Advice needed, Setting up a 50sq mt studio

Hell on earth

Hell on earth

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Helen
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Hi everyone :) hope you are all having a good day

I'm sure this has been asked many times in one way or another, I'm not so good at looking for answers all over the place so thought I would start my own thread

Here is the situation
I have a 50 sq meter studio 10m x 5
I have around £2000 to spend setting it up but less would always be nice :)

I think I want to go for
Elinchrom lighting, 400 or 500 soft box kit ?
Some cheaper name lighting 200 ? that would work with the Elinchrom ?

Then what could be a massive list of everything else :eek:

I guess I would like to ask, if you were doing this, what would be your full kit for the max of 2K or less,

I know I'm asking you to do all the hard work for me, its's a big question but I ask nicely :)

All advice welcome and thanks in advance

Helen :)
 
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What kind of use/subjects?

Some comments. That's a decent space, but you will always want more - consider being able to use both the length and width according to need. Brands to look at include Elinchrom for sure but Lencarta are also very good and cheaper, or Profoto if you want to push the boat out. There are plenty of other brands, but nothing better than those for the money.

With active subjects like kids/dancers, consider getting faster flash duration heads. You may need less power than you think (200-400Ws is usually plenty for portraits etc) and lower powered heads tend to have shorter flash durations, eg Elinchrom BX250Ri. Cheaper heads tend to have longer flash durations, but it's not an absolute rule.

Don't spend it all at once. Start with a couple of lights and some safe choices of modifier. Then build on that when you've got a better handle on it all. Reckon on spending 50/50% on heads and modifiers, or something close to that.

Two things with lighting: knowledge is far more important than kit, within reason - how light works and what modifiers produce certain effects. Secondly, less is more - too many lights makes things worse, not better, and regardless of subject and style, with very few exceptions just one light will be doing the lion's share of the work.

Good luck, and welcome to TP :)
 
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HoppyUK said:
What kind of use/subjects?

Some comments. That's a decent space, but you will always want more - consider being able to use both the length and width according to need. Brands to look at include Elinchrom for sure but Lencarta are also very good and cheaper, or Profoto if you want to push the boat out. There are plenty of other brands, but nothing better than those for the money.

With active subjects like kids/dancers, consider getting faster flash duration heads. You may need less power than you think (200-400Ws is usually plenty for portraits etc) and lower powered heads tend to have shorter flash durations, eg Elinchrom BX250Ri. Cheaper heads tend to have longer flash durations, but it's not an absolute rule.

Don't spend it all at once. Start with a couple of lights and some safe choices of modifier. Then build on that when you've got a better handle on it all. Reckon on spending 50/50% on heads and modifiers, or something close to that.

Two things with lighting: knowledge is far more important than kit, within reason - how light works and what modifiers produce certain effects. Secondly, less is more - too many lights makes things worse, not better, and regardless of subject and style, with very few exceptions just one light will be doing the lion's share of the work.

Good luck, and welcome to TP :)
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Oh I was hoping for your shopping list... with links! Yeah I'm being lazy ... sorry

Funny you should say about the BX250Ri, I've been offered the Bx500Ri at a fair price but did wonder if I would need or not want that much, the other option I was looking at was the 400/400 Rx

While I (sort of) understand the less is more and the one light, maybe scaling down with cheaper makes like Lencarta as a second kit would be ideal, it's a big room so want to be able to use all of it, maybe two shot sets as you say, length and width

I want to be able to do a wide range of shooting, portraits,art whatever comes to mind

Yes I want it all and I want it now :) but yeah there are limits Grrrr

Away from the lights, what would you go for

Thanks

Kind regards
Helen
 
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HoppyUK said:
What kind of use/subjects?

Some comments. That's a decent space, but you will always want more - consider being able to use both the length and width according to need. Brands to look at include Elinchrom for sure but Lencarta are also very good and cheaper, or Profoto if you want to push the boat out. There are plenty of other brands, but nothing better than those for the money.

