Which lights?

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Steve-T

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Hi

Completely green when it comes to studio work and after a little direction.
I am looking at setting up a small studio for mainly product work, this will mainly be for small items but may include multiple items and occasional larger items up to the size of a guitar or similar. At least this is what I think initially.

So, I am looking at a background holder that will go from around 1m high to 2m high and 1.5m wide to 3m wide so I can use above a table or from the ground.

I think I want studio flash's with modelling lights, maybe 2 to start and probably soft box modifiers with a couple of relectors or a mirror.

I have looked at several lights so far and dont want to buy anything too cheap and these are what I am currently considering as flash heads

The cheap option
http://www.photosel.co.uk/studio-lighting/flash-lighting/studio-flash-heads/studio-flash-head-he600c

The dearer option, these do a 1000 w/s option too
http://www.fotosense.co.uk/interfit-int438-stellar-x-flash-head-600w-s.html

I am only at the beginning of my research though I am quite impulsive and any direction will be of great help.

Cheers
 
With respect, you're putting the cart before the horse here...

You need to buy they right light shaping tools (plus other accessories) for the type of photography you're doing. Tell us what type(s) of products you plan to photograph as this will affect the answers.

And don't even think about very powerful flash heads for this type of use, typically they are used very close to the subject and because of this too much power will make it impossible for you to get a wide choice of lens aperture
 
As I say I am green and so completely open to advice.

It will initially be product stock photography, so it could be anything really, but could include, money, guitar, cutlery, plates and crockery, food, ironmongery, shoes and a plethora of possibilities.

Backgrounds may include white, black, reflective, etc.

With regards flash heads, I was under the impression they can be turned down to up to 1 sixteenth power?
 
Hi Steve-T, Great user name mate:thumbs:

If your subject is static, there is no good reason to use any kind of flash, be it speedlights or more powerful studio lighting, as shutter speed is irrelevent. So long as you can cut out all natural daylight and work within just one proper daylight balanced system you will be able to get extremely good results with continuous lights. Avoid tungsten, it gets far too hot, look into cool daylight balanced cfl continuous lighting or led These are the best I have found...
http://www.androv-medical.com/produ...aylight-bulb/a50a59bb0fb9211b3d2f14af1eb50643

They have a CRI of 95 which is pretty near spot on. Even flash varies a lot and is probably not going to give you and more colour accuracy than these if colour is criticle.

Garry, Hoppy and Phil will probably shoot me down here but, if you want a cheap learning curve with product lighting, a couple daylight flourescent lamps, some tracing paper and a lot of home made reflectors will teach you so much about lighting product properly. Then, when you get the hang of this, look into flash and appreciate it from a perspective where you can at least try to use it to improve on what you have learned the hard way.
Thats what I did and now use both, I would advise learning how to use 'light' rather that the kit that provides it.

Blow £100.00 farting around with DIY stuff, great fun and you learn so much.:)
 
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