Studio Lighting

[W00DY]

Hi All,

Well after Gary's portrait workshop the other weekend I have been thinking about studio lighting but am not really sure what to buy.

Here is a link to a setup on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/COMPLETE-STUDIO-PACKAGE-2-x-400W-Many-Accessories_W0QQitemZ180131076848QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30088QQcmdZViewItem

It is $1000... I know I asked this at the workshop as well but is there any benefit to a setup like the above for $1k over a $400 - $800 setup off ebay?

The cheaper ones are less watage, does this just mean you can't light up a bigger room or is there other benefits?

Can anyone recommend an ebay seller or retail package for studio equipment under $1k?

Appreciate any help on the subject.

Cheers.

[Yi-P]

It is $1000... I know I asked this at the workshop as well but is there any benefit to a setup like the above for $1k over a $400 - $800 setup off ebay?

The cheaper ones are less watage, does this just mean you can't light up a bigger room or is there other benefits?

Hihgher output allows you to get things done better on the larger scales. Like able to use them in larger rooms (further distance away), place a much larger difuser or softbox. And may get you on a better creative way in controlling lights. But I don't see much disadvantage of the smaller output options if you are not using these for commercial or professional uses.

Can anyone recommend an ebay seller or retail package for studio equipment under $1k?

Appreciate any help on the subject.

Cheers.

I got the same setup as Gary and still exploring to get the full potential out of these $300~400 setup. There is plenty more for me to learn before going a step further in the lights for higher output and costs.

[Reschsmooth]

This is the set-up that I bought off ebay earlier this year.

The main differences between it and the set you are looking at are:

1. Your seet has 400w lights compared to 110w for mine. I have used mine for single person portraits and have not had problems with lack of light. I haven't gone to its limit, however.
2. Yours comes with soft boxes, barn-doors, snoots, etc whereas mine only has the 4 brollies (two white and two silver).
3. Yours has a 12 month warranty, not sure about the oz-plaza one.

My conclusion would be:

1. Is the difference in wattage significant to you?
2. If not, can you buy the accessories for less than the difference in price between the two sets? I would hazard a guess "yes".

When I was looking at mine, Gary made a comment that, for the price, you get two light stands and four brollies which isn't bad, and you get the two lights for free!

Hope that helps.

[jamesw]

you've made me itch even harder for the lighstands i've ordered from b&h.... grrr!!!!!!!!

[gstark]

When I was looking at mine, Gary made a comment that, for the price, you get two light stands and four brollies which isn't bad, and you get the two lights for free!

Exactly.

[Poon]

Where is it made?
We can find one much cheaper in made in China.
Regards
Poon

[gstark]

Poon,

The units we're getting through eBay are made in China ... by the same people (it seems) who make the trigger head for the tripods.

There are people in melbourne who combine the lights and stands as a kit - two stands, four brollies, two lights ... Au$300.

If you can do even better ... we can talk about this later today; I'm at work at the moment ...

[Poon]

Gary,
Every one can make a small studio by these kind of hand carry equipment.
I did some jobs about this kind of thing recently and quite interesting.
Cheers
Poon

[gstark]

Exactly.

That's what we used at the most recent portaiture workshop.

The other item that you might want to think about between now and later this evening ... some form of carry bags for the lights and stands. Especially the stands.

[W00DY]

Poon,

The units we're getting through eBay are made in China ... by the same people (it seems) who make the trigger head for the tripods.

There are people in melbourne who combine the lights and stands as a kit - two stands, four brollies, two lights ... Au$300.

If you can do even better ... we can talk about this later today; I'm at work at the moment ...

Gary,

Do you remember the ebay seller you bought the lights from? Having a look earlier there did not seem to be too many cheaper (ie: $300) kits on there, most started at $400+ (not a big difference I know, but curious to know if they have put their prices up or not.)

Cheers.

[W00DY]

This is the set-up that I bought off ebay earlier this year.

Is this the seller people are using?

Thanks for the link, good place to start. I think I might want more than 110w though, probably don't need 400 maybe in the 200 - 300 range?

[Vodka]

FWIW, Teds Pitt St is selling a kit similar to these, "Brilliant" branded. $549 for 3 x 160ws lights, 3 umbrellas, 3 stands, 1 hot-shoe trigger (the kit uses IR), and 1 carry bag.

Ben

[JED]

The studio lights fever must be catching.

Over the weekend as part of rejuvenating my photographic interests I decided to get a small kit to play with.

This is what I decided on.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... &rd=1&rd=1

I have no experience using strobes so have no idea what I'm in for so I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Cheers, John

[gstark]

This is the set-up that I bought off ebay earlier this year.

Is this the seller people are using?

That's who I used, and what I bought. They ship from Melbourne; took three days to hit Bondi.

[big pix]

I have paid more than that for brolly's and stands in years gone by.......

[!~DeViNe~DaRkNeSs~!]

This is the set-up that I bought off eBay earlier this year.

Exactly what i have...great setup especially for one/two subjects....
i tried a shoot of a whole family on location at there house...not enough grunt unfortunately

[gstark]

I have paid more than that for brolly's and stands in years gone by.......

That's (again) exactly my point.

Bernie, I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised at the apparent quality of these stands and brollies. I certainly was, and they make the Vanbar house brand stands look lightweight and cheap, believe it or not.

I've just been looking at the manufacturer's website ....

I even see toys like enlargers, print trays and tongs, darkroom timers ... enlargers ...

And then there's background stands and backgrounds, still life tables ...

[Reschsmooth]

And then there's background stands and backgrounds, still life tables ...

I also bought the background stand from the same ebayer, and they also seem really stable. The carry bag is well constructed and convenient. Shame it didn't come with velvet backgrounds.

[dawesy]

For those with the stands from melbourne, a couple of quick questions:

How mobile are the stands? It seems they are robust but if you had to grab one or two and take them with you, would you be inclined to leave them behind?

Can the light be removed and replaced with a std hot shoe flash or would you need a different umbrella holder?

I'm thinking of a more mobile setup than the idea of a stationary studio, so thoughts appreciated. Though this is a very inexpensive way to get up and running.

Thanks!

[Reschsmooth]

I presume you are referring to the light stands as opposed to the background stands as per my last post?

I haven't measured how short they fold up to (light stands), but I think they are similar to the background stands, and they fold up to between 1 - 1.5m.

I think you would need to purchase a separate hotshoe/brolly adaptor as I think the included adaptor is for the lights that come with the package.

Hope that helps.