With active subjects like kids/dancers, consider getting faster flash duration heads. You may need less power than you think (200-400Ws is usually plenty for portraits etc) and lower powered heads tend to have shorter flash durations, eg Elinchrom BX250Ri. Cheaper heads tend to have longer flash durations, but it's not an absolute rule.

Don't spend it all at once. Start with a couple of lights and some safe choices of modifier. Then build on that when you've got a better handle on it all. Reckon on spending 50/50% on heads and modifiers, or something close to that.

Two things with lighting: knowledge is far more important than kit, within reason - how light works and what modifiers produce certain effects. Secondly, less is more - too many lights makes things worse, not better, and regardless of subject and style, with very few exceptions just one light will be doing the lion's share of the work.

Good luck, and welcome to TP :)
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As above.

Yes, you can get two different makes if you want to, but why would you? Elinchrom have their own proprietory accessory fitting, Lencarta uses the standard S-fit fitting, so you won't be able to swop light shapers (which are the most important bits of kit) between the different makes.

So, if you really think that Elinchrom is better then buy 100% Elinchrom. If you don't, buy 100% Lencarta. There are a lot of people who buy into one make and then add to it by buying lights of another brand, but it doesn't make sense to me to do that from the off.

Giving you any kind of shopping list just won't work, on the info you've given. We don't know for sure what your skill level is, and although we know the size of your studio, we don't know the height. And we don't know what you mean by "portraits" - Mrs Brown with her kids, fashion portraits, glamour portraits, cosmetic adverts? There's a huge range, and although there is interchangeability of light shapers to some extent, the softboxes and umbrellas normally used for photographing Mrs.Brown won't help much with fashion portraits, and vice versa.
 
I could tell you exactly what I'd get Helen, but my needs are probably different (if not much). For example, I do a lot of product photography which has different needs to portraits and I don't have that much space to leave stuff up so quick-folding softboxes are important. Then again, if you're thinking of hiring the studio out and could have two photographers working at once, you'll need everything radio triggered and that might steer you towards Elinchrom with their neat Skyport system built-in. There are ways around most things though, but it could cost you more plus the hassle.

But if Lencarta and Elinchrom are on your shortlist, you're unlikely to go very far wrong. Just don't get too much all at once or you will make mistakes or at least end up with a few things that are not quite ideal.

Don't mix brands of head though, or at least don't mix the modifier fitting. Although S-fit is far from 'standard' there are more brands that use it than the other popular fitting which is Elinchrom EL. However, I use Elinchrom and often a couple of Lencarta Profold softboxes that have an interchangeable mount fitting - that's a good combo.

If you want to know what I think about all this stuff, I reviewed a lot of flash heads in editions 14 and 15 of Advanced Photographer magazine. Then the new Elinchrom D-Lite One in edition 25. The new Lencarta SF300 and SF600 IGBT-type heads are in the next issue I think, out in a couple of weeks.

Do you need fast flash durations?
 
As above really, no one can give you a shopping list, but as a start I'd put an infinity curve on the long wall, wallpaper dress the short end with background rolls on their too.

I'd go even further than 50/50, and spend the majority of the money on modifiers, don't forget all the stuff like reflector arms, flagging materials etc which whilst cheap will add up.

It'll depend on your storage space but I'd personally go for at least one large octabox with grid, with a wish list I'd also be looking for a spotlight of some sort.
 
Hi Guys.... where are the Ladies ??

Ok a bit about myself
I'm very low semi pro, been an low paid :'( inhouse at a Museum in London doing the day to day small stuff for the past 5 years having come in to it late
They hire in for all big work with high-end equipment

I'm a Nikon girl for my sins ;) A D600 and D5100 which I love for a mid range and take everywhere

Setting up a largish (to me) studio is a new ball game for me
I will be sharing the studio with another Lady, who has her own kit and will only be there a couple of days a week

Yes I am thinking I may let it out at some time down the road but am a long way from that point just now

I have done a far amount of research on what to get but... did not want that to influence your replies to much, that's why I only gave the basic but yes I am naive in this regard to studio equipment, so go gentle on me please. what to buy, where to buy and set up

Garry, Hight is 15ft
I want it to be as versatile as possable within my budget, is about the best answer I can give as to what I will do

I think by the advice so far, I will go with Elinchrom lighting

Opinons and advice on the BXRi please

That is not dismissing Lencarta but IF there will be other users, this would be a safer option ?

