Lastolite HiLite question

I am thinking about buying a Lastolite 6 x 7 HiLite - Warehouse Express has it for £279 including a white train (http://www.warehouseex​press.com ….aspx?sku=10000​578&Type=2)

As I am on a budget, I want to re-use as much kit as I have. So I was expecting that I might use my Portaflash 336VM lights to illuminate the HiLite, and my 580EX into an umbrella (or softbox when I can afford it) as the key light.

Does this sound like a reasonable configuration?

Another option might be to use my 580EX and an old Centon flashgin that I have lying around to illuminate the HiLite, and one of the Portaflashes as the key light. This would make it easier to gel the flash to get colours in the backdrop. However, in this case I wonder if I would need to buy some kind of brackets to let the flashgun head be around a foot away from the vertical axis of the light stand, to ensure that it is all the way inside the HiLite.

Is there anything else I should be thinking about before putting my cash down?

regards,
/alan

PS The main use of this kit is in taking headshots (maybe bodyshots) and small group shots of amateur musical (community theatre) performers - a marketplace which does not have enough money to pay for pro photgoraphers, but perhaps enough to subsidise my hobby!

I have this particular Lastolite HiLite. I'm pretty sure folks have used 1 or 2 580EX flashes to illuminate it. I typically use a single Elinchrom Dlite-4 for mine, and usually at a quarter power or less, if that helps gauge it at all. The HiLite is pretty flexible on the sides with the zippered openings. You don't need to get a foot away from the lightstand, but several inches would help. I position the lightstand legs to get the vertical piece right up against the side. Can I watch when you try to fold it back up the first time?

sdipirro wrote in post #8011765
Can I watch when you try to fold it back up the first time?

Thanks for the information; that sets my mind at rest.

I promise to make a video... I normally have to call on my wife to fold up the kids' play tents that use the same wire-frame pop-up mechanism... I think I'm going to have problems!

regards,
/alan

I also have the same size and normally use two (2) 580EX's (although one will work, just harder on the one flash and possibly not as much spread or diffusion). As 'sdipirro' states the zippered openings are relatively forgiving for different flash configurations.
HINT ON COLLAPSING: When you bring the far corner of one side over to the other (e.g. top right to bottom left), fold and push the top corner back under itself towards the middle and then twist and fold the right and left sides. I slowly and carefully, probably over the course of 5 minutes, unfolded my Hilite for the first time, watching what it did to pop out, and just reverse-engineered it.

I own this one as well. Things to note.

You can get away with one light for a single person, but you will need two for multiples. One light creates a hot spot, and the falloff is noticeable.

You will need to light the train separately for full length shots with a skip or two, or be prepared for the photoshop. If the hilite is pumping enough photons to light the train, you will have wrap issues on your subjects.

I use a 6x7 hilite quite alot it's fantastic for headshots and children and great results can be had with just one light into the hilite and one light onto the subject. I think for any subject larger than that to use it to its full potential you'd want a light into both sides of the hilite and two lights onto the subjects.

Thanks again!

I did take a video of my opening it for the first time; I forgot when closing it up. But I have to say, it closed up really easily... maybe I've spent too long putting my kids' play tents away.

I tried some shots with just one light shooting into it, and I could easily see the fall-off. When I went to two lights (just Portaflash cheapies, but they seem to work) the backdrop looked much better.

In truth, I think that I now need to learn how to get the subject lighting right; I reckon once that's good then the HiLite part of it will "just work". Of course, the train is yet another task; I think I'll need to find a bigger living room!

One further question - I was a little concerned with the way that the four supporting rods that go into the corners of the HiLite clip onto the fabric that covers the internal structure. Has anybody had problems where the fabric has been "cut" by this?

regards,
/alan

I'm pretty careful during setup and teardown, but no problems so far with the rods cutting into the fabric.