Studio to be?

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wildsam90

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Sam
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Hello all,

Recently moved into my first house which is a two bed room,
As me and my girlfriend both can use the spare room for "spare cash"
i will need to use a background roller system.

Here's the spare room..

spareroom.jpg


Roller system

Vinyl

The window already has a back out blind so i can fully control the light, But also having the option if i want to use any natural light.

I also have a small walk in cupboard where all my props and gear can be stored.


My Questions..

Is there anything else i should think of?

Has any one used a ebay roller before? If not is there ones you can recommend?


All i can think of at the moment,
Think i'm mainly after reassurance
 
I think you may find your shooting distance to be a little restrictive, bearing in mind you want to get some distance between your model and the backdrop to avoid any shadows etc. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but you may need to be a little creative :)
 
Michael Sewell said:
I think you may find your shooting distance to be a little restrictive, bearing in mind you want to get some distance between your model and the backdrop to avoid any shadows etc. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but you may need to be a little creative :)
Click to expand...

I think your right Michael,
But as this is the only room I've got ill make do! Mainly concerned on the roller at this point tho

Maybe getting a wider lens will help to make it easyer if its a issue when its all up.
 
Wide angles will certainly cause their own issues, primarily distortion. You may be better prioritising the type of shooting you do. Headshots and portraiture will be fine, as will any form of product or still life, Children and pets too, for that matter. If you are needing to do any full length, I would suggest a location shoot.
 
As far as the roller systems go, they are all very similar, as they tend to be copies of copies of copies. Better if you can actually see before you buy, or speak to someone who has bought a set and used them to satisfaction. Then find out where they bought from and go there.
 
Hi Sam,

Just a thought - why bother with the background roller initially? I have an office/studio where the width of the end wall is only 2.10m before the door opening and I have the wall papered with a neutral pattern and painted white, which works well. My shooting distance is a little longer at 2.88m, but I find it OK with my 50mm or 24-105mm lenses

I can colour the background with a gell on one light if needed, or use it as white or grey by adjusting the lighting.

Less cost and you may decide not to bother with roller backgrounds until later on?

All the best with the project.
 
Given the size limitation Sam, I'd seriously consider putting the roll over the window which would give the the option to get you bum out through the doorway and maybe gain a metre or so extra shooting distance.

Bob
 
Michael Sewell said:
Wide angles will certainly cause their own issues, primarily distortion. You may be better prioritising the type of shooting you do. Headshots and portraiture will be fine, as will any form of product or still life, Children and pets too, for that matter. If you are needing to do any full length, I would suggest a location shoot.

As far as the roller systems go, they are all very similar, as they tend to be copies of copies of copies. Better if you can actually see before you buy, or speak to someone who has bought a set and used them to satisfaction. Then find out where they bought from and go there.

You might want to think about a popup background, so it can be easily stored when not in use etc.
Click to expand...

Hi again Michael

You've got a fair point about the wide angle lens, Any idea how wide/lens i can look at before it does starts to distort?

With the roller system i was hoping some one would appear saying they have one other wise i found a place an hour away if i must to view :bonk:

The idea of the roller system was so it was always there and easy to pull down, I like the idea of a pop up background but personally i'm not a fan of trying to wrap them back up :bonk:


alexam said:
Hi Sam,

Just a thought - why bother with the background roller initially? I have an office/studio where the width of the end wall is only 2.10m before the door opening and I have the wall papered with a neutral pattern and painted white, which works well. My shooting distance is a little longer at 2.88m, but I find it OK with my 50mm or 24-105mm lenses

I can colour the background with a gell on one light if needed, or use it as white or grey by adjusting the lighting.

Less cost and you may decide not to bother with roller backgrounds until later on?

All the best with the project.
Click to expand...

Hi Alex,
Any chance do you have a image of this set-up?
Ideally i would rather not paint or wall paper as my girlfriend will be using it also but musts are musts!

Canon Bob said:
Given the size limitation Sam, I'd seriously consider putting the roll over the window which would give the the option to get you bum out through the doorway and maybe gain a metre or so extra shooting distance.

Bob
Click to expand...

Hey Bob,

As the cupboard is so large i think i would rather use it rather than looking at our twisted stairs almost right next to the door.

