5Dc or studio lighting kit?

[Toggerman]

This year I'm hoping to take my photography one step further by building up a proper portfolio. I've already been offered to do my kid's pre-school's photos as they weren't happy with their regular company this year. I'm also hoping that I can join a couple of my local car clubs as a tog at some events. I'm interested in all types of photography and I won't refuse trying anything.

So far my kit consists of:

7D
24-105L
70-200 F4L IS
Canon 60mm F2.8
Canon 50mm F1.8 MkII
Sigma 50-500mm EX
Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6
Nissin Di866
1x Interfit Cool-lite 5

Overall I'm really happy with my kit (bar my nifty which is fairly soft), however I've got an opportunity to spend some money. My options are a studio lighting kit such as this one plus a background and support, or a used 5Dc for £400 but in good condition.

My heart is currently saying the 5D, but my head is saying do I really need a 2nd body quite yet? On the other hand how often would I really use a lighting kit at this point?

What would you do and why?

 

[ACW]

With studio kit you do get what you pay for to an extent.

I have the 540w version of the above, and the recycles times are bareable if you're patient and not flashing away like a maniac. They do heat up quite quickly, so I wouldn't use them for more than an hour at a time.

I was at a car shoot the other day and the tog there was using all bowens gear, just the battery packs totalled well over a grand. Then there was the cost of the lights themselves...while the quality of the gear infinitely better, I'd much rather spend minimum on lighting and spend the rest on good glass, but its all down to personal preference, and if putting a lot of money into lighting is going to give you a good return.

However if you your using it for commercial purposes I'd spend more and get a decent brand name, as the reliability of cheaper lights just isn't there. For family use they are fine, as if a light goes / overheats, theres no pressure / dissapointed customers.

Ideally you want lights with fast recycles times, inbuilt cooling fans and if shooting large groups you will probably need more power and larger softboxes than those provided with the above kit. But as I've said, it costs more.

I'd go for a full frame (I have a 7D myself an am looking at getting a 5dc/ii for people shots, low light) after you've played around with the cheaper lighting. Otherwise you'll end up buying the camera and realising you still want some studio lights.

If you get the lights / backdrop and don't like them, stick them in the classifieds and you probably won't lose too much on them.

 

[arad85]

If you are going to do posed portraits for money, I'd go for something like a Lencarta starter kit + backdrop before a second body. There is only so much you can do with natural light (what little we have of it here) and a speedlite/continuous light combo. when it comes to portraits.

Whilst the 5D will probably produce better images than the 7D, I'd say the 5D will be a step backwards "in your hands".

Bottom line - if you're going to need to control the light - and there will be a socket nearby - a cheap but good quality studio light kit is erssential IMHO. You might also get more info from the Talk Lighting section of the forum.

 

[Toggerman]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Had more of a think about it today and I think you're both right. There's nothing my 7D can't do at the moment, except produce a lot more light.

Only probelm I've got now is choosing a kit, off to the Lighting section I go.

Thanks again

 

[stumac]

I'd buy the 5d and build up the studio kit as and when funds allow as you cant buy studio kit and build up the 5d

 

[arad85]

PS. Lighting modifiers are probably more important than the lights (once you've gone past the cheap, cheap stuff).

 

[Toggerman]

Thanks again for all the replies everyone. In the end I went for the 5Dc, mainly because I didn't realise that the missus wanted to be able to use a camera as well, I can forsee many an argument over lenses .

It's in very good condition, apart from a really dirt sensor that I've spent over an hour cleaning (wet and dry) and it's still not spotless. Doesn't show up in the images though which is the important thing. It's a very different camera from the 7D and I can see what arad meant by "a step backwards in your hands", it does feel very old in comparison, however it does produce some lovely images, even with my nifty fifty which I didn't like on my 7D.

I do still want to get studio lighting but I've been told that if I'm a good boy I can get some bits and pieces as I go along .