Lighting Equipment Suggestion

[photojay]

it's not your equipment....it's what you can do with it.

[dorbata]

I pre-ordered the latest edition of Light Science, it should be available in April. I'm leaning torwards Hensel. Until then, I'm stuck with my Smith Victor flood lights.

[h2odigital]

First cut that number down to $2000 you got a big sun you can use then go to www.bhphotovideo.com that where all the pros go.

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Originally Posted by herps

So I'm about to throw up in my shoes right about now...

I have read here and there on the forum and have two stingers already in my posession. I have used them and admittedly will always be learning my lighting, but didn't realize that some of the "color" problems I'm having might be with the lights themselves. I almost had it blamed solely on myself or my 10D.

Well now I'm stumped, as I've recently "invested" in one 1600 and an additional 400 to my twin 800's I already had...
Not to mention the radio transmitter and reciever, 4 channel remote control and a few other accessories, I'm not sure what to do! Should I immediately return said items or "make due"?

Any advice is appreciated.

Rick Lohre
lohrecreative.com
rglohre (at) fuse -dot- net

Your color problems are not from the lights. I and many others on this list have been using Alien Bee and White lighting lights for many years and have not had color problems. Many top flight professionals use them and one of the major workshops that advertise on G1 are sponsored by the Manufacturer of these products and use them in their workshops. I have never found color issues with the Bees or the WLs.

Most often color issues are strictly a matter of technique in ones workflow. This can usually be traced to how one shoots. Does one use good white balance technique? Does one shoot Raw? Does one use custom white balance? How does one post process? How does one set the parameters on the camera? Etc. All of these things effect "color" and many if not most people have trouble with them until they understand all of the pit falls.

Cheers,
rfs

[kgphoto]

Years ago I tested White Lightnings against Balcar and Norman strobes as I owned each. Using transparency film and in a daylight balanced room at my local color lab I ran tests at full and partial powers. I saw no color shift at any of the settings between the WL and the Balcar.

Since they use the same accessories(grids, reflectors, etc.) I was able to use whatever I wanted. Light modifiers are where it is at and the Balcar modifiers far outpaced Norman and WL.

I liked the WL for the 5 stops of reduction I could get. They were one of the first to offer this. Broncolor, while extremely wonderful, is very expensive and not needed for the work I did. I was able to use the money I saved there to by Sinar and Foba products.

The Hensel package that Roland described sounds great! I have no experience with them, but it looks like a good deal. I would try to rent a set if possible to experiment before I buy, but you probably will be happy with them.

I have tried many soft box brands and it comes down to easy of use and set up as well as how long they hold up. I like ProFoto boxes I have as well as the Balcars.

By the way, Balcars, for those who don't know, were a French line of strobes that was the "Bee's Knees" when they were on the market. They were absorbed by Calumet and are hard to find, if not extinct, now.

[TJPhotoGuy]

Originally Posted by R_Fredrick_Smith

Instead of this, buy a set of Pocket Wizards or the WL equivalent.

I have the AB remote, are you saying it would work with other strobes? They couldn't answer that question at alien bees... seems like it should.

[mray]

I get the impression someone is unhappy with AB's

[mray]

I get the impression someone is unhappy with the AB's

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Originally Posted by TJPhotoGuy

I have the AB remote, are you saying it would work with other strobes? They couldn't answer that question at alien bees... seems like it should.

If you have the proper connectors, I suspect they would work (I would check the voltage output and what is needed by the flash to fire). I use the Pocket Wizards myself and they work on all the major flashes I've tried them on (Hensel, Dynalite, Novatron, Alien Bee, etc).
Cheers,
rfs

[Photomart]

I agree with most of what's been said here. I started shooting photography almost three decades ago and I still use the same sturdy light stands, barndoors and umbrellas ... so I would strongly support buying the best stands and light modifiers you can. I also do a lot of location shooting (events, business portraits, weddings, etc.) and would NOT go anywhere without my sturdy equipment cart. Finally, if you do plan to do a lot of location shoots, I would highly recommend getting equipment that travels easily and can be set up quickly. I bought a cheap softbox that I love, but it takes about 20 minutes to set up, so I never travel with it.

As for the type of lights you get ... I'm a big fan of affordable lighting so long as you can control them. The whole concept of the importance of "the quality of the light" meant more when everyone was shooting film, and will rarely be of any concern to you, since you can adjust for that with your white balance adjustment. And, if you have a shoot where color matching is critical, you can rent a color temperature meter and make detailed adjustments to your white balance.

My light recomendations --
Since you're just starting out, Alien Bees or White Lightening will do just fine -- they're affordable, lightweight, sturdy and provide a lot of control. As you're business grows and you learn more about your specific lighting needs, you can always upgrade to other (more expensive) lights if you feel the need -- and hopefully by then you'll be making a lot of money from your photography and you'll easily be able to afford whatever new lights you feel is necessary.