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Studio Lighting - Interfit / Paterson
I actually tried doing a search on lighting , knowing I've read forums here with that as the subject matter (Alien Bees, etc.)...but no luck. Hmmph... Anywho, about the only INDOOR experience I have with lighting is a small setup of Interfit / Paterson lights at a class back in eastern Pennsylvania. Is I-P considered OK...mediocre...or just outright cheap-o? I see larger names like Bowens, but was advised for a starting gig that's overkill. I don't plan on making a living at studio shooting - at least for now - but I'd really like to get some indoor time, and would prefer my own lights so I don't have to borrow / rent / etc. One set in question was the following from B&H: B&H Photo - 600wps Paterson / Interfit bundle One trusted advisor, a professional wedding & portrait photographer, told me that even 600wps was probably too much for a beginner (unless I'm shooting in a large open area). He also suggested using a manufactuer known as Photogenics for lights, which he personally uses. Lastly, what remote system do y'all recommend? The same advisor mentioned that Pocket Wizards do the job for him. I haven't ANY experience using a radio slave setup, but I like the concept. I'm still sort of a newb at this indoor stuff, so any help is greatly appreciated. I've been shooting 95% outdoors for the past 11 years. What indoor work I've really done, my 580EX flash & accessories were capable of handling. Thanks, Eric Mar 06 08 04:22 pm Link Fotaugrafee wrote: Buy something else for few hundreds more! Mar 06 08 04:33 pm Link 600 w/s too much for a beginner? Umm, I'd have to disagree. I recommend the Travelites by Calumet. Well built and decently priced. Mar 06 08 04:43 pm Link Fotaugrafee wrote: Check the Lighting, Flash, Ring, & Battery Strobe Reference thread; it has links to many other lighting threads. Nothing specific to the Interfit/Patterson lines, though. Fotaugrafee wrote: The same thread listed above also references various remote triggers. I'm a PocketWizard fan, myself, for reliability reasons, but others seem to be popular at the lower-end of the price scale. Fotaugrafee wrote: And there's Lighting Basics and Lighting Techniques sections in it as well... Mar 06 08 06:26 pm Link I work in a camera shop. We took on the interfit strobe line a while ago and I make no joke about saying they are the worst lights I've ever had to deal with. We had to send almost a third of them back due to defects of one nature or another. Bad slaves, missing flash tubes, broken clamps on the included (crappy) light stands... STAY AWAY! I own and have used White Lightnings extensively (mostly for lighting sports arenas) for many years and have been most pleased with them. The Alien Bees deliver the same performance without the same armor skin as the WLs. The company is fantastic to deal with. I would recommend giving the Alien Bees a close look. Mar 06 08 06:31 pm Link I recommend Hensel strobe lighting. Mar 06 08 06:32 pm Link I have calumet travelites. Calumet Travelite 2250 Kit, Three-Head Studio. http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CE1454/specifications Mar 06 08 07:03 pm Link Those units have a product rating of 3 out of 5. The Paterson units I am familiar with are just too slow to recycle. 3 to 5 seconds. Many good brands -- and some very bad ones. My research, done for a studio lighting class I was teaching, showed that over all Alien bees were the best buy. There is a recent thread showing the cost of basic stuff and AB's were less than some others by 50% Mar 06 08 07:10 pm Link Tonny Ma Photography wrote: OK, that's two folks that recommend this Calumet line of products. I thank you...thus far. Mar 06 08 07:14 pm Link I have interfit 300 kit and love them all my pics studio type were done with them most of the time using only 1 light with a soft box on the head,,,,,,,,,,but as with anything else personel prefference is all that matters,,,,,,,,,, Mar 06 08 07:15 pm Link I have Excaliber by SP Systems and would not reccomend them as they don't stand up with a lot of use. I have been thinking about new lights and have talked to quote a few photographers and had experienced with White Lighting, Alien Bees and Photogenic and would reccomend any of them depending on how much money you want to spend. I have also heard good things about the Calument units. Mar 06 08 07:21 pm Link Lorin Edmonds wrote: Thanks, but I'm not necessarily worried about the best stuff I can walk away with for the lowest cost. I will pay good money for stuff if warranted, but I will also take your suggestions about AB's into consideration as well. Lorin Edmonds wrote: I assume you're speaking about the Calumet's? If they are only 3 out of 5, what is 4 or greater? Mar 06 08 08:08 pm Link I use both Interfit and Bowens monoblocks. The Interfits have their place, I haul them around, leave them in my trunk for days, and generally just abuse them...and guess what they keep going! Another reason I don't mind Interfit is that they use the Bowens S-Fitting...so all my softboxes, reflectors and etc fit. Hmmm, would I recommend them? Yes, but just remember you're not buying top of the line so you may find a few inconveniences and have to make a repair now and again. Mar 06 08 08:21 pm Link Anton2006 wrote: Are the Bowen's worth the extreme difference in cost? Most Bowens bundles I've seen range from $2000 up, compared to the paltry $500+ for the Interfits. I wouldn't mind finding something as a happy medium, if the Interfits themselves can be troublesome (according to at least one poster). Mar 06 08 08:29 pm Link Fotaugrafee wrote: Junk! Mar 06 08 08:40 pm Link I've been shooting for 3 years now with my Interfits. We shoot about twenty 2-3 hour studio portrait sessions per month. I have 2 600w/s, 2 300w/s and 2 150w/s. All have performed perfectly. Not had to change a modeling lamp or flash tube yet. I have to admit that I don't use their stands. I needed something a little more robust with casters. I use 3 sets of radio slaves from FotoDiox. Yes, I'm sure they're Chinese imports but they work great as well. I have an assortment of Pattersen soft boxes and other accessories as well. Mar 06 08 09:03 pm Link I have and love interfit lighting. Im using there 200 kit and have had no problems. I even knocked one over last time and it still ran fine. They are an overall excellent value...two strobes and stands with one softbox and one umbrella plus case for around 400 bucks. I have seen cheaper looking and working lights for more. The digital readout and built in ir receiver are great But remember the entry model kits are for portable "light duty" usage. If you need some heavy duty stuff i think Alien bees maybe the way to go. Mar 06 08 09:48 pm Link I also have the Interfit 300 kit and while I"ve only used them for a few shoots, they've worked great so far. Mar 07 08 12:39 am Link I recomend three broder lights with spring clips 150 watt 100watt and 50 watt then learn how to balance them cost total 30 bucks. Mar 07 08 12:49 am Link Campbells Photography wrote: I have four interfit 250 heads and stands. They are cheap. They are fantastic bang for the buck. Glad I bought them. I trigger mine with a cheap 16 channel wireless $20 on ebay. Also a great deal. I have no complaints about the stands that came with my strobes. Mar 07 08 09:51 am Link Fotaugrafee wrote: These are the same lights I use Mar 07 08 01:55 pm Link the lights are pretty good I used the stellar 300 WS -2 units- and the Interfit EXD200, the included softbox and the stands are very bad, instead I would recommend getting a set of heavy duty air cushioned stands (Impact and Savage are much better than their price indicate) and a good softbox instead of those that Interfit includes. 600 WS may sound like a lot but as a rule of thumb is always better to have more WS, you can't crank up a 300 WS unit to 600 WS, but you can crank down a 600 WS unit to 300 WS or less  .Mar 07 08 04:04 pm Link |
