Which studio lights to buy

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steve5563

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Stephen
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Hi everyone,

Only just registered but hoping to be around for a while as my wife is just about to embark on her portrait studio business.

I have been reading some of the threads and I apologise for possibly repeating a question that has been asked before, however please bear with me.

We have everything in place with the studio and the camera equipment and it has now time to buy the lighting equipment.

Which do you guys recommend.

I was looking at either the Bowens range or the Elinchrom D lite kit. I know everyone has their own favourite kit, however I would just like to here a few more views before I decide which to buy.

We have a budget of up to £1000 but obviously would like to spend less if possible.

We both work full time and the business will initially be for friends and family with the prospect of further work should the interest be there.

My main priority is quality and consistency of the light, as we do not plan to use the equipment outside the studio, so once the light are up they will stay up. We do not need the flexibility of portability.

I hope that you can find the time to reply and I look forward to reading your views

Thanks

Steve
 
Lencarta seem to be very well regarded (I'm just about to buy some lights from them). Garry Edwards (Lencarta support) is ofen arouind here and seems to know his stuff. Customer service (if you need it) seems to be excellent too.
 
Honest opinion, there's alot of Lencarta fans and support for Garry and Lencarta on the forum.

However, from my experience I don't recommend them, I didn't like the build quality, it was below my expectations. Not gonna get into a petty argument over it,with anybody.

From my point of view as an elinchrom user, previous owner of Lencarta, and assistant to a commercial photographer using Bowen, I can say without bias that you won't go wrong with Bowens and Elinchrom.

I prefer Elinchrom modifiers so that's where I invested.

Good luck in your endeavour and have fun with it :)
 
What Danny said.

Like him, I've used (either as photographer or assistant) pretty much every type of light on the market. Bowens and Elinchrom are fantastic, and not as expensive as some salespeople for other companies like to make out. Money on light is money well spent.
 
Bowens, Elinchrom, Lencarta - they all do a good job. Well made, with consistent and controllable power delivery. At the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Lencarta don't have the brand equity of the other two established makes, but they're cheaper, because they only sell direct, but that also means you can't try before you buy. If you cost up an outfit with a few nice folding softboxes, the cost adds up. But I don't think any of those three brands has a killer advantage.

What I would say though, is if you want to make a business out of it, you'll be turning down a lot of family jobs if you can't go to their homes.
 
The fact of the matter is, as long as you keep away from the unbranded/rebranded stuff it's all really down to personal preferences and specific requirements, Bowens, Elinchrom and Lencarta will all do the job well and all have their own strengths, as I pointed out here.

It's a bit like the constant 'Canon v Nikon' agonising - I've use Nikon full frame and Fuji cropped frame for years and doubt whether I will ever change to Canon but if the Canon camera that I wanted had been in stock when I was in the market for it I'm sure that I'd be happily using Canon now:)
 
HoppyUK said:
What I would say though, is if you want to make a business out of it, you'll be turning down a lot of family jobs if you can't go to their homes.
Click to expand...

First of all thanks guys for taking the time to reply, and sorry for posting this thread pretty much alongside the Bowens v Elinchrom thread - I will pay more attention in future........

Interesting comment re the home visit. That does surprise me. I thought most would want the advantage of a studio set up. But suppose if you have a family with young children the familiarity of their own home surroundings may help them to be more relaxed and natural.

May have to rethink that one...........;)

thanks

Steve
Steve
 
steve5563 said:
First of all thanks guys for taking the time to reply, and sorry for posting this thread pretty much alongside the Bowens v Elinchrom thread - I will pay more attention in future........

Interesting comment re the home visit. That does surprise me. I thought most would want the advantage of a studio set up. But suppose if you have a family with young children the familiarity of their own home surroundings may help them to be more relaxed and natural.

