Light boxes

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callaird

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Name
Ali
Edit My Images
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Hi,

I recently did a photography course which included macro work with a light box.

My parents and brother have said that they will chip in and buy me one for Christmas. I have no idea of their budget so was wondering if someone could reccommend any good ones (including lights and stands) in a variety of price ranges! Say £50 - £150.

I will also need advice on a macro lens for a D90 but that will have to wait until January's pay packet!

Thanks in advance,

Ali
 
What kind of things will you be taking images of? Is it a table-top size lightbox for small items or something more substantial you are after?
 
You can spend anything from £15 to £800+ on a light box.

Plenty of flat pack type ones on ebay at about £15 which are actually not bad at all (I used one before getting a light table). For £25-35 you can get a light box which includes a pair of constant on lights (these are not brilliant but again are cheap).

As Phototalk has said it is important to know WHAT you want to photograph and preferably the budget. Also knowing what equipment you already have would be useful.

Idea 1

£15-35

Ebay light box with or without lights.

This option is cheap and quite useful if you just want to take the odd picture of small items.


Idea 2 (depends on you have one external flash)

£75

Ebay light box without light
Yungnuo slave flash

This option is again quite useful and ideal for the same things as idea 1 but will give you some other photography options in that you would have dual flashes.


Idea 3 (you don't have an external flash now)

£130

Ebay light box without light
2 x Yungnuo slave flash

This is the same as idea 2 but based on not have an external flash now. This will give you small photography options but also two external flashes which give you lots of studio type flash options for things like portrait photography too.


After these you go on to light tables and the better quality fixed light boxes.
 
b****r! I didn't realise there was so much to think about!

On the course we used a table top box and I would like it for taking pictures of insects etc.

I have a Nikon speedlight SB-600 flash, would I need an independant flash?

Thank you for your replies.
 
callaird said:
b****r! I didn't realise there was so much to think about!

On the course we used a table top box and I would like it for taking pictures of insects etc.

I have a Nikon speedlight SB-600 flash, would I need an independant flash?

Thank you for your replies.
Click to expand...

Option 2 would be good. Your SB600 fired remotely from your camera and then the 2nd flash firing as a remote. This would avoid the need for continuous lighting which is not good if you are taking images of insects or items which might melt etc.

Also you would then have 2 lights which would give you more options later.
 
Are we talking light box or light tent
 
JSER said:
Are we talking light box or light tent
Click to expand...

The examples I've given are for light tents. I think the OP might have been looking at a proper light box. All different options to consider. I was looking at a proper light box myself but something big enough to photograph say a camera body was hundreds of pounds hence getting my light table and paying for proper training :)
 
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