Mini studio kit

cowasaki

cowasaki

TPer Emeritus
Suspended / Banned
Messages
19,708
Name
Darren
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm looking at a kit for taking some decent close up shots and small object / macro shots. I went to the Jewellery show at the NEC and saw this kit:

http://www.techlamps.co.uk/

click on "mini photo-studios" then click on "mini digital studio"

£549+vat+p&p

Now i've seen this kit in action and it is VERY good but anybody know where I can get an equivalent cheaper or is this a good price.

Kit consists of 4 x lights inc under light, over light and two side lights - all 5K deg.

I already have a small light tent thing with 2 x lamps but its just not that good. I want to be able to get decent shots with no shadow that I can then use on a web site. Items from jewellery to computers....
 
It's a fair bit of dosh but looks like it would do the job well enough. If it was me I'd be thinking what could I achieve with a translucent panel or two, and some back and bottom lights in addition to what you already have...
 
Marks and Spencers sell a cheap pop up laundry bin for a fiver, nice white sides and back and wold be suitable for a simple mini studio. Worth a try?
 
That is a lot of money IMO. If you're only after doing small to medium sized items then you only need a couple of 150w lights with soft boxes. I used an Interfit kit which was around £300, they don't do the model I have any more but this would be a nice setup: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1015692

Granted you still need to have the background but that's as simple as just some white card (or whatever colour you want). Though I would say it is the lighting that is by far most important, and with softboxes you get a really smooth covering.

This is my setup, I'm lucky enough to have picked up an infinity cove from a buddy of mine, no idea where you'd buy one sadly:

studio1.jpg


and these are the kind of shots I get:

pic45.jpg


pic15.jpg


Full Image Resized
pic28.jpg


100% crop of above
pic29.jpg


Full Image Resized
pic24.jpg


100% crop of above
pic25.jpg


Hope that helps a bit :)
 
I am looking for professional results and already have a small light tent. I have a decent macro lens and camera and the following equipment...

3 180w studio flash units with 2 light boxes and 1 umbrella
1 light tent
2 cheap mini studio lamp (always on)
1 SB600
1 SB800

My wife is a goldsmith and my kids are all doing design type A levels/GCSEs and will be going on to degrees of the same type so was looking for a more permanent high quality arrangement.

I have found a similar 'light table' arrangement for £139+£7 (minus 10% because I have an ebay 10% voucher at the moment) but obviously this does not have the adjustable lights. I like the ability to have the lights just where I want them and know that they are all the same temperature ie 5deg K.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PHOTO-STUDIO-...14&_trkparms=72:1690|66:2|65:12|39:2|240:1318

If I use my existing studio lights I am back to the problem of having to get them all out and setup each time I need to take a shot plus I have a problem with where to position them and how much power for each one. They are also rather unwieldy and more difficult to position due to the stands. With the setup of lights as supplied I could leave it all setup and just switch it on with the camera on a tripod (then eventually a dedicated positional arm).

I know it sounds like I am trying to talk myself into this setup but if other people can tell me of actual alternatives to the whole thing or light the ligths etc I might be able to get it down from about £600. I really want to be able to take pictures of jewellery that I can place into a web page so that the background vanishes into the page much like the wine glass does on this site here http://www.helenjewellery.com/ if you click on the gallery you can see the problems I am having ! There are alternative light boxes on the site but I want the flexibility to photography larger items too to justify the price...
 
£550!!!!! if it was me i would rather go down to wickes buy a few of there cheap worklights (litterally the cheapest are £5) and buy a few accessories such as a bed sheet for diffuser and coloured card then do the setup jonmurgie shown you. and save to rest to buy something as a little treat such as a lens, photo software or maybe a laptop.
 
mastertrinity said:
£550!!!!! if it was me i would rather go down to wickes buy a few of there cheap worklights (litterally the cheapest are £5) and buy a few accessories such as a bed sheet for diffuser and coloured card then do the setup jonmurgie shown you. and save to rest to buy something as a little treat such as a lens, photo software or maybe a laptop.
Click to expand...

I already have the cheap lights, studio lights, card board etc but I am looking at a producing professional shots such as these:

http://www.techlamps.co.uk/tl-jewel-photos/images/image_00009.jpg

http://www.techlamps.co.uk/tl-jewel-photos/images/01.jpg

http://www.techlamps.co.uk/tl-jewel-photos/images/jewellery08.jpg
 
So what kind of pictures are you turning out with what you've got as to me it sounds like you've got enough already?
 
Jonmurgie said:
So what kind of pictures are you turning out with what you've got as to me it sounds like you've got enough already?
Click to expand...

http://gallery.HelenJewellery.com/

These pictures are not in chronological and include a number of options:

window ledge with macro lens on D200
light tent with 2 cheap lights
light tent with studio lights
studio lights without tent on black surface

http://iloapp.helenjewellery.com/data/_gallery/public/0/1228946586_resized.jpg for example is getting there but I need to get rid of the shadow which is rather difficult with studio flashes. Your watch pictures also have this shadow which is perfectly acceptable is some circumstances but if I am trying to, for example, have a pendant with a 100% black background so it merges into the web page I need total black. I cannot yet achieve this with the setup I have.

It may be that I could achieve these results with my setup but I have been messing about for ages without success AND if I do use the studio flashes etc and get it perfect it will be difficult to get EXACTLY the same setup tomorrow or next Wednesday especially as my wife works up to the last second then needs a picture with five minutes notice :)
 
OK, I see what you mean now :)

What "studio lights" have you got as they don't appear that bright in the pictures. I don't suppose you've got a shot of your setup as it were? I guess space is an issue with leaving those lights setup in an area for quick shots?