Ok so say I have £1300 left of my budget after a kit set, what other lights and modifiers would you suggest please, links would be nice so I can have a look

Hoopy Thanks
Do I fast flash durations? err, not sure Help ? for moving odjects/people ? not just for now I don't think

Phil, Thanks, thats pretty much my thinking

Helen
 
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OK...
15' height is good. It expands your options tremendously, because it allows you to use the height to good effect.

One obvious example of this is a large softbox. A lot of people think that they want a large softbox, but haven't got the height that's needed to use them well.

Think about it - everywhere we go, indoors or out, most of the light comes from more or less above us. All of the fashion images we see involve having lights high up, that create the right shadows in the right places and that define the shape of the face. Without enough height, a large softbox produces light from a bit above, eye level and a bit below. So, with 15' you can get a really big softbox if you want to. Come to that, you can get a honeycomb for it too, to control the spread of light.

And you can get a beauty dish, perfect if you have models who have perfect skin and good makeup, again they need a fair bit of height if the model is standing. Come to that, you can even get a fresnel spot, but that's a bit specialised - again a fresnel spot needs height.

It makes sense to get a few different umbrellas, they cost very little and are versatile. The standard reflector is cheap but incredibly useful (although under rated) and takes honeycombs.

Then you should definitely get a reflector and reflector holder, often these can do the job of another light, and sometimes do it better.

All of these links are to Lencarta products, for obvious reasons, but some of them will be available to fit Elinchrom if you want to go that route. Decide on which accessories you are likely to want, and check the cost of them, before you make a final decision.

If you want specific answers to specific questions, e.g. "what equipment will I need for x?" then just say so, it's difficult to give meaningful generic advice.
 
Garry Quick reply, Thanks I'll have a read and look at your links and reply fully later

H x
 
If the other lady has some decent kit and leaves it in the studio, I would seriously consider getting the same modifier fitting so you can swap stuff.

Other than that, under the circumstances you'd probably be best phoning Garry and talking it through. He can only sell you Lencarta of course, but there's nothing wrong with that and it's as good a starting point as any.

Just get what you need now, and leave some budget for future options.
 
Morning :)
The other Lady has an event kit that she won't be leaving in the studio

My worry about Lencarta is, if I do hire out, would people be put off (snoddy)
Already we have Elinchrom V Bowens

All I have read points to Elinchrom having the qualty light and that may be what others will think over Lencarta, even if it's not true

The Lencarta 300x2 600x2 kit looks a good deal @ £1200 but.......

Off to work
Have a good day

H x
 
I have no axe to grind with either of the three brands under discussion as I deal with them all.

My thoughts are that while Elinchrom are technologically advanced, many of the features will only ever be of use to high end techie minded users, and not your general portrait studio user. They have, IMHO, become a bit over complicated in recent generations

Bowens lights are gradually getting back up to speed. although their reputation as the workhorses of the studio lighting world has not been protected, and they have been slow to keep up with innovations such as integral radio triggering.

Lencarta are by no means sexy to look at, but they are robust, and performance in terms of recycle time and repeatability of output compares excellently with more expensive brands. Their low cost operation model comes through in a number of ways, but for the level of performance they offer excellent value for money at the Elite Pro level. VFM extends to the attachments, which again, aren't going to win awards for design and innovation, but feel far sturdier than many similar products on the market.
 
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Good post above, and some fair points.

Yes, Lencarta is a small Company, and lacks resources. But, in the worst economic recession within living memory, it continues to grow dramatically year on year, so we must be getting something right - and what we're getting right is product development and performance,technical expertise and value for money.

In a few months we will be making a major change that I can't talk about yet, which will improve efficiency and customer service.

On the subject of customer service, our repair dept has now moved to new premises and typical turnaround is now 2 days - most small Companies don't even have a repair dept...

