Help build my cheap "studio" setup

Heya,

With all the reading of low-cost off-camera flash solutions, I think I'm ready to scrap my idea of buying (relatively) expensive monolights and getting some small flashes instead.

I want to use these flashes for TWO main applications.

1. to fab a ringlight. Two flashes in some sort of enclosure which would make a ring.... for headshots.

2. for general portrait/fashion/glamo​ur photography.

Yes, I only really shoot people. I want the setup to be flexible, to be able to shoot outdoors *and* indoors.

Please look at what I plan to buy and make sure everything's ok.

3x Vivitar 285HV or Sunpak 383
3x Lighstands (whatever brand...)
3x Lighstand-to-Hotshoe adaptor (to mount the flashes on)

Now this gets a little tricky. To trigger the lights while the shutter is open.....

Do the flashes have an optical slave? If not, I could use the Wein peanut thingies or eBay copies. Can I just use the PC sync cord from the camera to *one* of the flashes, then get the other flahes to fire automatically with the peanut thing?

Or can I use eBay radio triggers, one master and 3 slaves on each and every strobe?

How about the ringlight application. I don't think there is line of sight if I have two flashes pointed in the way I want them to.....

Sorry, all the information is probably already there but I'm just having an information overflow now.

The hardest thing to overcome is how to use two relatively limited-in-area light sources and get them out output light evenly in a donut shaped output, with no hotspots that would show up in reflections of the light source (catchlights in the eye, glossy clothing articles like patent leather handbags, etc.)

KevC wrote in post #2671140
Heya,

With all the reading of low-cost off-camera flash solutions, I think I'm ready to scrap my idea of buying (relatively) expensive monolights and getting some small flashes instead.

I want to use these flashes for TWO main applications.

1. to fab a ringlight. Two flashes in some sort of enclosure which would make a ring.... for headshots.

2. for general portrait/fashion/glamo​ur photography.

Yes, I only really shoot people. I want the setup to be flexible, to be able to shoot outdoors *and* indoors.

Please look at what I plan to buy and make sure everything's ok.

3x Vivitar 285HV or Sunpak 383
3x Lighstands (whatever brand...)
3x Lighstand-to-Hotshoe adaptor (to mount the flashes on)

Now this gets a little tricky. To trigger the lights while the shutter is open.....

Do the flashes have an optical slave? If not, I could use the Wein peanut thingies or eBay copies. Can I just use the PC sync cord from the camera to *one* of the flashes, then get the other flahes to fire automatically with the peanut thing?

Or can I use eBay radio triggers, one master and 3 slaves on each and every strobe?

How about the ringlight application. I don't think there is line of sight if I have two flashes pointed in the way I want them to.....

Sorry, all the information is probably already there but I'm just having an information overflow now.

You may have too many divergent questions in this post to get anything close to a comprehensive set of answers.

Why not parse the post into several less complicated questions? I suspect you will get more replies that way.

Enjoy! Lon

I don't see many takers on your question so I'll bite.

Just start with the basics. There are several high quality starter studio light systems in the $300-$500 range. I still have and use mine. I have two main lights with umbrellas stands and a back light. Check out the SP Studio Pro brand.

Just Be wrote in post #2683624
I don't see many takers on your question so I'll bite.

Just start with the basics. There are several high quality starter studio light systems in the $300-$500 range. I still have and use mine. I have two main lights with umbrellas stands and a back light. Check out the SP Studio Pro brand.

But that does not address the OP's explicit desire to

1. to fab a ringlight. Two flashes in some sort of enclosure which would make a ring.... for headshots.

2. for general portrait/fashion/glamo​ur photography.

Wilt wrote in post #2685071
But that does not address the OP's explicit desire to

1. to fab a ringlight. Two flashes in some sort of enclosure which would make a ring.... for headshots.

2. for general portrait/fashion/glamo​ur photography.

Thanks. Yeah, I want to get these little sunpaks or vivtars for a few reasons. Price is a big one. At less than $100 a pop, they're pretty affordable. Second, they're self contained. I don't have a studio so I'd be shooting on location. I want flash on location, getting a set of monolights AND a power source would be even more expensive.

Thirdly, I want to mount two of these suckers in some sort of enclosure (still haven't thought about how i would do this yet) to fab a ringlight. yes, for headshots.

I guess my question is, can I use ebay radio triggers to trigger them? Which would be better for my application? 383 or 285HV? if they are always off-camera and radio controlled, the swivel wont matter at all right?

is there a way to shoot one of those into a softbox?

You should be able to use radio triggers to fire any flash with its own photosensor and auto thyristor circuit!

If you are content using tiny softboxes, there are several that velcro on. Larger light boxes on separate flash can be done with Metz 45 flash, as there is a way to mount regular speedrings onto the Metz 45.

Kev, is there an Opus dealer near you? Like a small local photo chain? Opus makes decent but cheap stuff with lots of parts/accessories in Canada.

cosworth wrote in post #2699954
Kev, is there an Opus dealer near you? Like a small local photo chain? Opus makes decent but cheap stuff with lots of parts/accessories in Canada.

i think henrys carries it.

it does seem like a far cheaper solution than most monolights out there, but i still run into the problem of powering them on site. you made me love flash in daylight, heheh. oh, and they start ~$400ish.. with that i think i can swing 3 lightstands, 3 vivitars or sunpaks, a mini softbox (maybe a snoot, or barn doors or something like that.... i'd have one main, a hairlight and a backlight... or maybe fill. who knows...)

You'll need an optima battery, a really good 1000w inverter from Cambodian Tire or Reno Depot and power them that way. Plus you'll need a dolly and charger fro them.