Would like to buy my first set of lights, help.

I have a DRebel and am looking to buy some lighting, maybe a lighting

package. I really would like to do portraits especially of my kids

and others when I get better. Any help would be awesome as I am

really have no clue. Maybe Ebay would be a good choice too. Thanks

Mike.

<a href="http://www.alienbees.com">Alien Bees</a>

Michael, two points.

 

How would you trigger the remote flash head? You need to think this one through and take advice from people familiar with the Digital Rebel. Does the camera have a PC socket? If so you need to be careful about trigger voltage, a maximum of 6v with Canon. Wireless? That's expensive. Use the built in flash to trigger a remote strobe? Not with Canon's ETTL as that means two flashes, a virtually invisible pre-flash for exposure measurement and then a main flash for the actual illumination. If you don't get precise answers here try the Canon forum.

 

Secondly you talk about a "lighting set". Assuming you can find a solution to the triggering issues you may be better advised to invest the money in a single good strobe rather than a cheap set. You'd be astonished what can be achieved with a single light and reflectors.

I would be careful using Ebay for these purchases unless the equipment is actually in use at the time of the sale. A lot of used strobe power packs have sat unused for long periods of time. This lack of use actually degrades the capacitors in the unit. I bought a used speedotron blackline powerpack on Ebay. When I set up the unit to test, it malfunctioned causing circuit breakers to trip in my office and shut down a couple of computers people were using. Fortunately the seller gave me a refund, but he balked initially and wanted me to try and get a repair done at my cost. The repairs are costly, just like for other photo equipment.

 

I bought a Speedotron brown line unit with two heads from Adorama or BH Photovideo. It came in a convenient carrying case with everything I needed except a flash meter. I was disappointed about the quality of the lightstands however. I have used ebay to buy to additional strobe heads that someone was selling in mint condition, as well as a snoot. Most of the time I just use two strobes.

 

If available, I would rent a set up or two to see what you like. I rented first, that's what got me hooked. Remember, if you go the powerpack route, turn it off and discharge the strobes before disconnecting your strobe heads!! Otherwise you might electrocute yourself.

 

The newer units by Speedotron are "LV," for Low Voltage, I think. That makes it safer for your camera although threads here talk about something called a Wein safesynch which you would attach to your hotshoe maybe to avoid damaging the camera. You will need some sort of adapter for the hotshoe as the 300D doesn't have a pc connector for strobes (the 10d does).

 

I thought about the monolight choice too. I think the monolights give you more independed control of the light output from each strobe. However, I liked the idea of needing just one ac outlet for the lights with the powerpack, since I didn't know where I would be using the unit each time and therefore wouldn't about ac outlet placement and availability.

... on the other hand... I own and use a Digital Rebel (in addition to 35mm and medium format film cameras). I purchased a used Novatron kit off of eBay last year(1/3 the price it would have cost me new) and have been very pleased. The DigiReb (AKA EOS 300D) does not have a PC connection. I have used a Wein SafeSync (fits in the hot-shoe and provides a PC connection) with a cord as well as a lower-end digital radio transmitter/receiver set. I like the radio set much better, as I am a klutz and frequently tangled myself in the PC cord. Unless you invest in Canon EOS flashes/triggers (550EX and 420EX, etc.), you will also need a flash meter (although with digital you can experiment using the histogram until you get it right). The Canon equipment (a couple of 550's and a trigger) will give you ETTL metering, but would also cost more than my used 3-head, 1200WS kit with stands, softboxes, and everything.

 

Hope this helps.

Read the <a href=http://www.photo.net/learn/studiolighting/>../learn/studiolighting</a> article in the learning section, and take a look at the recent (July/August '04) Weekly Lighting Theme articles by Garry Edwards. That'll help you determine what <i>KIND</i> of gear you want, and the features <i>YOU</i> will need, before you pick specific brands and models.