Home Studio Startup Need Help on Where to Begin!

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Pretzel

Senior Member
Hey, now... I mean, I enjoy all this "my lighting is better than your lighting" banter (ok, not really), but maybe keep the thread friendly, and helpful, and along the lines of answering questions? There's a whole 'nother thread for photo critiques!!

FWIW, I've seen some fairly spectacular "studio" shots with one off-cam speedlight and a modifier mounted to it, or even (at the right time of day) with proper placement in relation to a nice big picture window. It's all about knowing WHAT light you have and HOW to use that light. Other than that, some great advice above. Start with one, learn it, as the budget builds again, add another... learn to use it, and as the budget builds again...

Never mind. What THEY said! ^^^^^^^ Up there!

I'll even throw up THIS thread for those folks who need a quick "cheaper" solution until you can get the good long-lasting bit? (just because I wanna see what kinda $#@! it stirs up)

http://nikonites.com/tutorials/17330-diy-cheap-studio-lighting-under-$75.html#axzz2iePJGs61
 
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FastGlass

Senior Member
I've learned that if you ask about what lighting and how many to use. It's like asking what car to buy to go cross country. Your going to get allot of different opinions on what's
best and opinions on what others think. Do allot of research. Watch youtube videos. Teach your self. Tons of info out there.
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
Pretzel said:
Hey, now... I mean, I enjoy all this "my lighting is better than your lighting" banter (ok, not really), but maybe keep the thread friendly, and helpful, and along the lines of answering questions?
Click to expand...

Here's another thought: don't pretend to play a moderator on tv. My post was poking fun @ STM. If I thought he was an idiot, I would've come right out point blank and said so. You've been here long enough to know that.
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
Browncoat said:
Here's another thought: don't pretend to play a moderator on tv. My post was poking fun @ STM. If I thought he was an idiot, I would've come right out point blank and said so. You've been here long enough to know that.
Click to expand...

And if I thought you were an idiot... WAITAMINUTE!!!

There we go again, sidetracking my simple mind!

My post was in jest as well, and more along the lines of bringing up that old thread (with some good discussions) than anything else. As for playing moderator on TV - I fully intend to stay at a Holiday Inn Express at some point in my future life, so that should qualify me, indirectly, to employ a moderate amount of moderation in the midst of a good snark!
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
We don't offer good advice here on Nikonites. We just argue with each other, unravel threads, and eventually end up referencing Ken Rockwell.

Well, except for Jake and Wayne. Those guys take themselves far too seriously. :cool:
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
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Percussionman11

Senior Member
So with the pocket wizards, if I decide to go with the alienbee B1600 do I need any of these cables they are showing to get this to work? Or is the light, stand and pocket wizards all that is required?Admittedly I'm struggling with comprehending what sort of accessories or hot shoes, etc would be required to make this work. Any suggestions for a stand for the light?Also, for the umbrella what kind of mounting is required to make that work with a stand?Sorry all but I'm seriously a first timer here and don't want to order everything and realize I'm missing a $10 cable or $5 mounting bracket cause I'd be pissed I can't use everything for a shoot I have coming up in two weeks I'm hoping to have all this ready for.Thanks again for all the help! Glad everybody is calming down and singing kumbaya together cause as entertaining as it is to see some of you riled up that wasn't the intention. :)
 
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Eyelight

Senior Member
My thought is, whoaaaaa. Unless you need to get set up for a shoot, keep the dollars in your pocket. Use the gear you have with the available light. When it will not do what you want to do, study on what you need. Read a few articles with photos that explain in detail how to do this or that. You will spend less, end up with equipment that you will use and more importantly, you will learn more.
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
Tom, everyone new typically thinks they need big power, but that is wrong. Too much as as bad as too little. Unless you are planning heroic things (far flash distances, or overwhelming the sun outdoors), the B1600 will be too much power for you. It will quite inconvenient, in the living room, you will likely be unable to turn it down far enough to use it. It is high power for unusual situations.

I have two B400 and two B800. I much prefer the B400 for most things, including the main light in a Large softbox, typically between 1/16 and 1/8 power, at ISO 100 and f/8 or f/10. I put the fill light in a large umbrella behind the camera, typically at maybe 11 feet, and it might be a B800 at less than half power. Or a B400 could do that at full power. That 11 feet is a LARGE distance, but it works for fill. The main light is is normally about as close as it can go, which is what makes it soft, but it doesn't need high power.

It runs like this:

B400 is 160 watt seconds, and is about double the SB-700 power
B800 is 320 watt seconds, and is double the B400 power.
B1600 is 640 watt seconds, and is double the B800 power.
Double power is one stop.

Frankly, I would start with the B400. It will be double the power of the SB-700, which it can of course do some things too, but it probably won't be at full power.

Each flash comes with a 15 foot PC sync cord. You put the light on a light stand, add a modifier like an umbrella, and run the cord to the camera. That's all you need. If the camera does not have a PC socket, a Nikon AS-15 is a good one (on the hot shoe), or Paul C Buff company has another one that works. And maybe a handheld light meter for the manual flashes.

If you add more AB lights, they all have slaves, and are all triggered by the flash of that first one. The SB-700 has its SU-4 mode, which is a slave, which is also triggered by the other flashes. Saying use of the one sync cord to the one nearest flash is the only cable used. This all works really well.

You can add radio triggers to replace the PC sync cord. If you are handholding the camera, that's better than the trailing cord. If camera is on a tripod, the PC cord is no bother at all. Pocket Wizards are relatively pricy... There are cheap imports, and Paul Buff has their own version, which are popular, offering some remote control features. I use the PC sync cord.


See one of the Help pages: Paul C. Buff - Studio Flash Explained

See there "How Much Power". It also suggests starting with the B400. You can also phone the Paul C Buff company with buying questions.

Prowl some at my signature link, esp under Lighting there, and you may find things of interest.
 
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gqtuazon

Gear Head
Percussionman11 said:
So with the pocket wizards, if I decide to go with the alienbee B1600 do I need any of these cables they are showing to get this to work? Or is the light, stand and pocket wizards all that is required?Admittedly I'm struggling with comprehending what sort of accessories or hot shoes, etc would be required to make this work. Any suggestions for a stand for the light?Also, for the umbrella what kind of mounting is required to make that work with a stand?Sorry all but I'm seriously a first timer here and don't want to order everything and realize I'm missing a $10 cable or $5 mounting bracket cause I'd be pissed I can't use everything for a shoot I have coming up in two weeks I'm hoping to have all this ready for.Thanks again for all the help! Glad everybody is calming down and singing kumbaya together cause as entertaining as it is to see some of you riled up that wasn't the intention. :)
Click to expand...

I have 2 Einsteins from PCB with their wireless remote controllers. Easy plug and play set up and less cords to worry about. I use a snoot for my speed-light to illuminate the back ground or use them as hair highlight in slave mode.

As a rookie in studio photography, my challenges is coaching the models on how to pose. Practicing outdoor without the backdrop will get you started and less equipment to set-up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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gqtuazon

Gear Head
Gents please stop this "my work is better than yours" discussion. Better to agree to disagree.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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