|
Forums >
Photography Talk >
Hot Lights Vs Flash Lights
Hello, I am embarking on buying studio lights. I have researched lighting issues online. If I am begining in photography with a 500 budeget. I can alway add on later but for now, how can i get good quality lighting for now. Which is a better deal and how long will hot lights live. Jul 04 09 07:35 pm Link strobes are overall better in many ways, fast duration, more power, even one alienbee and some modifiers will get you started well. It would help if you said what you are planning to shoot. Stephen Eastwood http://www.PhotographersPortfolio.com Jul 04 09 07:37 pm Link You'll probably be much happier with strobes. Budget hot lights aren't usually the way to go Jul 04 09 07:37 pm Link Check out these basic strobes from Adorama: http://www.adorama.com/FPBF160.html?sea … flashpoint They work well and can make a very functional basic setup. 3 of these monolights, 3 light stands, 2 umbrellas, one reflector and you have only spent around $360. Great work in your port. You are doing some fine photography. Jul 04 09 07:56 pm Link I plan to start shooting fashion, editorial, and beauty shots. Pictures focusing on fashion,hair, and makeup. Jul 04 09 07:57 pm Link Sareena Whitney Davis wrote: strobes. Jul 04 09 07:58 pm Link Jul 04 09 08:02 pm Link Dream-foto wrote: Those are exactly other photographers work. I just do the makeup but I want to get in to photograpgy. I aspire to be like the photographers I've had the oppourtunity of working with. Jul 04 09 08:05 pm Link the cheapest light I would say is work it is an alienbee, otherwise look into something like vivitar 285hv's but you lose a lot in power, modifiers and modeling light, plus they need a battery pack or batteries, or the old ac adapter. But in all honesty, look at real strobes, alienbee 1 light and umbrella and a reflector and stands should be around 500. Start there. Stephen Eastwood http://www.PhotographersPortfolio.com Jul 04 09 08:08 pm Link Strobes. I learned my lesson from using hotlights and flashlights of all sorts. It works, but with strobes you can focus more on what you have to do, they are easier to modify, don't heat up like crazy. Jul 04 09 08:09 pm Link I had a friend that bought hot lights to try to save money. It didn't work out so well. He ended up buying strobes anyway. Yes, alien bees are probably a good way to start. If you can only afford one light, get one light and a shoot through umbrella and go from there. Jul 04 09 08:10 pm Link StephenEastwood wrote: That's what I started out with a couple years back. I figured I'd get the one light and a reflector and just see what I could do with that. The idea was that once I figured out everything I could do with that setup I'd add more. Jul 04 09 08:15 pm Link Strobes for sure. Start with mono lights. Jul 04 09 08:18 pm Link i can give you a good deal on my 5 hot lights. i'm using strobes now. Jul 04 09 08:19 pm Link Jul 04 09 08:20 pm Link Jul 04 09 08:23 pm Link Sareena Whitney Davis wrote: I'm sure in no time your going to want a second light so pick up an a/c strobe from Adorama or B&H. Jul 04 09 08:23 pm Link Sareena Whitney Davis wrote: Geez. Strobes. Jul 04 09 08:23 pm Link With video being present at shoots may I also plug for a few constant lights. Blue bulb only - NO TUNGSTEN! EDIT:: Before I get flamed he can probably do this on the real cheap.....In addition to the strobes..... Jul 04 09 08:27 pm Link Beach wrote: so you caused the recession! Jul 04 09 08:43 pm Link Sareena Whitney Davis wrote: With what you want to shoot, Is a good reason not to use hot lights. Jul 04 09 08:45 pm Link Sareena Whitney Davis wrote: yes. Jul 04 09 08:45 pm Link Are you guys employed by AlienBees by any chance? Just saying  Jul 04 09 09:04 pm Link there's no answer. play with both. to the best of my recollection, everything in my MM portfolio was shot with continuous lighting. Jul 04 09 09:07 pm Link Digital Vinyl wrote: I do not use alienbees, but broncolor is a bit over her 500 limit. Jul 04 09 09:09 pm Link Aliienbees are not the best light out there. They are just the best buy with the best service of any company. Repairs are fast and reasonable. Replacement parts are priced fairly. Flash tube replacement for some other brands are almost