Studio Set Up for Timelapse - Lights Automation

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life4life

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Jack
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Hi All,

:help:

I am planning to convert a spare room into a small studio where to record some timelapse photography of plants, flowers, mushrooms, etc,... The set-up should work by itself (everything will be connected to the main power with no batteries). After a lot of research I settled on this equipment:

- Sony a7R iv
- Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
- Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
- Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro

- iFootage Slider

- Anglerfish SL1 320 DN
- Anglerfish 80C LE RGB

The idea is to have 2 cameras, one fixed on a tripod and one on a slider, to capture the timelapse sequence from 2 different angles (the set up will be made on a table placed in front of a grey screen) to be able to make a more interesting final video, than the usual one angle timelapse. However, I do have a big problem that I don't know how to fix (yet), so I'm here to ask some advices. As I will shoot a variety of fast and slow growing plants, I need to set the cameras to shoot 'x' photos per day. I am planning to buy some studio lights (not flash) (Anglerfish SL1 320 DN as main light & 80C LE RGB as background / mood / ambient light). My question is, can I link these to the camera/s in any way so that they turn on only when (just before) the camera has a shot to take? Obviously I can't keep these lights on 24/7 for 25 or more days while I took all the shots I need... Or there is any smart plug or accessory, that I can easily use to automate when the lights has to turn on and off and for how many seconds? Not sure if flash lights would be more suited for my needs as they can get easily connected to the camera and they're on just during the shot? Another issue I have is that in order to speed up the growing process, I will have to use a growing light for the plants, so I also have the extra challenge in having this one off every time the camera is due to take a shot.

Thanks in advance for the replies and if anything is unclear, please let me know!

:ty:
 
Last edited:
I think you've answered your own question. Don't use LED lights, use flash - they're designed to be used with cameras to get the best results and the best colours.

Although there are some LED units (very expensive) that are almost good enough to do a similar job they should be left for video work IMHO.

Other opinions will be along soon . . .

BTW - welcome to the forum Jack. :wave:
 
life4life said:
Hi All,

:help:

I am planning to convert a spare room into a small studio where to record some timelapse photography of plants, flowers, mushrooms, etc,... The set-up should work by itself (everything will be connected to the main power with no batteries). After a lot of research I settled on this equipment:

- Sony a7R iv
- Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
- Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
- Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro

- iFootage Slider

- Anglerfish SL1 320 DN
- Anglerfish 80C LE RGB

The idea is to have 2 cameras, one fixed on a tripod and one on a slider, to capture the timelapse sequence from 2 different angles (the set up will be made on a table placed in front of a grey screen) to be able to make a more interesting final video, than the usual one angle timelapse. However, I do have a big problem that I don't know how to fix (yet), so I'm here to ask some advices. As I will shoot a variety of fast and slow growing plants, I need to set the cameras to shoot 'x' photos per day. I am planning to buy some studio lights (not flash) (Anglerfish SL1 320 DN as main light & 80C LE RGB as background / mood / ambient light). My question is, can I link these to the camera/s in any way so that they turn on only when (just before) the camera has a shot to take? Obviously I can't keep these lights on 24/7 for 25 or more days while I took all the shots I need... Or there is any smart plug or accessory, that I can easily use to automate when the lights has to turn on and off and for how many seconds? Not sure if flash lights would be more suited for my needs as they can get easily connected to the camera and they're on just during the shot? Another issue I have is that in order to speed up the growing process, I will have to use a growing light for the plants, so I also have the extra challenge in having this one off every time the camera is due to take a shot.

Thanks in advance for the replies and if anything is unclear, please let me know!

:ty:
Click to expand...

I think a light that turns on just when the picture is being taken - *is* flash tbh. I mean, yes you could fiddle around with a programmable power switch if you're only taking shots once per hour (1 day per second at 24fps ?), but flash lights are ideally suited to this. One potential issue I can imagine is that some flashes go to sleep after a period of inactivity - and need a few test signals or a button pushing on the head to wake them up. Some flash heads will allow this to be disabled. Or use efficient LEDs and leave them on - a 10Watt LED is going to use 864kJ per day or 0.24 of the nonsense kWh unit, which is about 8 pence per day at current UK, capped energy rates, or about £2 for the duration of the project.

Might also be worth plugging the camera into the mains as well. DSLRs consume almost nothing whilst not taking pictures but might be worth checking the standby behaviour/power consumption on your A7R. I typically plug my Nikon DSLRs into the mains when using them as BTS cameras and if your camera doesn't support USB-C power, there are dummy batteries available to carry power from a simple power brick of the correct voltage.
 
Everything he said

Including the welcome.
 
As above. Also, I don't know how powerful the growing light will be, but as long as you set the camera shutter speed to a reasonable figure - and the Sony a7R iv can be set to 1/250th second - the growing light should have zero effect on the flash exposures.
 
Maybe it's just me but over the years I've noticed some flashes give uneven power on the first shot after being turned on, I'm guessing the capactor hasnt fully charged or whatever. I think I'd go with contimous lighting personally, but I've never done anything like your doing so theres others better qualified to advise. Just my 2p worth.
 
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