Studio Light Differences

Eighth Avenue

Eighth Avenue

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Iain
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Hi guys,

just wondering if somebody can give me a brief outline as to what to look out for when buying new studio lights. We currently have two Bowens Gemini 200's with softboxes on the fronts, these lights have been great so far and we have got fantastic results. Looking to add one or two more lights for more complex lighting setups but don't know as much as I'd like about the different qualities etc of studio lights.

I see there are Gemini 400's which offer more power but I don't see this as much as a benefit as I like my light closer to give a softer light and if anything would like the opportunity to turn them down as if you put ours a foot or two away from the subject they can very often over expose the image as I can only shoot at 1/160th (unless there is a high sync speed option in camera or lights that I don't know about)

Any help would be great

Iain
 
Not sure what you mean. Shutter speed has no or little affect on flash lights. Only ambient lighting. Aperture controls flash lighting. So you can get more powerful lights, set them to lower power and close the aperture.

Should work fine. I use Bowens 500 Esprits they work fine close up portraiture etc.

Hope that helps
 
Eighth Avenue said:
I always try to use as wide of an aperture as possible as I like the shallow DOF. Does the quality of light get any better on the more expensive kits or do you get extra features etc?
Click to expand...

To be honest flash light is all similar. They are not like comparing cheap lenses v L Quality Glass. More expensive flashes will have quicker recycle times, better build quality and reliability and more power and some use more accurate digital settings.

You can buy neutral density filters for your lens so you can use a wide aperture but not over expose.

Bowens is a good brand, stick with them. All your light modifiers will be inter-changeable as well.

They do a nice 500 kit cheap at the mo.
 
Thats great, thanks.

May well look at those with a couple of softboxes with grids and a big octobox.

Cheers :)

Oxford_Matt said:
To be honest flash light is all similar. They are not like comparing cheap lenses v L Quality Glass. More expensive flashes will have quicker recycle times, better build quality and reliability and more power and some use more accurate digital settings.

You can buy neutral density filters for your lens so you can use a wide aperture but not over expose.

Bowens is a good brand, stick with them. All your light modifiers will be inter-changeable as well.

They do a nice 500 kit cheap at the mo.
Click to expand...
 
Your Welcome.

I got my Bowens gear from Richard Frankfurt online, reasonable prices and
Great service too.
 
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