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DannyDMR

DannyDMR

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Evening all

Basically im looking to get a couple of starter lights, I would be using these indoors and on location (Also indoors)

I'm a little in the unknown as to the wattage of these lamps

Is 150w per lamp good enough?
http://www.lencarta.com/lighting-store/flash-heads/flash-heads-1/twin-head-mains-powered-starter-kit

I would also be looking at a backdrop probably white and some other colour, radio triggers, maybe a couple of Soft boxes?

What are your thought?

Thanks in advance to all

Danny
 
I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding here...
150 watts is the power consumption of the modelling lamp. The purpose of the modelling lamp is just to give you a good idea of where the shadows will fall and how deep those shadows will be. Up to a point, the brighter the modelling lamp, the better but there are limits, because brighter modelling lamps create more heat, are more uncomfortable for sitters and cause the pupils to contract, which looks unnatural.

The SmartFlash flash heads are just that - flash heads. It's the flash head that creates the light for your exposure, not the modelling lamp. The modelling lamp has no effect, in practical terms.

Each of the flash heads has 200 watt seconds (or joules) of power. They produce as much light in about 1/1,800th of a second as a continuous light of 200 watts would produce in a 1 second exposure - or, to put it another way, they are roughly equivalent to 3,600 watts of continuous lighting at a shutter speed of 1/1800th second.

That's plenty for a home studio. If you ever find that you need more, just increase your camera ISO a bit.

As for softboxes, get the biggest one you have room for - they do take up a lot of space, so something like 1 metre sq or an octa box of similar size is a good choice for most people.

Radio trigger? Very good idea. I suggest the mains powered one, much easier/less to go wrong than a battery powered one.

And you can get a background support and various backgrounds here - I think that Lencarta probably offer the best value for money there is - but look around and see if you can find decent ones elsewhere for less, there may be something available that I don't know about
 
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i own these lamps with a brolly and 120cm octabox.

they are well built, easy to use and i am more than happy with them. i also own their backdrop support as well, again well built and im pleased with it.

when funds allow i will be buying the 70cm beauty dish from lencarta.
 
Big thanks for clearing that up Garry. Think i'll have to look into getting these

& Thanks Sye good to hear a good review from someone who has them
 
just had a look at the radio triggers Garry

The ones you have linked are the ones i have bookmarked, Can you just confirm that it's the receiver that plugs into the mains or does it get powered from the flash head?, the trigger is Battery operated?
 
DannyDMR said:
just had a look at the radio triggers Garry

The ones you have linked are the ones i have bookmarked, Can you just confirm that it's the receiver that plugs into the mains or does it get powered from the flash head?, the trigger is Battery operated?
Click to expand...
The receiver plugs into one of the flash heads, where the mains lead would go.

The mains lead then plugs into the receiver, in other words the power travels through the receiver into the head.

Any other heads act as slaves, only one trigger set is needed.
 
DannyDMR said:
I get you, so i would need 2 receivers and 1 trigger
Click to expand...
No, you need one trigger (it fits into the camera hotshoe) and one receiver.

That makes the flash head that it's plugged into flash. Any other flash heads 'see' the flash from the flash that has the receiver and flash at the same time, acting as a slave.
 
I've had this kit for a couple of years now. Used them a lot. Never failed me. I keep thinking about upgrading, but can't bring myself to part with them! Great starter set. :thumbs: :D


Kev.
 
Dont mean to hijack this thread but ive been looking at starter kits to use in my home (i dont have access to a studio) and have been looking at several different kits available. Now i dont have any experience with lighting but feel its time to learn, I do have an SB600 that ive been practicing with too.

So ive been looking around and seen the Interfit EX150 Mk2 out there for £249 and wondered what more experienced people thought of this option. Is it suitable for a novice who would mainly be using this in a home?
 
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