Which way to go with lighting kit?

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kartracer

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I'm a Nikon (D700 & D90) user, and my only lighting kit at the moment is an SB600, and a small reflector. I'd like to get started with a useful lighting kit, mainly for portrait use, in a 'home studio' (**' W12' D15') where most equipment would need to be tidied away, from time-to-time, after use. Other potential applications are 'portable studio' (for use on client site), at a dance studio, possibly some corporate locations, and maybe (indoor) sporting events. I don't have much in the way of budget - maybe around 400. I might be able to stretch the budget a little by selling some lesser-used Nikon kit. Happy to buy used.

I was thinking the main options are another Nikon flash unit, then all the bits (stands, umbrellas, softboxes, backdrops, etc.) though it seems Lencarta kit (with 2 or possibly 3 heads) might offer more flexibility, and better value?

I'd be working on building my portfolio, but have no assistant, so ease of setup/use/control (e.g. flash output power) would be important. Thinking ahead a little, I'd like to try some multiple exposure techniques, and maybe some product photography. For the former, the compactness of Nikon flash heads might be better? But flash sync speeds are also a consideration.

I can shoot tethered (Mac) so if there is any way to make control of the lighting setup easier by use of a computer, that would be great.

A lot to ask - what do you think?
 
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From a portability and flash duration viewpoint, hotshoe flashes are always going to be better than studio flash.

But they cost a lot more money, have limited power, no modelling lamp and offer limited control of the light, so studio flash will give you all the things that hotshoe flashes don't...

Also, hotshoe flashes are pretty useless IMO for product photography, where very critical, precise placement and control of the light are vital.

In practical terms, flash synch speeds are the same.

£400 will get you started with Lencarta, but you'll find yourself needing to spend a bit more if you want 3 heads.
 
I haven't bought or used a battery/camera flash unit for over thirty years so don't know anything about those but as to your other questions about settings/lighting control from the computer, then yes it can be done but at a cost. The more upmarket Elinchrom units have this level of functionallity, next step-down would be control at the camera, via a combine hot-shoe trigger/controller again Elinchrom or Multiblitz. There was also an eBay seller that had low cost lights that had full remote control, but without the triggering function and on it goes.

Paul
 
Edit: crossed post with Garry :D

If you have access to mains power, studio heads always win. Fast recycling, modelling light, more power. Cheaper too.

Only possible drawback for your application might be flash duration to freeze movement - studio heads are slow. The effective action-stopping flash duration is roughly three times longer than the quoted t.5 times. You could work in your hot-shoe gun for that though.
 
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Due to cost I'm leaning towards studio heads... I've not heard many on TP mention Lastolite, but does anyone heave experience with the Lumen8 series? They do appear to have physically large head units, and the tubes are not user replaceable. As for their lack of fan cooling, are fan units on other heads quiet?
 
Generally, the heads without fans are the cheaply made rebranded flash models, and no fan means a dim modelling lamp and/or a propensity to overheat.

Fans are very quiet and with some flash heads you can barely hear them at all.
 
kartracer said:
Due to cost I'm leaning towards studio heads... I've not heard many on TP mention Lastolite, but does anyone heave experience with the Lumen8 series? They do appear to have physically large head units, and the tubes are not user replaceable. As for their lack of fan cooling, are fan units on other heads quiet?
Click to expand...

Even if you are thinking about those that statement alone has shot yourself in the foot for some not so cheap repairs if your flash tube does go.

Lastolite make good speedlite softboxes is all I know, Lencarta however make some damn good flash heads, & unless your working in a silent studio then the fans aren't going to bother you in the slightest :), it'd be like your Macbook fan.
 
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