The fact that a lot of the top editorial, car and fashion photographers are now using our Safari Li-on portable lighting, and that it (and our new SuperFast IGBT flashes) is selling faster than we can make them, resulting in a waiting list, is making us look inefficient but we're doing our best to increase production.

I'm off to visit our factories in China very soon, and when I get back there will be a brand new product range that will help us to expand even faster.

8 years ago Lencarta was a no-name, 3 years ago it was the new kid on the block, now it's a major competitor to the biggest brands. Yes, there will always be people who will base their lighting buying decisions on brand, just as they do with clothes, cars etc., but in today's economy more and more people are happy to buy Skoda, Yongnuo and Lencarta, based on performance and value for money.
 
Hell on earth said:
Morning :)
The other Lady has an event kit that she won't be leaving in the studio

My worry about Lencarta is, if I do hire out, would people be put off (snoddy)
Already we have Elinchrom V Bowens

All I have read points to Elinchrom having the qualty light and that may be what others will think over Lencarta, even if it's not true

The Lencarta 300x2 600x2 kit looks a good deal @ £1200 but.......

Off to work
Have a good day

H x
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In terms of quality of light, flash is flash really. No significant difference between brands. The differences lie in consistency of output, ie same exposure flash to flash that can vary a little at lower power settings, and flash durations. Lencarta are good on the former, about average on durations, though they also have their new and really rather impressive Superfast heads that work differently (using IGBT power control - basically big hot-shoe guns) and have extremely short durations and excellent colour. No other manufacturer has cracked this technology with studio heads before, and it might be a sales point if you're hiring out (see photo examples on Lencarta website).

I like Lencarta because they are good, and great value, mainly because they only supply direct. All studio flash at the affordable end is made in the Far East these days, including Bowens. Lencarta is made in China (by Jinbei, huge manufacturer) and Elinchrom's monolights are made in India.

If colour is a concern, the biggest differences I've found are usually between brands of modifier, ie some softbox diffusion material can be a tad warm, others a smidge cool, but you'll not notice that with normal people pictures - maybe fashion or product photography where exact colour matches are important.

Anyway, that's enough waffle. From what you've said, I don't think you'll go far wrong with any of the brands you've mentioned. To cut to the chase, if it was me, I'd get a system based around Elinchrom BXR250 for sufficient power and faster durations than anything else at the price (in round numbers, roughly 1/1000sec in terms of shutter speed equivalents, quick enough for most studio action), plus neat integral Skyport and light weight. Then maybe BXR500 for more power, or for situations where you don't need so much poke, the little D-Lite Ones would integrate very nicely. On the other hand, Lencarta SuperFasts are tempting... :D
 
For anyone who doesn't know, Richard (HoppyUK) is a technical writer who spends his time doing exhaustive testing on photographic gear, and whose articles and reviews are then published in leading photo mags.

Back in the dim and distant past, he used to be editor of Practical Photography, but don't hold that against him - he knows his stuff:)
 
Thank you Garry :) Those were the days, when magazines ruled the world of information and Practical Photography was the biggest selling photo magazine in Europe - with about four times the current circulation... :(

I mainly write for Advanced Photographer and Digital SLR Photography these days, but to get back to the point, and modesty aside, anyone interested in studio flash should look out those back issues of Advanced Photographer I mentioned: entry level, edition 13; higher-end, edition 14; battery/location, edition 15; Elinchrom D-Lite One, edition 25; Lencarta Superfast, next edition (I think) out in a couple of weeks. Details on their website.
 
HoppyUK said:
Thank you Garry :) Those were the days, when magazines ruled the world of information and Practical Photography was the biggest selling photo magazine in Europe - with about four times the current circulation... :(

I mainly write for Advanced Photographer and Digital SLR Photography these days, but to get back to the point, and modesty aside, anyone interested in studio flash should look out those back issues of Advanced Photographer I mentioned: entry level, edition 13; higher-end, edition 14; battery/location, edition 15; Elinchrom D-Lite One, edition 25; Lencarta Superfast, next edition (I think) out in a couple of weeks. Details on their website.
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That's crafty, bringing out the SuperFast review when I'm away and can't send you nasty emails complaining about your findings:) Did you test it head to head with anything else?
Meanwhile, Phil Harboard has produced his own review, on the 600 model.
After testing it, he bought it.
 
