Studio lighting

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Crismar

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Hi Guys
Just registered so hi to you all

I am looking to buy some studio lights and have done so much research I am now confused.

I think I want Bowens because of all the good things I have read about them and looking for the 500 kit and have been told to look out for the 500 rather than the 500R as the performence is the same at a fraction of the price !

Can anyone advise me, just to be used at home in a make shift studio for portraits etc, new to all of this and finding it great fun but expensive. need to keep the cost down as I have just upgraded my camera and need to justify the additional expense to the other half

please help
Mark
 
Welcome to TP :)

Bowens is good stuff, as is Lencarta and Elinchrom. They all do very good two-light kits for around £400-500. Lencarta tend to be cheaper as they only sell direct. Also check the cost of reflectors and accessories, which can change the cost equation dramatically.

I would say that you don't need that much power for portraits. I use 200ws Elinchrom D-Lites and very rarely at full power. It is at least as important to have good control so that you can turn them down, especially if you want to get creative with low f/numbers.

You don't absolutely need a flash meter (can set up off the LCD/histogram) but it makes life a lot easier. £120 Sekonic 308S seems favourite.

Have a look in the Lighting forum below.
 
For home use 500W is a bit much, but if you ever want to use a village hall and light a group of people...
The higher power also means they are working less hard at lower settings, handy if you get roped in to doing the local Brownie troupe.
300W is a good compromise, 200w will be fine if you intend to stay at home.
Bowens are pricey but good as are Elinchrom. Lasrolite Lumen8 are worth looking at too.
 
thank you guys for your replies

The room I am using as a studio on most occassions is approx 3m x 5m, or a corner of my open plan flat of approx 5m x 8m which has high ceilings. Will the 200w be strong enough for a majority of situations.

I need to consider how often I would be using them but do not want to "buy cheap to buy twice"

I have just read a customer review who writes there is no instruction manual included but I guess you can always download one from the home page. Not sure they look as good as good as bowens but am I being duped by appearence alone but paying a premium for the look.

I need to break through the jargon to understand what they are telling me, or perhaps I need to learn from trial and error which can be costly

Mark:bang:
 
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