Ligh tent advice please

[Charlie Chalk]

Hi

Long time since I've posted, but I wonder if someone here can offer a bit of advice on the following product:

Light tent and lights on eBay (UK)

I have a website to complete for a guy that sells reproduction taps, shower heads, window closers, door furniture etc (basically a lot of small-ish brass coloured items).

I have suggested re-taking the product shots as the current set are ropey to say the least. I can take them using my current gear (D70 + lens, no dedicated flash) but to get a better class of photo I was considering the above items.

I have another site lined up that also needs new product photography, so between the two I can cover the cost of the tent/lights and make a reasonable profit as well, and then its paid for and profit all the way for any other product shots I need to take!

Anyway, back to the reason for the post, is this tent/lights set going to be a good investment and produce the pictures they claim it can? I would love to buy a SB800 (or two) but they are a fair bit more + there is the (steep) learning curve for someone unused to a dedicated flash. Along with that I'd need the backdrops, stands etc and I don't think I can justify that sort of expense. I'm no pro-photographer, but I do like to make the most of any chance to make a few extra £££.

Right that’s enough from me, any one care to offer me the benefit of their wisdom?

Thanks very much!!

CC

[gstark]

Charlie,

That's same light tent that I have and use, and it's very helpful for shoots of small to mid-sized items.

I generally use a pair of strobes outside this, but using fixed lighting such as this should present no issues at all.

You may want to do a search on ebay for light tents; you may find a better price for just the tents, and ytou could add a couple of halogen worklamps from your local hardware store, which should work just as well but might be, perhaps a tad cheaper for you.

IAC, this setup should do the job for you.

[Charlie Chalk]

Superb, thanks Gary.

So halogen lights would be ok? The write ups on Ebay for these tents keep suggesting daylight bulbs (5700 - 6400k) are the things to use.

Are 500w Halogens within this range? do I need to do a little PP to get the finished result 'lifelike'? or are the Ebay sellers trying to make a bit more out of me by telling me something that may not be 100% true?

Thanks again for you advice - it's much appreciated

CC

Oh, and are 'strobes' expensive, take some learing/understanding? Is that something I would do well to investigate or would halogens realy do the job?

[cameraguy21773]

I agree Gary. I bought some cheap floods and mounted them on old lightweight tripods from a yard sale. I then went to a plumbing supply place and got several long scrap pieces of 1/2-inch PVC and some corner connectors (3 openings). I cut the PVC into 10 each of 6, 12, and 18-inch lengths so now, I can make an enclosure any size I want. I tape two layers of white trash bag plastic around the box, whatever size it is. I used background paper in black, grey, and white to make backgrounds and I'll make others as I need them. Total price, including a PVC cutter, was less than $150US.

[Charlie Chalk]

One more question (honest!) the first client I am doing product photography for also sells other items too big to fit in the light tent (reclaimed furniture, baths, radiators etc etc). Would the two lights in the kit on Ebay be able to light these items in a reasonably good way to get better than average shots?

If these lights could be used for stuff outside the light tent would I need any other items (reflectors, umbrellas etc)?

As I said, I can't see this ever getting more than a side line to the website business (or maybe....??) so if I can invest £160 but get the maximum amount of use out of it I'd be happy.

I've just been looking round some suppliers over here in the uk (not on Ebay) and the same lights are going for £179 without the tent, so I guess they are reasonably priced.

Thanks again

CC

[leek]

Welcome back Charlie - I was only wondering this morning what had happened to you...

As another option for you, I recently became the proud owner of the Lastolite ePhotomaker

It is a light tent with a diffuser on one side and a reflector on the other. It comes with gels that turn a normal incandescent light into daylight and also comes with a grey card and additional reflector...

It was a present, so I don't know the exact price, but I think it might be a cheaper solution than the one on eBay... I think my brother bought it from Amazon...

Keep coming back Charlie and post some photos... I used to enjoy your submissions...

[sirhc55]

CC - the lights that are supplied with the tent are ideal being that they are fluoro’s - they do not develope heat as do the halogen’s. The great thing about fluoro’s is that you can place them right up to the tent without the fear of a fire

[gstark]

Are 500w Halogens within this range?

Does it matter? Set your white balance to suit and you're in business.

do I need to do a little PP to get the finished result 'lifelike'? or are the Ebay sellers trying to make a bit more out of me by telling me something that may not be 100% true?[/quoe]

Is "lifelike" what you're after?

Or just a good image?


We pp to remove/washout the background (shooting to attain that in the first instance) and then we can, if we wish, swap in a different coloured background.

Or you can use some foam core board, or felt, or whatever, as a background if you want a different background.

Oh, and are 'strobes' expensive, take some learing/understanding? Is that something I would do well to investigate or would halogens realy do the job?

Yes and no, and yes.

You could get a couple of cheap auto units, using your on-camera unit (powered right down) as a trigger. You'll need to turn off the preflash too.

[Charlie Chalk]

Hi Leek, it's nice to be missed !

I've only been taking family snaps recently, what with the job change, doing the house up and general life getting in the way I don't seem to have time to go out and take some 'me' photos.

Not sure if the pics on the Flickr link below are ones I've posted here or not.

Thanks Chris, I must admit the idea of causing a fire in a building full of very dry reclaimed wood doesn't apeal very much!

I'll mull it over some more then maybe make my mind up in the next few days.

Cheers guys

CC

[gstark]

Chris's comments regarding the heat of the halogens should be noted, as this can have an effect. Mind you, in England I'd probably see that as a fringe benefit at this time of year.


Also, note Mike's observations about a DIY tent.

Whether the lights will work as well for larger items depends upon their power and how the beam is directed. If they're lower power, more light sources might be required, or else a really good tripod and longer exposure times.

Reflectors may or may not help, it depends (again) on the light source.

Oh yes ... try to nudge your exposure settings into your lens's sweet spot, btw.

[Charlie Chalk]

I'm really out of practice with this forum posting lark!

Your spot on about the weather - its bloody freezing here!

Strobes are, as you can probably guess, a no go then - maybe one day when this takes over like I can image it would if I let it.

DIY is an option, but as this will be carried out on the clients premises I would like to look like I know what I'm doing even if that may not be the case, my DIY skills are average at best.

The lights in that particular kit have 25w Fluro's in them when they are shipped, but can take up to 100w. Would that be a better wattage for use without a tent?

By life like I meant it would give the viewer a good image to make their decision to buy the goods easier, judging by the photo's he has at the moment I could probably do that with my K700i phone!! So I guess that comes under 'Just a good image' then.

I think the tent first + some cheep halogens would be the sensible option, but the idea of having something a bit more flexible (daylight, no heat, can take reflectors etc) so I can experiment and find another way of hemoraging cash is almost too much to resist!

And then there are the lenses.........

Oooh hold on, Blazing Saddles has just started on BBC2, Beans round the fire anyone!

CC

[Alpha_7]

(Watch out for Mongo!) Love that movie!