Question about Studio Lights ? Your Opinion is Welcomed !!!

[FotoNovelist]

what's up everyone ? i came across this forum while looking for information about buying studio lights and which one would work best.......so maybe some kind people on this site can help me out, and hope i can do the same for others......

well i'm shooting with a Canon Mark 2, and using a Canon EF 24-70mm lens.....

i went down to my local photography shop, and they put toghether a package that would consit of:

1- 3000 watt power pack
2- flash heads
1- trigger system
2- 46" umbrellas
2- 13.5' light stands
+ a few more items

around $4,000........

i'm pretty much set on this deal, but just trying to get the best deal that i can of course.....but i just feel that if i bought my Mark II, i should get the best i can afford, and this is just going to enhance my photography skills and i'll be making the money back in no time *cross your fingers*

just seeing what anyone thinks ? if anyting lol........happy snapping.....

[raztazor]

I'd recommend hiring photographic studio initially to get used to the kit to see if it really is suitable for your needs.

[Longwatcher]

if they are einchrom? then good lights, otherwise check out
www.alienbees.com

You can get a better setup for less money.
Like the busy bee setup for about $1675
That would be four strobes with independent power supplies instead of having one power pack. Add about $1000 more for remotes and other accessories and you get twice the setup for half the price.
They are very good lights for a studio. I abuse mine and they work great.

Post assumes US dollars

[chtgrubbs]

It would depend on what you are planning to use them for. If you are going to do portraits then 3k watts is too much power and two heads won't be enough. If you are doing large interiors the 3k isn't enough power. For table top products then it is just right (said digital Goldilocks).
You should learn more about what is required for specific lighting situations by checking some good books on lighting. Check out this site: http://www.alienbees.com/beginnerbee.html

and this site: http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/Free_Lessons/index.html

[FotoNovelist]

thanks to all for the info.....i'm doing my research as we speak.......

i'm doing it for mostly photo shoots mostly behind a white or black background, full body and group shots....table top products not too much, but maybe, but mainly from waist up and full body shots.....just trying to get the most quality and detailed pictures i can..........i was looking at the AlienBees, and i thought i would need more power ???

thanks again........

[iwatkins]

I would suggest that you don't really need 3Kw of juice going to two heads, that is 1500 watts per head.

But there again it all depends on the maker. Not all 3000 watts are the same, especially true when you get to monoblocks.

I have three Elinchrom Style 600RX monolites which even with softboxes on still give me f11 apertures at 1/200 when set to approx. half power. With these three heads I can take a shot of a car at f11, 1/200 (not stricly necessary), again with softboxes with the lights a good 12 feet from the car and still only be at just over 3/4 power.

For what you want to do, I would go for three or four lights for maximum adaptability. These could still be generator/heads or usually cheaper are monoblocks. Only thing to check with generator/head setups is that the generators are truely asymetric in the power delivery ability, some aren't and some say they are, but aren't.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Ian

[Longwatcher]

thanks to all for the info.....i'm doing my research as we speak.......

i'm doing it for mostly photo shoots mostly behind a white or black background, full body and group shots....table top products not too much, but maybe, but mainly from waist up and full body shots.....just trying to get the most quality and detailed pictures i can..........i was looking at the AlienBees, and i thought i would need more power ???

thanks again........

I have a small studio area (about 15x20 feet (5x7M)) and have to put one of my AB 800 on about 1/16th power to get it low enough for my purposes. The main is through a Giant softbox about 6 feet from model and then 10 feet to camera. If I had a larger studio say 20x40 feet which is what I would like, The AB's would at most be at 1/4 power. They have plenty of power for all but maybe an industial studio. And the best part is you could start with AB800's and upgrade to AB1600's if you need them.

I have two AB1600s, one is fill via umbrella (since I can get it farther away then softbox) and the other does hair light work (sort of) by bouncing off ceiling. Both are run at almost minimum power. I also have two AB800's, one is the main through the softbox. The other is used as need for either a backlight or spot light.
Twice I almost sent off the AB1600's to get downgraded to AB800's; but I continue to have delusions of getting a real studio some day.

[FotoNovelist]

thanks to all, this is soooo helpful.......

@longwatcher- i will have about the size of your studio area maybe even smaller, so i'm just looking to get what i need now, as well as for the future.........man, these alien bees sound like they will get the job done and more !?!?!?

thanks again for everyone's help.......