Studio Flash Suggestions

[ian in lancs]

I've been Googling for a studio flash kit; 3 heads, soft box or two, preferably a long soft box and i'm stuck for choice. I already have 4 stands, 2 white translucent brollies and one silver one. I guess I can find up to £500. I have a room in the house 3m x 4.25m and Black/white colorama paper and want to shoot portraits / fashion. Up to now I've used 2 SB600's but I want to be more creative.

I seem to be drawn to Interfit and Bowens; what's the PH advice? And where should I get it from?

[Simpo Two]

I'd be surprised if you can get three decent heads and three softboxes for £500, at least new. Mind you, I've never needed more that two heads at once, but it is very helpful if you have good control over power output. I can go down to 12W which means you can shoot very shallow DOF, and up to 400W - more than bright enough for a home studio IMHO.

My first kit was s/h Elinchrom, and I got 2 x 400W heads, 1 x 250W head and a hard case all for £500 from eBay. I've done a bit of selling and buying since then but have stayed with Elinchrom.

You can buy decent lighting from places like Warehouse Express, or cheap lighting from eBay/China. Personally I'd rather pay more and have decent stuff (Elinchrom is Swiss).

[andy-xr]

You're going to end up in NoBrandLand - http://www.smick.co.uk/sonline/studio-flash-heads/...

I have 2x150W heads and to be honest my flashguns are more powerful so I've been looking as well. Pretty much settled on a 3x600W Interfit kit http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-int44...

[Simpo Two]

andy-xr said:

You're going to end up in NoBrandLand - http://www.smick.co.uk/sonline/studio-flash-heads/...

'Accrington Stanley' - if you're old enough to remember the milk advert!

[andy-xr]

"A were right about that saddle!"

[Yellabelly]

andy-xr said:

You're going to end up in NoBrandLand - http://www.smick.co.uk/sonline/studio-flash-heads/...

I have 2x150W heads and to be honest my flashguns are more powerful so I've been looking as well. Pretty much settled on a 3x600W Interfit kit http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-int44...

Andy, what light set-up did you use for the photo in the portraits thread (were you had clipped her elbow) as it looks superbly lit and a she is a very attractive model

YB

[ian in lancs]

Thanks! If my Flashes are a GN of 30 (100 asa) and at 200 asa I use c f8 (I'm happy with that DoF)what power or Gn should I be looking for to get full length even illumination of the model? I can't seem to get even illumination over the whole length with the SB600's and the 36" brollies; either reflected or through them about 1.5m from the model. I also get light spill from the brollies. That's why I want a rectangular soft box and I assume more powerful flash.

Edited by ian in lancs on Friday 11th September 18:01

[andy-xr]

Yellabelly said:

andy-xr said:

You're going to end up in NoBrandLand - http://www.smick.co.uk/sonline/studio-flash-heads/...

I have 2x150W heads and to be honest my flashguns are more powerful so I've been looking as well. Pretty much settled on a 3x600W Interfit kit http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-interfit-int44...

Andy, what light set-up did you use for the photo in the portraits thread (were you had clipped her elbow) as it looks superbly lit and a she is a very attractive model

YB

This 'un?



Just my Interfits and a silver reflector. Beauty dish on one, flagged spillkill on t'other and a reflector for a bit of fill. It's more illumination than lighting to be fair

Great model, shooting with her again soon. And she's just around the corner from you

Edited by andy-xr on Friday 11th September 19:18

[Simpo Two]

ian in lancs said:

Thanks! If my Flashes are a GN of 30 (100 asa) and at 200 asa I use c f8 (I'm happy with that DoF)what power or Gn should I be looking for to get full length even illumination of the model? I can't seem to get even illumination over the whole length with the SB600's and the 36" brollies; either reflected or through them about 1.5m from the model. I also get light spill from the brollies. That's why I want a rectangular soft box and I assume more powerful flash.

I don't know how the Guide Number of flashguns equates to the wattage of flash heads, but when you compare what 4xAA batteries can do compared to mains power and a stonking great capacitor that could kill you, it's no contest. Good question though!

I ditched umbrellas very quickly in favour of softboxes. Even so, for the most even lighting you should get a good one with an internal baffle. As ever, the more you spend on it, the better it will be.

[frankowvette]

I purchased a set of Bessel 200W lamps for my studio and have been well chuffed with them.

I have a small studio (6m x 4m) that I use for portraiture and product photography and with a few accessories (radio remote trigger being my best purchase ever!) I have not found a situation I cannot deal with.

I went with a base pack http://www.bessel.co.uk/Studio%20Kits/build-your-o... and added another lamp and softboxes and some other bits and bobs and it all came in at under £500.

