Watt power for DIY lights?

Mick

Mick

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Hi all. Have been reading up on DIY home light setup's, so I went out and got some stuff to make one. I have 4 x 500w lamps on a stand with while sheet over them so spread light and 1 x 150w lamp for the other side. I was really expecting that with so much light I'd be shooting real fast shutter speeds, even at F5 or so but I found that I was shooting around the 1/200th even with ISO200. My question is, what sort of wattage do studio light pump out? Do I need one of those silver reflectors around the lights to concentrate it more or are these shutter speeds normal?

Here's the pick of the bunch from the first days shots. I'm very happy with this one but I'd like to improve.

Caitlin-002.jpg


Cheers in advance.........Mick.
 
Most of the energy is converted to heat, not light (as you've found out). In real terms, your 2000 watts of tungsten light probably puts out about as much usable power as 20 Joules of studio flash, which is why people use flash.

You *can* increase the effective power by using efficient reflectors (just make sure you don't burn the house down) but generally, with this type of light you need to go the other way and diffuse the light to make it less harsh
 
Thanks for the response Garry. Lol, oh yea, they warm all right. No need to put the heater on when these suckers are on.

I did defuse the lights some but man, cant believe how much more light I would have liked. Could you recommend a cheap studio flash for me? I've just bought a 580EX II and I'm looking at getting something I can rig off camera.

Mick.
 
Mick,

It's always a balancing act, trying to get something that will do the job without going over the top. Personally I feel that the Lencarta 3 head kit is the best value for money at the moment.

There are cheaper options available, but with this one you'll have everything you need
 
I would say the best thing is to read up on everything first. I am currently looking at a studio setup and i did consider the Lencarta 3 Head Kit until i read the ebay advert and found it was Endorsed by Garry. Im not suggesting his advice isnt sound but i always feel that unbiased advice is always the best.
In saying that the Lencarta 3 Head Kit does seen to tick all the right boxes but im now considering buying 1 really good light. (Bowens) and building from that.
 
CraigF said:
I would say the best thing is to read up on everything first. I am currently looking at a studio setup and i did consider the Lencarta 3 Head Kit until i read the ebay advert and found it was Endorsed by Garry. Im not suggesting his advice isnt sound but i always feel that unbiased advice is always the best.
.
Click to expand...

I've always made it very clear that Lencarta are clients, having paid me to photograph their products and test them thoroughly.
However, I recommend (not endorse) their lights because I believe them to be the best of the rest - i.e. below Elinchrom and Bowens, above all the others. They only paid me for my photographic skills, not for my recommendation:lol:
 
Garry Edwards said:
I've always made it very clear that Lencarta are clients, having paid me to photograph their products and test them thoroughly.
However, I recommend (not endorse) their lights because I believe them to be the best of the rest - i.e. below Elinchrom and Bowens, above all the others. They only paid me for my photographic skills, not for my recommendation:lol:
Click to expand...


Not disputing that Garry. Its just that i tried to find them and buy outwith Ebay but i couldnt find any info on them, just didnt want to find out after i bought them that they were some "here today, gone tomorrow" chinese outfit.
Would you recommend any other Kits around the £400 mark?
Is that the Setup you use?
 
Craig,

I use Elinchrom myself, mainly. Large generator packs with enough power to light up a factory (because sometimes I need to) and enough too to use with large format film shoots.

If I did portraits or similar home studio work I'd be happy with the Lencarta. I have their 3 head kit and their ringflash in my studio, having used it for testing and to make their videos. There's an open invitation to anyone to see it and try it at my studio (by arrangement) while I've still got it - I'm sure they'll want it back at some point but it's here now.

As for other kits at around the £400 price range, I don't think there are any really except for Interfit. I feel that Interfit did everyone a big favour when they brought out the first cheap competition to Elinchrom/Bowens and forced them to price their own products more competitively, but I can't recommend them because of the safety/reliability problems that people keep reporting with them all the time. Good build quality, safety etc is one of the reasons I'm happy to recommend Lencarta.

I think you have a fair point about only selling on Ebay, but if you look them up you'll see that they've been there for about 9 years so they're definately not here today gone tomorrow, and they're British, not someone on the other side of the world.
 
Thank you Garry and Craig the advise is much appreciated guys. While I haven't looked around for lighting setup's yet the link you provided is just what i was hoping to find. Love the video too, I find that sort of thing way more helpful than reading up on the how to bits. I'm a visual person I guess. Ohh, I'm getting excited. Thanks Garry.

Mick.
 
for £400 you can get the d lite 2s i think
 
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