Rhys
10-09-2007, 06:49 PM
I'm still considering various lighting setups for my portable studio. I still have 3 options - continuous lighting, studio flash or pocket flash.
The common things that I'd use with all systems are a reflector and a background. Reflectors come at various prices from $10 upwards although it's possible to use a piece of foamboard for about $3. The backgrounds are of various sizes and styles but my favourite is the Botero collapsible 5x7 background at $68. Blue seems to be the best colour as it works with all colours of hair. Eventually I might get a second background in a different colour for the rare times when blue won't work well.
Essentially my portable studio is designed to be 3/4 for one person or half length for a small group.
Lighting will come from three directions. Thus I need three light sources.
For flash there are three options so far:
1. 2 studio flashes and an on-camera flash, with the studio flashes fired by an optical slave. For this option I would need one or two slave units at $30 apiece plus a cheap studio flash kit that retails for around $564. The studio flash kits come with big reflectors and tripods. I would also need a flash meter at $80. Total $674.
2. 2 pocket flashes plus a main pocket flash. The 2 pocket slave flashes are really only one purchase as I already have a 420EX and would only need to buy a 430EX. The main flash would be a 580EX. I would also need - as I already have one tripod, a tripod and two adaptors to attach the flashes to the tripods. For this I would use cheap camera tripods. Total cost - around $4 each for the adaptors, $240 for the 430EX and $410 for the 580EX. The other tripod would be $40. Total $690
3. The economy version of the on-camera flashes would be: I'd use my 420EX to trigger two Sunpak 383 flashes ($80 each) using a $35 flash sensor on each - these sensors already have tripod adaptors. I would also need a flash meter at $80 and a tripod at $40. Total cost $350.
For continuous light I would have to buy two umbrella light kits at $65 per kit. Total cost $130.
The upside of 1 is that it has the most power and has built-in modelling lights. The upside of 2 is that the camera figures out the best exposure for all flash units and gives me a perfect exposure without any problem. It needs no power supply and is very lightweight. 3 is lighweight and cheap. Continuous lighting offers quick and easy setup and I know what the photo will look like without trying a test photo first.
The downside of 1 is that it's heavy and fragile. It also takes a while to set up and what with trailing cables could be somewhat of a liability on location as it's a trip hazard. Also, triggering flashes of known output with a flash of camera controlled output could lend uncertainty to the final image.
The downside of 2 is that it's expensive. Relying on batteries could be a problem unless they're fresh or freshly charged.
The downside of 3 is that the Sunpaks recycle very slowly. Unlike option 2, I could not rely upon one in an emergency for a wedding. Also, triggering flashes of known output with a flash of camera controlled output could lend uncertainty to the final image.
The downside of continuous lighting is fragility, heat and trailing cables. The bulbs don't last long and are very fragile.
Conclusion - Option 2 seems to offer the most flexibility but it certainly is not cheap. The cost is somewhat horrifying but the results are probably going to be worth the expenditure.
Have I missed anything or made any errors?
The common things that I'd use with all systems are a reflector and a background. Reflectors come at various prices from $10 upwards although it's possible to use a piece of foamboard for about $3. The backgrounds are of various sizes and styles but my favourite is the Botero collapsible 5x7 background at $68. Blue seems to be the best colour as it works with all colours of hair. Eventually I might get a second background in a different colour for the rare times when blue won't work well.
Essentially my portable studio is designed to be 3/4 for one person or half length for a small group.
Lighting will come from three directions. Thus I need three light sources.
For flash there are three options so far:
1. 2 studio flashes and an on-camera flash, with the studio flashes fired by an optical slave. For this option I would need one or two slave units at $30 apiece plus a cheap studio flash kit that retails for around $564. The studio flash kits come with big reflectors and tripods. I would also need a flash meter at $80. Total $674.
2. 2 pocket flashes plus a main pocket flash. The 2 pocket slave flashes are really only one purchase as I already have a 420EX and would only need to buy a 430EX. The main flash would be a 580EX. I would also need - as I already have one tripod, a tripod and two adaptors to attach the flashes to the tripods. For this I would use cheap camera tripods. Total cost - around $4 each for the adaptors, $240 for the 430EX and $410 for the 580EX. The other tripod would be $40. Total $690
3. The economy version of the on-camera flashes would be: I'd use my 420EX to trigger two Sunpak 383 flashes ($80 each) using a $35 flash sensor on each - these sensors already have tripod adaptors. I would also need a flash meter at $80 and a tripod at $40. Total cost $350.
For continuous light I would have to buy two umbrella light kits at $65 per kit. Total cost $130.
The upside of 1 is that it has the most power and has built-in modelling lights. The upside of 2 is that the camera figures out the best exposure for all flash units and gives me a perfect exposure without any problem. It needs no power supply and is very lightweight. 3 is lighweight and cheap. Continuous lighting offers quick and easy setup and I know what the photo will look like without trying a test photo first.
The downside of 1 is that it's heavy and fragile. It also takes a while to set up and what with trailing cables could be somewhat of a liability on location as it's a trip hazard. Also, triggering flashes of known output with a flash of camera controlled output could lend uncertainty to the final image.
The downside of 2 is that it's expensive. Relying on batteries could be a problem unless they're fresh or freshly charged.
The downside of 3 is that the Sunpaks recycle very slowly. Unlike option 2, I could not rely upon one in an emergency for a wedding. Also, triggering flashes of known output with a flash of camera controlled output could lend uncertainty to the final image.
The downside of continuous lighting is fragility, heat and trailing cables. The bulbs don't last long and are very fragile.
Conclusion - Option 2 seems to offer the most flexibility but it certainly is not cheap. The cost is somewhat horrifying but the results are probably going to be worth the expenditure.
Have I missed anything or made any errors?