I have been a hardened Elinchrom fan in the past but I could simply not justify the expense for this project and I'm pleased to say I made the right decision.

Good luck with whatever direction you choose.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

A good deal I got on some used kit when I was starting up means that I've been tied to Elinchrom for a long time. It's generally very good - my 20 year old packs just keep working. If something does go wrong though, I think they can only be serviced by The Flash Center in London.

IIRC Elinchrom brollies have a different size shaft to most, so your best bet would be to find a used kit with everything included. It might cost a bit more than £500, but I suspect you won't regret it.

[Olivero]

Go with Bowens, you don't need the very latest with the built in radio and should be able to pick up a pair of 500w with everything you need for about £500 second hand.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bowens-Esprit-Gemini-Three-H...

[Simpo Two]

Hell, shall we have a brand poll?

[andy-xr]

That Bowens kit is a £1500 MSRP set, be lucky at £500.

Simpo, I know you like the Elinchroms but Skyports aside dont you find them a bit restrictive? I'm still dithering about some heads as well, what I like about Interfits is they have S fitments, they're going to be fairly reliable, user interchangeable and dont cost that much.

If I had Bowens money I'm not sure I'd buy them for the amount of times I'd use them. I might be safer just buying another set of lights if they go tits.

Sorry Ian for the OT, it might be relevent to you n'all though

(I bought an SB900 today as well, and it's alright)

Edited by andy-xr on Saturday 12th September 20:00

[Olivero]

andy-xr said:

That Bowens kit is a £1500 MSRP set, be lucky at £500.

If I had Bowens money I'm not sure I'd buy them for the amount of times I'd use them. I might be safer just buying another set of lights if they go tits.

Sorry Ian for the OT, it might be relevent to you n'all though

(I bought an SB900 today as well, and it's alright)

Edited by andy-xr on Saturday 12th September 20:00

Well I have 4 sets (8 lights) and never paid more than £500 for a full kit. Never had any problems, fast recycle and nice nice and sturdy. Calumet sometimes have them in their Ebay store almost new.

Tried an SB900 the other night shooting a party and was very impressed. Good if you want to be mobile but you won't get me to give up my strobes.

[Simpo Two]

andy-xr said:

Simpo, I know you like the Elinchroms but Skyports aside dont you find them a bit restrictive? I'm still dithering about some heads as well, what I like about Interfits is they have S fitments, they're going to be fairly reliable, user interchangeable and dont cost that much.

I simply use Elinchrom because it was recommended to me by a source I trust, and I happened to win the kit on eBay

It's a bit like Canon vs Nikon - once you place your marker in the sand you tend to stick with it for convenience if nothing else.

What's restrictive about it? The lights are fine, and if I'd spent a bit more on heads I could control the power from the Skyport (but as I'm no more than 10 feet away it's no big deal to visit the monoblocs personally!) Studio work is a small proportion of what I do - see blog for latest work - and what I have works for me. Within limits, it's nice to have 'decent' stuff and not 'Happy Shopper'.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 12th September 21:18

[andy-xr]

Sorry, I should have replaced dont for do

From my understanding there's a lot of proprietary stuff with Elinchrom fitments? I suppose if you're OK with the diffusers and there's choices on where to source it's not such a problem, but I get the impression that it's Elinchrom own or nothing? Thinking to mine, I have a Bessel beauty dish, a no-name snoot and some Bowens reflectors, all on Interfits.

I guess there's pros and cons both sides, I'm coming at it from a different angle to you and might only use mine twice a month

[Simpo Two]

I see what you mean - like buying a Yashica SLR in 1980 and then realising nothing else fits it - well no, from my limited experience you can either buy pukka Elinchrom or something generic which typically comes in either Elinchrom or Bowens fit.

My general rule of thumb is that if the kit is used to make money, I'll buy the proper stuff; if it's only for fun, I'll get the cheap one (GPS for example).

[ian in lancs]

Simpo Two said:

Hell, shall we have a brand poll?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=109&t=746211&mid=100433&nmt=Studio Flash Suggestions II

[stigmundfreud]

if you want good flash 300w's are more than you'll ever need in most small studios

http://www.karlu.com/300300300w-stellar-head-kit-p... is a bit over budget or the 150 system for 100 quid less.

Dont go cheap and get no brands, against all my advice a friend did this and it ended up costing her a st load as the bulbs keep blowing and now the only stockist has gone bust. Her S fit was so shonky that she fitted her softbox and it wouldnt ever come out. Scrimp now and cry later. Intrefit are fantastic kits, very well made, well supported (using common parts) and stocked widely

I'm dropping flash and moving back to continous though