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Yvonne
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I'm looking for some advice on what lights to buy. I'm starting out and looking to learn more about lighting so I was thinking of setting up a home studio mostly in a spare bedroom(3.3x3.8) and my living room for full length(5.4x3.6 extendible through double doors another about 2mt if needed)

What I have at the minute is 430EXII, set of radio triggers, stand and umbrella.
I would like to buy something that would take me from learning to earning a bit before I need to upgrade.:D

I have been looking at the lencarta smartflash kits with background. Would I need 2 or 3 heads? should I look at the ElitePro kits or are the smartflash sufficient. I would be thinking less lights if was going for the ElitePro.

What other brands should I be considering?
Will I be able to trigger my flash at the same time as the other lights so I could it use to light background etc?

Sorry for all the questions its only a few of many;)
 
The ElitePro have 50% more power, a brighter modelling lamp, a greater range of adjustment and more features - but the quality is the same as the SmartFlash and in a small space you don't need the extra power, so you have to decide whether the extra money for the ElitePro is justified in your own situation.

If you want to produce blown white backgrounds - which I really advise against in your space - then you need a minimum of 3 heads. My advice is to start with a 2 head softbox/umbrella kit with background and add any other items you may need later, when your experience has grown.
And yes, you can use a hotshoe flash as an extra light source.
 
Thanks for your help Gary. Out of curious what is the minimum space you recommend for blown white backgrounds?
 
You'll struggle to do it well with less than about 8' behind the subject
 
Hi,
I also have been researching and reading information regarding equipment for a smaller space.
I think I have read somewhere that for a darker background, say grey you do not need so much space.
How much much space is the min behind the subject for a darker background?

Why do you need more space for a white background?
Thanks for any help.
 
Whatever colour/tone of background you have, the more space the better because there are two separate subjects, with the background becoming the rear subject - but black backgrounds require literally no space, assuming that the material is non reflective, and grey backgrounds only require enough space for shadows from the front subject not to show, assuming that the background is unlit
 
Good luck with the studio. I would budget in the £30 extra for the Lencarta studio training day.

I bought the ElitePro lights and Icnoble bought the 200w smartflash lights. They both do feel really good and I am sure you'd be happy with either of them. You can save money doing the studio by being intelligent over other bits too! For a background stand all you need is a pole and some way of attaching it somewhere! I use an aluminium pole attached to the wall at end end but Garry has previously suggested ladder brackets. If you are umming and arring over Elitepro/smartflash then you can go for the smartflash set and pay the difference of £70 and upgrade one of the lights to an elitepro and use that where you need more power. Black backdrop = 8'x12' of velvet like material from the fabric shop ditto green screen/white screen.
 
cowaski/Garry is the training just in the UK. Some good ideas there Cowaski I think I will look at upgrading one light alright. With the background I would like the background to be more portable between different rooms in the house and possibly garage too. I will be putting together some material backgrounds though
 
For your interest, Ive been using a 2 light interfit EX150 kit, it cost around £200 and Im really pleased with what Ive been able to achieve using this with white and black backgrounds:thumbs:
 
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