Backgrounds + lights

[ped]

Hi guys

First post in here.

I did a studio job at the weekend in my garage. I really enjoyed it and would like to invest in my own lights and a continuous backdrop. I used my dad's LED panel lights (he's a TV cameraman) which worked well. Well, I was pleased anyway, here's the thread http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=320940

I saw this kit which looks good

http://www.backdropsource.co.uk/Pro...port-system-and-750-watt-continuous-light-kit

It's about the right size (garage isn't HUGE) so it should be a winner... but thought I should ask opinions here.

Are the Musliun sheets easy to roll up or do they require ironing often?

Cheers
ped

 

[Garry Edwards]

I can see why your dad uses continuous lights - in his job they are the right tool for the job, but they are the wrong tool for the job with still photography, which is why nearly everyone buys studio flash (after wasting their money on continuous lighting).

Flash has just about everything going for it, including ease of use, consistent colour temperature, accurate colour, a wide range of light shaping tools, a wide range of adjustment, power, comfort for the sitter and so on.

The blurb on their website may say that it's ideal for everything but trust me, not them

 

[ped]

How would flash work with my older rangefinder cameras, though?

To be honest I like continuous because I can see adjustments in real time and meter the shot before taking the pic, though that's because I don't know any better!

ped

 

[Garry Edwards]

How would flash work with my older rangefinder cameras, though?

To be honest I like continuous because I can see adjustments in real time and meter the shot before taking the pic, though that's because I don't know any better!

ped

It will work perfectly well, firing via a radio trigger plugged into the hotshoe.

The only advantage of continuous lighting, which may be relevant with a film camera, is that if you have a meter built into your camera then it will set the exposure with continuous lighting, which it can't do with flash,

 

[ped]

Thanks. My two cameras are an Epson R-D1 and a Leica M4P, I'll have to see if the shoes are compatible with a trigger (the M4P has flash sync sockets on the back and the R-D1 has one on the side)

I have never really explored flash apart from having a cheap bounce flash on the DSLR, and I know it's a whole new area to look at.

 

[HoppyUK]

Ped, honestly those lights are hopeless if you are even remotely serious about getting some control over the light.

You can use flash no problem, with a sync lead if needs be, easy. For film, a meter is obviously a big help with flash, but as a quick fix you could bodge that by setting up with digital and transferring the settings. However, I think you should seriously rethink shooting portraits with a Leica M4 and 21mm lens! Brave man

For £300, you're in Lencarta Smartflash territory. Get a couple of those and build from there.