Garry Edwards said:
That's crafty, bringing out the SuperFast review when I'm away and can't send you nasty emails complaining about your findings:) Did you test it head to head with anything else?
Meanwhile, Phil Harboard has produced his own review, on the 600 model.
After testing it, he bought it.
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I think you'll like the review Garry ;)

Testing the SF's flash durations accurately was tricky as they get so damn fast, but I cranked everything up and think I've made a reasonable fist of it in real world terms. It's not really for me to say much ahead of publication, but my findings didn't match Phil Harbord's oscilloscope measures (I really don't trust most oscilloscopes to measure anything that fast accurately) but agree with him about excellent colour control :thumbs:
 
Hi Guy's I have 20 mins then I have to go back to work so will try and look at the links later

Wow having a bit of information overload, my own fault for asking to many questions in one go :)

So I want to pull it back and break it down for now and deal with this offer I have to a Bx500Ri x2 kit @ £700

A BRX 250/250 Kit would cost me £850 so a no brainer

For the spec and price, what is there that would match/exceed the Bx500Ri

I think the Lencarta Superfast are £400 a pop just the head ( not kit) with no built in receiver or trigger, or am I wrong ?

Thanks

H x
 
The SuperFast should have gone up in price yesterday, they will almost certainly go up at some point today.

I'm sorry, but that kind of performance costs a lot to produce, and has to be paid for, it's a no-brainer if you need SuperFast performance, but a waste of money if you don't.

Like everything else in life, you need to make decisions based on your needs, it's pointless spending money you don't need to for performance that you don't need, but equally pointless spending less than you need to if it won't do the job.

For your own needs, I'm guessing that it should be a choice between the Lencarta UltraPro and one of the Elinchrom kits, although of course Bowens units are also worth considering.
 
Well if you've got a good deal in hand for those Elinchroms that's job done.

Assuming it's a standard twin softbox kit with Skyport Speed triggering, I would just say don't buy anything else (apart from backgrounds and stuff) until you've had a good go with those and have a clear idea of what else you'll need.
 
Hi everyone

Well just when I think I am getting somewhere, the Bx500Ri is a no go as has a fault, to good to be true and all that :'(

It was a bit of a risk anyway

With as Garry said, the SuperFast going up in price, I seem to have less options but to spend more than I had hoped even if I dropper the head size :(

Gone a bit brain dead... Help!

H x
 
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Sorry to hear that. But the SuperFast isn't for you, unless you really need the incredibly fast flash durations and instant recycling of the SuperFast - think fashion, evil people slinging messing liquids at people as per the video below etc.
Video
 
Garry Edwards said:
Sorry to hear that. But the SuperFast isn't for you, unless you really need the incredibly fast flash durations and instant recycling of the SuperFast - think fashion, evil people slinging messing liquids at people as per the video below etc.
Video
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HaHa I watched it yesterday
I know a few people I could sling stuff at.... maybe I DO need SuperFast :lol:

BTW it's still showing the £400 on the site, what's the new price and will there be a kit
Does it work with UltraPro in a 1 superfast + 2 UltraPro set up

H
 
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You can use any flash with any flash, pretty much - use radio trigger for one and the others fire in sync off their built-in slaves. Unless you have another photographer working nearby, then you'd both need everything working independently off radio triggers. Lencarta's SF triggers are for SuperFasts only, but that's a detail really that you can work around.

And ideally you don't want to mix SuperFasts with regular heads for high speed stuff, or you'll get some blurring from the slower heads. You can see that in some of the Lencarta promo shots, when they didn't have enough SuperFast heads for the whole set.

And as I said before, don't get hung up on power. 500/600Ws will give you around f/22 in a 100cm softbox at 1.0m, ISO100. Which also means you'll usually get f/5.6 at minimum power, so if you want to shoot at f/2.8 or lower, you're stuffed. On the other hand, if you want more power, bumping the ISO one stop effectively doubles the power. IMO, for regular portraiture, head and shoulder and couples etc, 100-300Ws is about right.
 