Good point tho and ill keep it in mind when i need that extra foot or two :D
 
Last edited:
wildsam90 said:
The idea of the roller system was so it was always there and easy to pull down, I like the idea of a pop up background but personally i'm not a fan of trying to wrap them back up :bonk:
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. I once had a poopup backdrop at a clients place, and I went totally blank on how to fold the damned thing. I'd been using it for years without any problems until this one day. The clients thought it was hilarious.
After 15 minutes wrestling, I took it outside and away from watching eyes. Lo and behold, it folded in three seconds!

Damn

:bang:
 
Hi Sam,
I'll be pleased to send you a couple of shots of the studio set up if you PM me your e-mail address. I have just set up a manaquin with a 70cm beauty dish and umbrella set up, both with Lencarta EP 300's and taken a couple of shots in available light and you can see the wall that is the width of your wall. Painting the wall white just gives you the opportunity to vary the light and not need back drops at this time.

Malcolm
 
Last edited:
wildsam90 said:
With the roller system i was hoping some one would appear saying they have one other wise i found a place an hour away if i must to view :bonk:

The idea of the roller system was so it was always there and easy to pull down, I like the idea of a pop up background but personally i'm not a fan of trying to wrap them back up :bonk:
Click to expand...

I do use that roller system (though I think I paid about £35 for it) which is cheaper than the Manfrotto triple bracket on its own. I use mine bolted onto Superclamps mounted on Autopoles – in use they are OK, but the materials are quite poor for the Expan type rollers bit. This is to be expected as the RRP of the genuine roller unit is over £80 (so three of those + the brakets!). I used to have the genuine item(s) years ago and whilst these cheaper units are functional they are really are a pale imitation of the real thing! But for the money…

Paul
 
Michael Sewell said:
I know what you mean. I once had a poopup backdrop at a clients place, and I went totally blank on how to fold the damned thing. I'd been using it for years without any problems until this one day. The clients thought it was hilarious.
After 15 minutes wrestling, I took it outside and away from watching eyes. Lo and behold, it folded in three seconds!

Damn

:bang:
Click to expand...

Haha! Sounds just like something what would happen to me beside it would't fold up and i would ram it inside the car!

I recently was given a soft box for xmas and i've never been able to get it into its circular form!


alexam said:
Hi Sam,
I'll be pleased to send you a couple of shots of the studio set up if you PM me your e-mail address. I have just set up a manaquin with a 70cm beauty dish and umbrella set up, both with Lencarta EP 300's and taken a couple of shots in available light and you can see the wall that is the width of your wall. Painting the wall white just gives you the opportunity to vary the light and not need back drops at this time.

Malcolm
Click to expand...

Very kind of you Malcolm,
As for lighting i also have a beauty dish but its very small but at the moment i've got enough to light this small room ( i hope :D )

paul williams said:
I do use that roller system (though I think I paid about £35 for it) which is cheaper than the Manfrotto triple bracket on its own. I use mine bolted onto Superclamps mounted on Autopoles – in use they are OK, but the materials are quite poor for the Expan type rollers bit. This is to be expected as the RRP of the genuine roller unit is over £80 (so three of those + the brakets!). I used to have the genuine item(s) years ago and whilst these cheaper units are functional they are really are a pale imitation of the real thing! But for the money…

Paul
Click to expand...

Hi Paul,
Could you explain more about this quote "in use they are OK, but the materials are quite poor for the Expan type rollers bit."

Are you referring to the links I've put up or past issues? As reason i wanted the roller system is that its solid as its drilled into the wall and easy to pull out ect.

Thanks all again
Sam
 
Hi Sam, I have sent the photos to your e-mail.

Malcolm
 
wildsam90 said:
Hi Paul,
Could you explain more about this quote "in use they are OK, but the materials are quite poor for the Expan type rollers bit."

Are you referring to the links I've put up or past issues? As reason i wanted the roller system is that its solid as its drilled into the wall and easy to pull out ect.

Thanks all again
Sam
Click to expand...