I also assume your trying to eliminate all post-processing so you can just take the pictures as shot and resize/upload them immediately? I do a fair few shots on white background but generally sling a path around them in PS to clear up the background etc. depending on it's final use.
 
Jonmurgie said:
OK, I see what you mean now :)

What "studio lights" have you got as they don't appear that bright in the pictures. I don't suppose you've got a shot of your setup as it were? I guess space is an issue with leaving those lights setup in an area for quick shots?

I also assume your trying to eliminate all post-processing so you can just take the pictures as shot and resize/upload them immediately? I do a fair few shots on white background but generally sling a path around them in PS to clear up the background etc. depending on it's final use.
Click to expand...

I have a similar setup to yours I would suggest. 3 studio lights on stands with 2 softboxes and 1 set of barn doors. Leaving them setup is not an option. I can only leave one setup and have to break down the other two.

I don't mind some post processing I am quite experienced with photoshop (see my sig) but I would like to get the shot without any so to speak. There are two large industrial estates nearby too and was thinking of offering out a service too at some point in the future.

Oh and I have turned down the brightness of the lights as if they are much brighter they bleach out the picture!
 
mastertrinity said:
i reproduced those shots easy with a cardboard box a halogen lamp and fiddling about with camera settings, no photoshop involved and there just as good as that.
Click to expand...

Which shots, the ones from techlamps? If so lets have a look and the low down on how you did it, that is the whole point of the thread :) - If I can get exactly what I am after with the equipment I have then I am not going to spend £550. :)

ie perfectly lit with absolute black or white behind. Preferably with the ability to also have blue/green/red background for cutting.
 
Yv said:
that IS a lot of money!! A simple light tent and some daylight rated table tops lamps can be had from ebay and such places for considerably less. As Heppers said earlier, some translucent panels would be good too.
Click to expand...

I already have THAT setup, I am trying to reproduce the pictures from techlamps but have been unable to do so.

above relates to last two replies.

SEE POST #7 :)
 
OK, tomorrow I shall see how far I get replicating some of those sample pictures... though there is nothing to say (or show) those samples aren't worked a lot in post processing.
 
cowasaki said:
I already have THAT setup, I am trying to reproduce the pictures from techlamps but have been unable to do so.

above relates to last two replies.

SEE POST #7 :)
Click to expand...

have you tried same set up but using a lightbox underneath the jewellry, the sort you look at slides on? the light should be enough to counter balance small continous lights to reduce shadow. I normally use flash lights through the tent sides which seems to be more effective at getting shots like those Jon has posted. :shrug:
 
Jonmurgie said:
OK, tomorrow I shall see how far I get replicating some of those sample pictures... though there is nothing to say (or show) those samples aren't worked a lot in post processing.
Click to expand...

I saw them make similar pictures in real time whilst I was standing there :)
 
cannockwolf said:
i took these in a tent

http://www.instant-print.co.uk/images/med_sample.jpg
http://www.instant-print.co.uk/images/large_sample.jpg
Click to expand...

These are EXCELLENT but again they still have shadows, which is what I am trying to remove. It does not matter too much on the items you photographed but I want to take a picture of say a precision pendant with a Diamond set on it. I need controlled light, no reflections, no shadows from the item and enough highlights to make the shape perfect.

I realise that that is a lot to ask but that is why they are charging a lot :)

I am just trying to save money by getting it for less ;)

Maybe your setup but sat on frosted acrylic with light coming through it BUT we are then heading back towards the setup they are selling!
 
Yv said:
have you tried same set up but using a lightbox underneath the jewellry, the sort you look at slides on? the light should be enough to counter balance small continous lights to reduce shadow. I normally use flash lights through the tent sides which seems to be more effective at getting shots like those Jon has posted. :shrug:
Click to expand...

This is a possibility, they sell a number of light boxes. Although they start at only £39+vat these are tiny - they have some at 8"x18" for £90+vat+p&p

I might be able to get one of these cheaper. I had thought about building one with a frosted acrylic top.

again I have tried using the flash lights through the tent option but not been able, personally, to get the right results....
 
cowasaki said:
This is a possibility, they sell a number of light boxes. Although they start at only £39+vat these are tiny - they have some at 8"x18" for £90+vat+p&p

I might be able to get one of these cheaper. I had thought about building one with a frosted acrylic top.
Click to expand...

ok, a mock up done in 5 minutes. two lamps, a stack and store box and a piece of paper. Put one lamp inside the upside down box, one shining down from left, and took a couple of shots.

these lights are spots, so the circle of light underneath is limited, unlike a lightbox and no diffusion on the one above, but in essence, it works, gets rid of shadows and evens out the light. With a bit more finnesse in the actual set up, you could get exactly what you want, with minimum hassle and space required, it could be left in a small corner as a permanent working area, ready to go whenever you need it and for a lot less outlay than a fancy set up.

bracelet.jpg


just an idea, if you get one where the plastic cover slides out, you could get several different ones cut to size, either with frosted, as you mention, or even colours if a particular set of items would be better set off that way.
 
Got to go off to work now but that is the closest that I have seen towards what I am after thanks. Will have a look at it tomorrow.


Thanks everyone this is looking like a decent project :)
 
That looks good to me for a quickie demo of what can be done with a few bits and pieces :thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top