Studio - Continuous or Flash Light??

Hi,

I am in the process of putting together a small home studio to use on my family as well as for photos of items (product shooting?).

Anyway, I have read a lot of the material on this forum and am a bit confused.

In my mind I was just planning on getting one of those octa box things with around a 250watt light and a reflector as a continuous light source - maybe an umbrella or 2?. I would then use my speedlite as a fill light.

But I see a lot of setups were they only appear to be using 2-3 speedlites and no continuous light source?

Can you tell me how to proceed - should I just get another speedlite or 2 or should I invest more in continuous lighting - or strobes - umbrellas - octa thingies?


Thanks

Continuous lighting gets hot.

General_T wrote in post #13726130
Hi,

I am in the process of putting together a small home studio to use on my family as well as for photos of items (product shooting?).

Anyway, I have read a lot of the material on this forum and am a bit confused.

In my mind I was just planning on getting one of those octa box things with around a 250watt light and a reflector as a continuous light source - maybe an umbrella or 2?. I would then use my speedlite as a fill light.

But I see a lot of setups were they only appear to be using 2-3 speedlites and no continuous light source?

Can you tell me how to proceed - should I just get another speedlite or 2 or should I invest more in continuous lighting - or strobes - umbrellas - octa thingies?


Thanks

You may see that some photogs have strobes that have modeling lights which are continuous lights that help aid you visually in placing your light but they aren't necessarily used to actually light the subject.

You could buy some Vivitar 285HV speedlites on the cheap and use them for fill or BG lights. I'd shoot the backgrounds with 2 bare speedlites and have another speedlite set up with an umbrella for the key light. You can then use a reflector to lift the shadows.

EOSBoy wrote in post #13726237
You could buy some Vivitar 285HV speedlites on the cheap and use them for fill or BG lights. I'd shoot the backgrounds with 2 bare speedlites and have another speedlite set up with an umbrella for the key light. You can then use a reflector to lift the shadows.

Hi,

Thanks.

So I could either buy more speedlites or a dedicated strobe light, without the need for continuous lighting?

General_T wrote in post #13726264
Hi,

Thanks.

So I could either buy more speedlites or a dedicated strobe light, without the need for continuous lighting?

Correct. There are cons to having continuous lighting.

- They get HOT! I mean insanely hot if you need the power to light a scene that measures, say f/8-f/16 or so
- They require a lot of power
- Color temperature can vary
- Expensive if you want higher quality units

You can't go wrong with www.alienbees.com

Additional speedlites wouldn't hurt, either but if you find yourself shooting in a controlled environment, dedicated strobes will probably benefit you more.

Go with strobes.
Thank me later.

Continuous lights and speedlights are easy to discern - however, I see the terms strobe and monolight used quite a bit as well... Can anyone explain the differences?

For example... the PCB website lists the AB400 as a "studio flash," yet it seems that Elinchrom's models are referred to as monolights.

What are the pros/cons of using either?

Get strobes.

drvnbysound wrote in post #13728011
Continuous lights and speedlights are easy to discern - however, I see the terms strobe and monolight used quite a bit as well... Can anyone explain the differences?

For example... the PCB website lists the AB400 as a "studio flash," yet it seems that Elinchrom's models are referred to as monolights.

What are the pros/cons of using either?

The terms "speedlights", "speedlites" or "flashes" refers to a battery powered flash that can be attached to your camera hotshoe or used off camera. The most powerful of commonly used ones produce 60-80 w/sec output. There are a few expensive, higher powered ones.

The term "strobe" usually refers to a AC powered flash that cannot be attached to your camera. There are some battery powered strobes also, but they are big batteries. Strobes usually produce 100-1000+ w/sec output.

The term Monolight refers to a single unit strobe. It has the flash and all the control functions in a single enclosure. There are "pack and head" based lighting systems, like the Paul Buff Zeus lights, that have controls for several lights in a pack that sits on the floor connected to one or more flash heads by cables. These pack systems are not to be confused with battery packs, although some manufactures make pack and head based systems with a battery in the pack. (The Zeus packs are AC powered).

what would be the good strobes to buy? and where?

Search this forum (and maybe Google) for the following terms:
Alienbees
Elinchrom D-Lites
Calumet Genesis

strobies! I'm talking about speedlites, alienbees, rangers.
Definitely go for the quick flash ones. Your subjects will be WAY more comfortable. I've seen it when I switched over.

Hi,

Thank you all for your replies thus far.

OK. I'm sold on the dedicated strobe/monolight. I guess I am leaning towards the Alien Bees 400 (as I have (or will have once I finish it) a small studio). Aside form cost does anyone know why I would use Elinchrom over Alien Bees?

Also, of course I cannot buy an AB400 locally. My store sells Bowens - anyone know anything about those? Mind you I am definately leaning towards the AB400 x 2 (call me crazy but I like the look of them in the yellow or green - apparently I am a marketers dream!!:lol

Thanks again

Elinchroms (the bxri's) at least can be controlled remotely.

So you can control the power settings from your camera, or indeed anywhere in the studio if you have a second trigger in your pocket.

That is incredibly useful.

Look for a system that is compatible both up and down the product chain.


The thing to watch with Ellies though is that the branded modifiers are VERY expensive albeit very popular.

Although there are plenty of decent 3rd party modifies on the market for them.

General_T wrote in post #13726130
... as well as for photos of items (product shooting?).

Well, now you've made your choices a lot harder. What "products"?
Are you shooting a ton of them where a light box is a handy thing to have? Another DIY light box, with build and test pics

...or just one or two? And do they have highly reflective surfaces? You'll get more control if you look at the knife & Browning threads here: FAQ - Studio Lighting

Product Photography - What do I need to get started?