L would be even better, but the IS would not really add anything to a flash based studio.

Enjoy! Lon