May have to rethink that one...........;)

thanks

Steve
Steve
Click to expand...
It surprises me too, I don't know whether it's right or not because I no longer do that kind of photography - but I'm not sure what the relevance is anyway, because all makes can be used in other people's houses because other people's houses have electricity too...
 
steve5563 said:
First of all thanks guys for taking the time to reply, and sorry for posting this thread pretty much alongside the Bowens v Elinchrom thread - I will pay more attention in future........

Interesting comment re the home visit. That does surprise me. I thought most would want the advantage of a studio set up. But suppose if you have a family with young children the familiarity of their own home surroundings may help them to be more relaxed and natural.

May have to rethink that one...........;)

thanks

Steve
Steve
Click to expand...

In an ideal world, both. I get a number of bookings that I know are made because I shoot at people's homes. I guess I will never find out about people that look at my site and don't book because I don't have a studio. In an ideal world, do both!!

Lencarta is very good kit, not used any others but it does the job very well.
 
Garry Edwards said:
It surprises me too, I don't know whether it's right or not because I no longer do that kind of photography - but I'm not sure what the relevance is anyway, because all makes can be used in other people's houses because other people's houses have electricity too...
Click to expand...

I find shooting in people's homes, for family type shoots, makes a huge difference. I've done it both ways, and also been on the recieving end as a young family subject.

With a studio visit, think of it from the client's point of view. The kids will have been forcibly scrubbed up and dressed up, then carted off to a strange place and ordered to behave which is guarateed to cause problems.

At least one child will be upset and another will need a sleep or feeding. Or a poo mummy. Orders to smile will result in tears and the mother will be at her wits end almost before you've started. Everyone will want it all to end soon, but you need to nail that classic shot and even at the best of times you only get one chance of a couple of minutes max with most youngsters. Then if you want a change of clothes (usually a good idea) they're at home. Along with their favourite toys.

It's not always like this, but with under fives, more often than not. You can work around it easily enough, with quick-fold softboxes for fast set-up/down and a Lastolite HiLight for that popular pure white look. They're very efficient with space, and that's very tight in most homes unless you rearrange all the furniture. Having a studio as well of course is the best of both worlds.
 
Ive used both bowens and Lencarta and love both. I have the Lencarta smartflashes and they work a treat. I've played with bowens gemini and had a fuse go on me on the first shoot, I've never blown a fuse on my lencartas...

I think you need to think about home visits, saying you don't do them may loose you money
 
Thanks again everyone.

Going to order the light in the morning. Will probably end up tossing a coin or something.

Will let you all know what I eventually settle on.

Steve
 
HoppyUK said:
What I would say though, is if you want to make a business out of it, you'll be turning down a lot of family jobs if you can't go to their homes.
Click to expand...

HoppyUK said:
I find shooting in people's homes, for family type shoots, makes a huge difference. I've done it both ways, and also been on the recieving end as a young family subject.

With a studio visit, think of it from the client's point of view. The kids will have been forcibly scrubbed up and dressed up, then carted off to a strange place and ordered to behave which is guarateed to cause problems.

(snip)
Click to expand...

Thats a conversation for talk business rather than here, but there is also a question of perception and marketing with going to peoples homes. Put simply if someone visits you they visit with an expectation to buy, in someones home your going to sell. Swings and roundabouts, and I do both so theres no easy answer, but its not as simple as made out.

but just a thought, from a customer with 5 and 3 year old children

coming to your studio would be less distracting for the children.
Click to expand...
 
Still reading all the reviews and not decided yet.

Been looking at the Lastolite Hilite Background and must say it looks pretty impressive, and its portable.

What do you all think of the Lastolite lumen8 kit which includes 3 lights and the background, all for around £1000.

Regards

Steve
 
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mmmmmmmmm........not sure TBH, the hilite is very useable and portable. In common with most photographers I love mine. I think you could do better for £1k then that kit though by shopping around. The lack of fans in the lights would worry me
 
I know it would be a cheek to ask for money and steal peoples electric but whats with this facination with not having a home visit option sure thats just a case of popping over with a couple of cheap flashguns if your taking your whole studio to the home how is that any different from a so called forced studio shoot with the kids I don't see how being in there own home with a studio set up is any different then being in a studio.
 