Hoppy I do understand about 250/300 suiting most work but I guess I think turning down the power is better than not having it to turn up to.... no ?

Yes there is always bumping the ISO, Saves a lot of money too :)

Thanks for the info on not mixing SuperFasts

I guess I need a quote from dealers on a studio one shop bundle ,with specs hopefully giving me some discount :naughty: fillter that and see where I am

Thanks again
Helen
 
Hell on earth said:
Hoppy I do understand about 250/300 suiting most work but I guess I think turning down the power is better than not having it to turn up to.... no ?

Yes there is always bumping the ISO, Saves a lot of money too :)

Thanks for the info on not mixing SuperFasts

I guess I need a quote from dealers on a studio one shop bundle ,with specs hopefully giving me some discount :naughty: fillter that and see where I am

Thanks again
Helen
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That depends. Power requirements vary a lot, but nobody wants or needs f/22 for portraits, so why have it, whereas f/2.8 and shallow DoF is a good portrait technique. Also, conventional studio heads (ie not IGBT) work best at higher power settings - faster durations, best colour, and good consistency of exposure shot to shot.

On the other hand, if you're shooting larger groups at events, at greater distances and higher f/numbers for more DoF, you need much more power. But you haven't mentioned that (yet) ;) Putting two softboxes side by side is a good trick for that, giving a much bigger light source and double the power, then if you bump the ISO as well you can get by. There's always a bit of juggling and compromise, the trick is to start off with something that best suits your primary needs.
 
You make a lot of sense Damn you!
I'm more irrational... been working on perfecting it for years :lol:

My primary needs have nothing to do with photography and this is no place to bring it up :D

H x
 
Blimey Helen, and we've hardly started :eek:

Which is why I say, just get yourself a couple of decent heads and take it from there. You can hardly go wrong with the kit being discussed.

What you can't buy, or acquire in five minutes, is the experience and knowledge you need to take it all to the next level. If you want a shortcut (silly question) then pop along to The Flash Centre where some attentive young men will, err... fix you up. Or just phone Garry (he is attentive at least) and a lot of very large boxes will arrive in 24hrs/in a flash/at the crack of a whip (delete as appropriate).
 
Just my opinion, we (as one of the busiest studios for hire in the country, so I am told!) would recommend the Bowens heads first and foremost. We had our old set of Esprit 500s for six years without missing a beat (must have been millions of flashes on each one) and have replaced them and added to a total of ten newer 500R and PRO heads in the last couple of years, which again seem very good.

After care from both Bowens (couple of niggles on the PRO heads when we bought them with the speedrings) and from Calumet where we bought them is always exceptional.

Finally, if you do buy them and the decide to sell up at a later date, the second hand values of Bowens kit is always high. I still have the Esprit kits, and they still regularly fetch 400-500 for two heads on eBay. You can buy two new 500R heads for under £700.

And the sheer range now of third party modifiers that use the Bowens S-Fit bayonet fitting means you don't need to spend a fortune on those, however I do believe you he's what's you pays for.

Modifiers I would buy for my first outing would be a single large (1m square or larger) soft box, a couple of smaller soft boxes, a couple of reflective brollies, a couple of 7 inch reflectors and a set of grids and gels.

Have a look at Calumet own brand products too, often they are as good as Bowens (same company by the way) and Manfrotto kit, but at a fraction of the price. I have a couple of their Illuma soft boxes, which are amongst the best I have used, including the Bowens ones, so well worth a look. They also do their own 7" grids for under £15 each, whereas a set of Bowens will set you back three or four times that.

You should get a really nice four head kit with a good range of accessories for a couple of grand.
 
saracenhouse said:
Just my opinion, we (as one of the busiest studios for hire in the country, so I am told!) would recommend the Bowens heads first and foremost. We had our old set of Esprit 500s for six years without missing a beat (must have been millions of flashes on each one) and have replaced them and added to a total of ten newer 500R and PRO heads in the last couple of years, which again seem very good.