I’ve no issue with the bracket that screws to the wall, but the ‘Expan’ unit(s) themselves. The plastic bits are poorly finished, having remnants of moulding sprue from the injection process, the chains are a stiff and frequently catch, the weights that hang on the chains catch and tend to ‘ride-up’ the chain, but most of these problems were resolved with a bit of a file out to remove poor edges. The friction brakes on them are hard to adjust on two of the three on mine – again due to poor (or worn) mouldings and as you pull the paper up/down it is evident that the rollers are slightly eccentric also, where the units slide into the brackets, they are a sloppy fit. All of this doesn't really matter a jot given the price – the original Manfrotto set-up would retail at about £270, so just keep your expectations real.

I bought the cheaper set-up as I don’t do this professionally and I wanted to use them with budget vinyl which was supplied with undersized (well non-standard anyway) cores that required the Expan units to be cut down in diameter Bessel were talking about using larger diameter cores, but the advertised ones are too small to be used with that (or any other Expan copy) so give Bessel a call to check the current core size.

I wasn't prepared to cut down the real thing and when they break (though I expect to get many years use out of them) I’ll replace them with genuine Manfrotto units - especially as I've re-cored the vinyl.

Paul
 
alexam said:
Hi Sam, I have sent the photos to your e-mail.

Malcolm
Click to expand...

Thanks!
I have to be honest the image does come out fine :thumbs: ,
I will have to speak to the gf but dont feel she will agree as she needs warm colours it.


Michael Sewell said:
Watch this video
Click to expand...

WOW! Thank you, Going to try this in a second looks so easy :lol:

paul williams said:
I’ve no issue with the bracket that screws to the wall, but the ‘Expan’ unit(s) themselves. The plastic bits are poorly finished, having remnants of moulding sprue from the injection process, the chains are a stiff and frequently catch, the weights that hang on the chains catch and tend to ‘ride-up’ the chain, but most of these problems were resolved with a bit of a file out to remove poor edges. The friction brakes on them are hard to adjust on two of the three on mine – again due to poor (or worn) mouldings and as you pull the paper up/down it is evident that the rollers are slightly eccentric also, where the units slide into the brackets, they are a sloppy fit. All of this doesn't really matter a jot given the price – the original Manfrotto set-up would retail at about £270, so just keep your expectations real.

I bought the cheaper set-up as I don’t do this professionally and I wanted to use them with budget vinyl which was supplied with undersized (well non-standard anyway) cores that required the Expan units to be cut down in diameter Bessel were talking about using larger diameter cores, but the advertised ones are too small to be used with that (or any other Expan copy) so give Bessel a call to check the current core size.

I wasn't prepared to cut down the real thing and when they break (though I expect to get many years use out of them) I’ll replace them with genuine Manfrotto units - especially as I've re-cored the vinyl.

Paul
Click to expand...

So mainly the finish and the lower end quality,
I think for now while i'm getting started it should do.

any chance have you got a photo of your roller system all layed out?
 
Here is a picture to show the issue with the Bessel cores

aIMG_0241.jpg


As can be seen the black conical 'bobbin' at the end is too large to fit inside the core, so requires turning down - like so;

aIMG_0242.jpg


the white expansion parts will just squeeze inside.

Paul
 
A further point - IMO as you probably won't be using the room for full length work, I wouldn't see the need for vinyl. Paper will provide a better overall result and is unlikely to be to easily damaged if used as a backdrop. You will have to cut it to width of course if you go for the standard 2.75mtr rolls, but that's probably easier than turning the Expan bobbins down to fit smaller cores!

Paul
 
Hi Paul,
Thank you for them images and after reading alittle more i've noticed you also need the metal pole your showing,

So guessing the background also comes on a roll, Does it just slide over the metal pole?

As for paper, I still feel full length background is something i would like as even taking a photo of my dog/kids can sit on the floor and i wont have to worry about the floor.
 
No, the vinyl comes stuck on to that alloy core which is why it's a problem with Expan type units. The brackets are fixed to the wall, the Expan units go (or not) into the cores & the whole assembly slot onto the brackets.

The pictures show the original Bessel core, which I've taken the vinyl off and used a Manfrotto alloy core.

Paul
 
Ahhh ok! Very sorry for that confusion!

This is how they state it on there "You must buy 2-inch inner diameter metal or pvc pipe for mounting backgrounds."

Which totally threw me off.

should be purchasing this next month if all goes to plan.

Thank you all for your tips and advise as normal :thumbs:
 
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