as much as a complete new Alienbee. For Example a replacement Bowens flash tube for my 8000 unit was $180 for my 800 Alienbee it was $35. (both units had about the same power when I metered them) Jul 04 09 11:13 pm Link hotlights are great if you're happy on a tripod and comfortable at lower shutter speeds. i f you want to move around, or want your subject to move around, strobes are the way, IMHO and in my recent experience Jul 05 09 12:58 pm Link Sareena Whitney Davis wrote: A bright enough hot light for a good picture is what you said hot. I use to be scared of strobes and bought two lights from Photoflex. I think they were called First Studio Portrait lights which were cheap. They were not powerful enough for anything but head shots but were not that hot. Jul 05 09 01:12 pm Link Digital Vinyl wrote: No. Its because they are THE best product for the price range. NOTHING else comes close. Jul 05 09 01:14 pm Link Simon Bowles Photograph wrote: I agree and there support rocks. Jul 05 09 01:15 pm Link Lorin Edmonds wrote: I told their customer service person that I tipped over my lightstand and broke the tube and she replaced it free of charge, and even overnighted it to me for free. They understand customer care because next time a buy a light it will sure as hell be from them Jul 05 09 01:26 pm Link and FYI, hot light replacement bulbs cost almost as much as the entire kit. Life span: around 40hrs Jul 05 09 01:31 pm Link In general, hot lights require long exposures. I can just get away with EPY 64 tungsten chrome film with a few Lowell tungsten lights, but it usually requires 1/4 to 1/2 second exposure with sensible f/stops for large format. Not everyone can hold still that long, but some models can. Jul 05 09 01:51 pm Link i shoot mostly with hot lights... Jul 05 09 02:26 pm Link Digital Vinyl wrote: Stephen recommendation is spot on, while I don´t own AB´s I can see the reason he recommended them: good line up of modifiers available, good line up of units and a pro path to consider down the road (WL, Zeus) good costumer service if you need reparations (which is really quick for what you can read) and most importantly all this combined with the price and the budget of the OP. Jul 05 09 02:40 pm Link Thoughts--- Hot lights: 1) hot! 2) flood effect, not as sharp 3) power cords everywhere 4) romantic "soft" feel (result of #2) 5) easier to gel 6) color balance 7) cheaper 8) WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) 9) camera is not tethered to anything Strobes: 1) shorter flash duration 2) more power 3) sharper 4) more accessories 5) more flexibility 6) modeling lamps are often a weaker than hotlights 7) live by your light meter in multiple light set ups 8) when it goes bad, it is bad 9) without wireless, you have a thin little cable to trip over Personally I live with strobes, I tinker for kicks with mixed and hot lights, but I really prefer the strobes when I can help it. Jul 05 09 03:41 pm Link I tried hot lights, CFLs and then strobes. Alien Bees are really worth the money. No... I do not work for them either. Just a very satisfied customer. With your budget, I would suggest a midline lightmeter, a cheap 8' stand, a hotshoe adapter, a Vivitar 285HV, a cyber sync transmitter and reciever. This would be a minimum location kit. Which you can build onto instead of replacing. Learn to use that equipment and start saving for some more powerful lights. By then you will know enough to determine exactly what you need, without wasting loads of money. Jul 05 09 03:42 pm Link John Rayner wrote: this is exactly the kit i used to shoot my first 3 jobs with the exception of the light meter and the help of some foamcore. you can also find older nikon sb's for fairly cheap, and they include an optical trigger, which really came in handy when calumet discontinued the model of transmitter i used and i couldn't get an additional receiver right away. Jul 05 09 05:48 pm Link Lorin Edmonds wrote: On the other hand I got a 22 inches beauty dish with grid for my Bowens for $80.00 they also included a sock Jul 05 09 06:03 pm Link Dream-foto wrote: Don't ever buy these lights ... they look like JTLs. They are cheap and you get what you pay for. If they fall over they are toast. Beware!!! Jul 05 09 07:05 pm Link |
