Elinchrom bx500ri - how do I adjust???

Okay, I just took the big leap and set up a home studio. I bought the Elinchrom BX 500 ri kit with 2 lights and some paper backdrops. Here are my first couple of shots and my models (my dogs!) are blown out, especially my labrador. How in the heck do I adjust these lights? Obviously, I know NOTHING about studio lighting.

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Are you saying you don't know how to adjust the power level on the strobe, or that you are at minimum power and still overexposing? If still overexposing at minimum power, are you at ISO 100? What aperture?

If you are already at ISO 100 and f16 (for example), you can try moving the lights further from the subject, use ND filters on the lens or strobe, or get less powerful lights.

On the 1 dog only shot - I am at f4 ISO 160. I have it on Portrait Mode (I have a Canon Eos 60D).

I can definitely tell a difference if I move the lights back, but ideally I want to be able to adjust the lights so that I don't have to move them back further.

Should I be shooting in manual mode? Should I get a light meter?

Ok, I just checked the exif, you are at f/4, ISO 200. Try ISO 100 and f/11 or f/16.

When I shoot in my small living room, with BXRi 500's, I almost always have to be at f/11 or f/16, and that is using softboxes with diffusion and grids.

Jewel wrote in post #12049320
On the 1 dog only shot - I am at f4 ISO 160. I have it on Portrait Mode (I have a Canon Eos 60D).

I can definitely tell a difference if I move the lights back, but ideally I want to be able to adjust the lights so that I don't have to move them back further.

Should I be shooting in manual mode? Should I get a light meter?

Yes, manual mode, ISO 100, F/11 (good starting point), shutter of 1/125 or 1/200 (doesn't matter much unless there is a lot of ambient light).

Get a light meter if you can afford one, Sekonic L-358 is a good one to look at. This will help you learn, but you can get correct exposure without one.

These are powerful lights for indoor use in a small room.

Jewel wrote in post #12049320
I have it on Portrait Mode (I have a Canon Eos 60D).

^ this is your problem.

Okay, changed to manual. F 11 ISO 200. This seems better. What do you think?

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You're going to have to buy a light meter.....

Jewel wrote in post #12049449
Okay, changed to manual. F 11 ISO 200. This seems better. What do you think?

It shows shutter of 1/8 which is entirely too long. ISO100, f8, 1/160 is where I would start from. What is the power setting on your lights? And are you using the in camera meter for setting your exposure? I don't know why you'd have 1/8sec other than the camera is metering for an ambient only shot.

c'mon dude, read the manual or something...

use shutterspeed set at 1/200, iso the lowest as possible, go on from here.

But as I said, first read the manual so you can set the power of those strobes, I think you're firing on 1/1 power.

There was no manual with the lights that had any descriptions of how to set up the lights themselves. Maybe mine is missing something? Basically no instruction with the light kit.

Okay, what type of meter should I buy: The Sekonic L 358?

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You didn't get the manual book, and quick reference guides? Should have been inside the bullet case.

As said before, change your ISO to 100 and your shutter speed to 1/200, then f/8 or f11 will probably work well. Use the the up and down arrows (the left set of arrows, under the lcd display) on the strobe to adjust power. 2.3 is minimum and I think 6.3 is max. Start at 3.0 and see where you are at for exposure at the above settings.

I tried to shoot at 1/200 with my 5D and my BXri kit. Had a small black band on the edge of the picture so I went to 1/160th.