Anyone using constant studio lighting?

[cactusclay]

Anyone using constant studio lighting and if so, what do you think? I'm using the Alzo 2000 light set up and I was just sort of curious if anyone else was using it and if they like or dislike it and why.

[cricket]

I use continuous lighting fairly often.

I have Photoflex Starlite and lots of reflectors and things to go with it.

I really like it. The range of control you can get/see is nice because it makes the guesswork much less. I do use a monolight, and various flashes as well sometimes, do you?

[PhotosGuy]

I usually start with one bounced light & go from there. Maybe add a fill card or 2nd light. sometimes (rarely) a 3rd. See:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=37882&highlight=cherries
Setup:
http://photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/?action=view&current=Cherries_Setup_11.jpg

[cactusclay]

I haven't used any flash with mine yet, but I was thinking about just using the in camera flash to freeze some action or something. I use one light that has three bulbs that can be shut down to one for less light and I have a big reflector for the fill, then I use a tungston light with a blue filter for the backround or hair light. I like being able to see how things are going to look. I have found that using a black back drop tends to suck up the light and makes me wish i had a second light. Yea, I got my whole set up from sell it on the net.com Those are some nice shots Photosguy. I don't really do any product photos right, just using it for portraits.

[DaveG]

Anyone using constant studio lighting and if so, what do you think? I'm using the Alzo 2000 light set up and I was just sort of curious if anyone else was using it and if they like or dislike it and why.

Constant lighting, as you put it, scares the hell out of me. It's hot and very dangerous. If someone - a child - was to reach up and touch a light then they could be seriously burned. It also is a real fire hazard and your insurance company might have something snarly to say ex post facto.

On the photography side of things they are usually very very weak compared to a strobe flash. If you use any kind of light modification like bouncing them into an umbrella or softbox (assuming that the modifier is fire resisitent) then very little light is actually getting to the uncomfortable subjects.

You also will get a colour cast with these lights as they would be balanced to tunsten rather than daylight. With digital this isn't all that big of a problem but if you use film it will be, as you'll have to filter it out (even less light hitting the film) or use a specialized film stock.

If you are doing this for fun re-think the possible dangers involved. If you are doing it for pay spend some money and get safe powerful monolights like the inexpensive Alien Bees. I've said this before on this site but at university the primary task for our tunsten halogen lights was to keep the Friday afternoon Pizza hot, and for that use they performed very well!

[cricket]

My Starlites are in softboxes that have vents. I really sense no danger from them. I like using them with digital. Mine gives off plenty of light. As for color cast, I just put my white balance to 3700 and it looks great! I firmly believe that Photoflex would not put something on the market that is going to be dangerous. It also largely depends on the photographer not being irresponsible!

Now, as for other types of continous lights, I can't say how they are made. But I WILL stand behind the Photoflex Starlites!

I also use Bowens monolights, and they are excellent.

Just use what you are comfortable with and have fun making pictures!

[Mike Panic]

they are good for people starting out, but other then that... im not a fan of them

[cricket]

they are good for people starting out, but other then that... im not a fan of them
I'm not starting out. Well, maybe again! :D

Really, these can be fun lights to work with, and for people who blink a lot with flash... Excellent!

[Miriam]

I have searched the web for any information about the ALZO 2000 lights, and other than ads selling them, your question here referring to your lights was the only mention of them. Are you using them? Are you pleased? Would you recommend them over regular continuous lights?

I am researching the purchase of my first set of studio lights and would like to make a solid investment at this point. The idea of the "cool lites" attracts me as it would be more comfortable for my clients (both adults and children) without the heat, and there would be no flash to unsettle people. However, I am concerned that no one has even mentioned them on the web.

Could you please advise?

[cactusclay]

Check out "Sell it on the Net" for the alzo 2000. I've been using it for a few months and it works fine. I've actually been trying to thin out some of my lighting to be more mobile and might consider selling the 2000 light head w/bulbs, the smith vector hair light, light stands and soft box. I think I have close to 800.00 invested in just that stuff and I may be interested in selling for a bit less.