I have the lumen 8 kit 1 light blew up on me smoke lastolite swapped it for another one and it was out of guarantee the only problem with them if they get to hot they shut down and you are left waiting for them to cool down i also have the lencarta lights and never had a problem with them
 
If you are planning to be mobile then I'd definitely recommend you look at the lights before buying. I say this because, I was going to buy Bowens until I felt the weight of them and realised it wasn't going to be much fun lugging them to someone's house or other venue, setting them up and dismantling them and finally taking them home.

I ended up with Elinchrom which are very portable by comparison and who have soft boxes ( at a price! ) which can be carried around, set up and taken down in a ermm flash!
 
I've used a couple of different setups, and I love broncolor gear... A verso pack with some pulso heads would be awesome! Only problem is there stuff is rather expensive !
 
I got two D-lite 4it kits after a lot of deliberation last year. The kits all pack away very neatly and are very light. Along with a highlight and a piece of White vinyl it has all I need for the White bg shots. The "it" kits have built in receivers which is what swayed it for me. I have never been left wanting for power either with 400ws. I picked both kits up for £1000 from Stuart,( he's an advertiser on here), from digital depot. But that was last year so may well of changed by now.
 
Garry Edwards said:
It surprises me too, I don't know whether it's right or not because I no longer do that kind of photography - but I'm not sure what the relevance is anyway, because all makes can be used in other people's houses because other people's houses have electricity too...
Click to expand...

Yes.....but it's more a case of logistics. Most houses with enough kids in tend not to have spare plug sockets for you to run your own lights. It would be terrible if you unplugged granddad's heart/lung machine. Or even worse the Sky+ box. Also....I'm always wary of plugging into the same circuit as computers in case of spikes.

If I visit a house I always have battery kit just in case.

steve5563 said:
Been looking at the Lastolite Hilite Background and must say it looks pretty impressive, and its portable.
Click to expand...

I'm now confused if you want a studio setup or mobile. Hilite is quite cool for mobile though has its limitations. In a studio it's a very expensive alternative to a can of white emulsion.

I've never heard from anybody thrilled with Lumen8s. It may be that they don't sell enough or that their users are elsewhere.

Mr. Fish said:
I've used a couple of different setups, and I love broncolor gear... A verso pack with some pulso heads would be awesome! Only problem is there stuff is rather expensive !
Click to expand...

Are we on mobile kit again? Verso pack weighs like a stone. Plus their support in the UK has been "patchy"....

blinkerz said:
D-lites 4 are half the weight of bowens gemini 400.. and about the same dimensions..
Click to expand...

Yeah that's why I initially went for Elys. If you're travelling then it's a lot more fun with Elys than Bowens.
 
I've got the Lastolite Lumen8 400w heads and have to say I think they're great. I run two of them on full power most of the time lighting my cove (5m x 7m x 4m high) and hammer them in shoots! Never had a problem with overheating. Would love to do a side by side comparison with some other brands but too tight to buy any more!
We use Bowens as well, can we tell the difference? :shrug:
 
The big winner for me witgh the Elinchrom kit is that you can change power from camera position with the skyport triggers a real time saver and if you use a boom a lot less bother than having to footer around lifting and lowering the boom!

Not sure of any of the others do that yet?

Butr as said above they all do pretty much the same thing. If budget is very tight I'd look at the Lencarta.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Are we on mobile kit again? Verso pack weighs like a stone. Plus their support in the UK has been "patchy".....
Click to expand...

Verso pack can be used with or without a battery..but yea when using it as a mobile kit with a battery it does weigh a lot..

They do also make a mobil kit which they've just updated not too long ago, they've changed what batteries they use and are very light now..good gear, just not as powerful as a verso..

Who had you dealt with? I use peartree for anything bron and can't fault them one bit, never had a problem!
 
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