Camera Labs

Hello, im planning to build a small studio in my room the room isn't really big but it can probably occupy some basic lightning equipments. Planning to spend not much since it'll be my first studio price probably around £250.

Having a thing in my head either to get a flash 430ex II or a small home studio kit.

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EOS Photography


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I like simple, I like RAW, I like to learn more

Well the 430ex ii is £200. This means you would only have £50 for the stands and wireless triggers ect. This is definitely not enough. So maybe you would be better with a cheap bundle that includes everything. I am sure there are some kits out there within this price range.

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Camera: Canon 550D with battery grip
Lenses: Canon 24-105mm f/4L, Canon 50mm f1.4, Canon 18-55mm, Tamron 70-300mm,
Accessories: Manfrotto 055XPROB with 808RC4 head, Canon 430ex II speedlite, Lowepro Nova 180AW and Lowepro Pro Runner 450AW

Oh that is so lame, every hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she’s a photographer -Stewie Griffin

There was a very economic contionuous light kit wich included 2 lights with their stands and reflectors. I think it was Chromalite...can't remember now...

**EDIT**
Well, this wasn't that hard. I've seen these branded as chromalite but they are probably the same. Link

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Nikon D90

Yeah I know but I'm gonna use the flash in different purpose. anyway do you have any lightning studio recommendation?? I found this basic lightning on jessops cost £199 but I dont know if its good.

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... ntlyViewed

which one is better to use though? a flash type lightning kit or a Continuous Lighting?

This lights will be using for portraits

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EOS Photography


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I like simple, I like RAW, I like to learn more

Flash will give an overall artificial look and freeze the frame better. Continous will serve multiple purposes such as video as well, and it is easier to control as it is permanently on and you can see exactly what you are getting.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

"Flash will give an overall artificial look"

words of an inexperienced studio photographer

Quite honestly, save your money. Anything you get with that budget, will be trash, and quite useless.

If you are going to shoot portraiture do NOT get continuous lighting. Your shutter speeds will still be too low or you will have to use Iso's that are too high. Your models will sweat. The power consumption is ridiculous. Continuous lighting is archaic and has its place today ONLY with product photography... quite frankly only a fool would use these sorts of lights for portraiture work.

Strobes produce the same exact light as continuous-lighting. Except it is day-light balanced, and offers much more control and fine-tuning. Your modifiers are what determine the quality of light, this makes no difference whether the light is continuous or a strobe.

For a portraiture setup, the bare minimum you would need is one strobe with a softbox, and a reflector. Add more as budget allows.

Go to www.alienbees.com and look at their range of monolights. They are cheap, reliable, and perform well. If you get anything less than these, you will regret it. Most of those cheap all in one studio kits, provide you lights with incredibly inconsistent color and exposure, horrible build quality, and super-weak power. One has to consider how much more power is required once you put a softbox on the light.

I use 3 AB800s with one softbox, reflector, and grids for the most part. You can see my work here: www.fkwstudio.com

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Sony A850 | Sony Battery Grip | Carl Zeiss 24-70 Vario-Sonnar T f/2.8 | Sony 70-200G f/2.8 SSM | Lensbaby Composer Pro | Sony HVL-F58AM

Alienbees B800 (x3) | Alienbees Cyber Commander | CSR+ Receivers | Grids, Softbox, Gels, Manfrotto/Century/Avenger stands

www.flickr.com/frankiewithers
www.fkwstudio.blogspot.com
www.fkwstudio.com

@djfsolo
I don't think alienbee is available in the UK I don't wanna order it outside EU/UK because it will be hard to return it for repair or whatsoever.

any other recommended set up?

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EOS Photography


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I like simple, I like RAW, I like to learn more

Based on the system that you linked to

You will need the following

Light Meter - to measure the light and destinguish what to set the flash to
Wireless triggers - optional

Cheaper systems
are not built for heavy professional use, home or amateur use mainly
are potentially less powerful
have shorter recycle times
anologue control dial, where's some have an intelligent screen on the back

Saying that though, some of the high end systems have anologue controls.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

ahh yeah i forgot about that I need light meter as well O_o. portrait is sure expensive to set up haha.

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EOS Photography


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I like simple, I like RAW, I like to learn more

You can analogue meters from £55 brand new, or of course the standard digital ones at around £150.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

Elinchrom has some relatively cheap starter kits, I forget the name of the lights, but the specs were decent- you just have to be careful with the build, as they had to sacrifice the quality a little bit to make them affordable- no where near as terrible as whatever you'd find on ebay though!

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Sony A850 | Sony Battery Grip | Carl Zeiss 24-70 Vario-Sonnar T f/2.8 | Sony 70-200G f/2.8 SSM | Lensbaby Composer Pro | Sony HVL-F58AM

Alienbees B800 (x3) | Alienbees Cyber Commander | CSR+ Receivers | Grids, Softbox, Gels, Manfrotto/Century/Avenger stands

www.flickr.com/frankiewithers
www.fkwstudio.blogspot.com
www.fkwstudio.com

You have to ask yourself though Do I really need it?

A flashgun on a tripod for instance, is suitable for single person portraits.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II