Inconsistent lighting with strobes

I have a set of three Portaflash strobes that I use with a Lastolite HiLite (two into the HiLite and one at the front to illuminate the subject).

I find that from shot-to-shot, with no changes to any of the setup, I can have quite significant variation in the amount of light on the subject.

Is this simply because I'm using really cheap lights, and more expensive strobes will give more consistent lighting from shot to shot?

And as a second question, there was a lighting equipment company (UK-based, I think) whose technical person contributed/contribute​s to this forum... but I can't find the link just now... can anyone remind me who that was, please?

Many thanks,

regards,
/alan

Lower end strobe will give you inconsistencies in your shoot. You also want to make sure your waiting for the strobes to all fully charge before every shot.

Compensate with FEC or use Maunal Mode.

alan_potter wrote in post #11316834
I have a set of three Portaflash strobes that I use with a Lastolite HiLite (two into the HiLite and one at the front to illuminate the subject).

I find that from shot-to-shot, with no changes to any of the setup, I can have quite significant variation in the amount of light on the subject.

Many thanks,

regards,
/alan

Here's something to consider...if you are shooting with the flashes in TTL mode then the flash output is dependent upon the ambient lighting and reflectivity of the subjects you are shooting. For instance, if the cloths color changes from person to person, dark to white or white to dark, this will affect the flash output; if the background changes, if the color complexion of your subject changes, this will affect the flash output.

If this is the issue, you can correct or compensate for this simply by:
- Adding or subtracting FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation), or
- Switch from TTL mode and shoot with the flashes set in manual mode. This ensures that the flash output is the same, no mater what the ambient lighting is, and you'll have shot-to-shot consistency.

Regards, Mike

alan_potter wrote in post #11316834
I have a set of three Portaflash strobes that I use with a Lastolite HiLite (two into the HiLite and one at the front to illuminate the subject).

I find that from shot-to-shot, with no changes to any of the setup, I can have quite significant variation in the amount of light on the subject.

Is this simply because I'm using really cheap lights, and more expensive strobes will give more consistent lighting from shot to shot?

You hit the nail on the head. We find, for example, the many owners of Alien Bee lights complain about shot-to-shot variation of power when the units are used at very low fractional power. My own Dynalite studio flash, or other professional grade products on the other hand, exhibit less than 0.1EV shot-to-shot variation regardless of power setting.

Thanks, everyone. Guess I need to start being nice to the wife again

regards,
/alan