Studio Setup for AU$3500

So I've got the permission from the wife to convert part of the garage into a studio
I was wondering what people would suggest for a setup on a budget of AU$3500.
I could get the Profoto D1 kit, or Elinchrom studio setup, or a Bowens kit. What would people suggest?
The room isn't very big so will I need anything more powerful than 500W?
What have people found is a good medium-sized background?
What are people's favourite colours/textures for said background?

What town are u from?

Bendigo

Not really close to many big shops.
I'd recommend a 400 or 500w system. Look into the FlashPro system from Dragon Image. It's AC/DC and 500WS, comes with lithium battery pack too. Pretty good system, I used it for a shoot and was impressed
Or buy some AD360 kits off me and spend the extra money on some more modifiers.

For that much money.... why would you want to limit your self to 500w monolites?

I would work backwards from the mods and studio accessories you need.

I assume you want a backdrop, lightstands, a softbox, a beauty dish, some triggers and maybe some strips, reflectors and barn doors.

You will also need grids and maybe flags if the space is small.

You could get all of that stuff for $500 cheap and nasty, $1000 good and solid, or ALL of your money if it's Profoto.

Then you need to work out how many lights you need. I think 2 minimum, but you're better off with 3 or 4.

If you have speedlights these are good enough for hair lights, but may fall short in a strip box.

A big issue with studio lights in a small studio is finding ones that go low enough, the lower they can go the better. I would say you will need them to go down to 18Ws or lower if you want to shoot pretty wide open (f4 or wider). You can use an ND to overcome some of this, but that makes focusing harder and you'll get more misses, especially if you don't have modelling lights.

I think Cheetah Lights might be a good option for you, especially if you want to use them on location as well.

Gareth ONeill wrote in post #16535992
=Gareth O'Neill;16535992]I would work backwards from the mods and studio accessories you need.

I assume you want a backdrop, lightstands, a softbox, a beauty dish, some triggers and maybe some strips, reflectors and barn doors.

You will also need grids and maybe flags if the space is small.

You could get all of that stuff for $500 cheap and nasty, $1000 good and solid, or ALL of your money if it's Profoto.

Then you need to work out how many lights you need. I think 2 minimum, but you're better off with 3 or 4.

If you have speedlights these are good enough for hair lights, but may fall short in a strip box.

A big issue with studio lights in a small studio is finding ones that go low enough, the lower they can go the better. I would say you will need them to go down to 18Ws or lower if you want to shoot pretty wide open (f4 or wider). You can use an ND to overcome some of this, but that makes focusing harder and you'll get more misses, especially if you don't have modelling lights.

I think Cheetah Lights might be a good option for you, especially if you want to use them on location as well.

You do NOT need 3 or 4 lights.


Lighting, like many things in life, is best kept simple.

I have yet to see a hair light on location or in studio. I have seen the big elinchrom indirect octa on location...

I would buy a high powered pack, a nice head, and the biggest modifier you can get your hands on. You should even have enough left over for a beauty dish if you decide to get a small modifier too!

pyrojim wrote in post #16536064
I would buy a high powered pack, a nice head, and the biggest modifier you can get your hands on. You should even have enough left over for a beauty dish if you decide to get a small modifier too!

So let's say modifiers and background take up $1000 of the budget.
Then I probably want two strobes.
Ideally at least one would be transportable, as I do the occasional wedding.
I am relatively unimpressed with the FlashPro gear from DragonImage.
Would much rather buy something like the Elinchrom RX600 kit from Kayell for $2,245 (+ postage).
Got a quote for the D1 set from Specular. The basic AIR kit (i.e. 500W x 2, remote) is priced at $3500.
I could, of course, buy some 2nd hand gear in the range of $2,500-$3,000. Would that be an option? Many people buy their studio gear and find they just aren't getting enough use out of them to justify them sitting around.

The option of one light and one mod given above will leave you with...

One option for lighting.

I have a small studio and one of these:

http://www.camerapro.c​om.au …it-australian-stock.html/

I have a speed head as well, and 3 speedlights.

This gives me heaps of options, both in the studio, and where I use it more often, on location.

The porty goes down to 36ws I think, and I need to shoot at f5.6 or smaller.

I much prefer Hensel to Elinchrom, but Elinchrom is quite a bit cheaper.

Gareth ONeill wrote in post #16537159
=Gareth O'Neill;16537159]The option of one light and one mod given above will leave you with...

One option for lighting.

I have a small studio and one of these:

http://www.camerapro.c​om.au …it-australian-stock.html/

I have a speed head as well, and 3 speedlights.

This gives me heaps of options, both in the studio, and where I use it more often, on location.

The porty goes down to 36ws I think, and I need to shoot at f5.6 or smaller.

I much prefer Hensel to Elinchrom, but Elinchrom is quite a bit cheaper.

So you'd prefer the Hensel Porty L 1200 over a Elinchrom Ranger RX.
What do others think?

eaglespremiers wrote in post #16539267
So you'd prefer the Hensel Porty L 1200 over a Elinchrom Ranger RX.
What do others think?

1200ws, in an indoor studio the size of a garage, that's a bit much isn't it?

Mr DOHC wrote in post #16539272
1200ws, in an indoor studio the size of a garage, that's a bit much isn't it?

Would imagine 500W would be sufficient.
However, for wedding shoots will I require more than 500W?

The Ranger RX sells for $2800 with one light.
I'm tempted to simply buy the Profoto B1.