After care from both Bowens (couple of niggles on the PRO heads when we bought them with the speedrings) and from Calumet where we bought them is always exceptional.

Finally, if you do buy them and the decide to sell up at a later date, the second hand values of Bowens kit is always high. I still have the Esprit kits, and they still regularly fetch 400-500 for two heads on eBay. You can buy two new 500R heads for under £700.


And the sheer range now of third party modifiers that use the Bowens S-Fit bayonet fitting means you don't need to spend a fortune on those, however I do believe you he's what's you pays for.

Modifiers I would buy for my first outing would be a single large (1m square or larger) soft box, a couple of smaller soft boxes, a couple of reflective brollies, a couple of 7 inch reflectors and a set of grids and gels.

Have a look at Calumet own brand products too, often they are as good as Bowens (same company by the way) and Manfrotto kit, but at a fraction of the price. I have a couple of their Illuma soft boxes, which are amongst the best I have used, including the Bowens ones, so well worth a look. They also do their own 7" grids for under £15 each, whereas a set of Bowens will set you back three or four times that.

You should get a really nice four head kit with a good range of accessories for a couple of grand.
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Thanks you for your input

I confess my first love is for the Elinchrom BXRi/BRX because of the skyport, that control from the triggerhead is :love: and £for£ v Bowens it wins

Yes the fitting are another matter where it loses
The standard softboxes on the Bowens and Elinchroms kits are not great,
a real problem if having to change

Lencarta EP have better softboxes and have Sfit but not the triggerhead control

Not seen a UltraPro 600/600 300/300 kit for sale or for that matter a 600/600 kit, maybe just to much money for me

What you gain on one system you lose on another

H x
 
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Helen, if you want Elinchrom heads but don't like the price of their modifiers, I use Lencarta ProFold softboxes with interchangeable mounts and they're very good and great value. Also look at Bessel, and Interfit also use the Elinchrom fitting, to name a couple more options.
 
Well a lot of thinking and re-reading all the advice I think I'm going to cut back to just a 3 light Lencarta system to start with.

I got offered another Elinchrom BXRi 500/500 kit today for £650 never been used
But I feel that adding 2 more 250w lights will take me over what I want to spend at this time, as great as they are.

As someone said *fit the need and my experience*

The letting it out, may or may-not come later and I can build to fit

Big thanks go out to Hoppy, Garry and Bayrunner

Helen
 
HoppyUK said:
Thank you Garry :) Those were the days, when magazines ruled the world of information and Practical Photography was the biggest selling photo magazine in Europe - with about four times the current circulation... :(

I mainly write for Advanced Photographer and Digital SLR Photography these days, but to get back to the point, and modesty aside, anyone interested in studio flash should look out those back issues of Advanced Photographer I mentioned: entry level, edition 13; higher-end, edition 14; battery/location, edition 15; Elinchrom D-Lite One, edition 25; Lencarta Superfast, next edition (I think) out in a couple of weeks. Details on their website.
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I enjoy all of the above and find your articles helpful, accessible and inspiring - nice to put a face to a name, Mandy
 
Thank you Mandy :)
 
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My kit turned up yesterday, next day delivery thanks to Jon (Bayrunner) looks fine and well built, not had a real chance to play yet

Helen
 
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Hell on earth said:
My kit turned up yesterday, next day delivery thanks to Jon (Bayrunner) looks fine and well built, not had a real change to play yet

Helen
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What did you get?
 
HoppyUK said:
What did you get?
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The Ep 300x2 kit with unbrellas
1 600w with stand, refector
100x100 softbox
Also a few things off ebay, backgrounds and new lightmeter
I already have a couple of speedlights sb600's but I don't think they work off the trigger so may have to get another

I know I have a lot to add, just taking it slow, I will need another softbox for fill light, maybe a bit smaller, then the list goes on

Helen x
 
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:thumbs:

Cheap and easy way to get different lighting effects is with shoot-through, white and silver umbrellas :)
 
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