Need beginner lighting recommendations

[derek_l.]

I am a beginner and wanting a small, portable lighting system to use

in my home or other people's homes. Can someone suggest a good setup?

I'm hoping to get an all-in-one system like this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?

ViewItem&item=2965965870&category=30087

 

Can anyone offer any help or better package deals?

 

Thanks!

derek

[derek_l.]

I forgot to add that I use a Nikon N90 and a Nikon 5700 digital and my "studio space will be 9 feet tall X14 wide X 10 feet deep. Thanks!

 

derek

[wayne_seanard]

It depends on how much money you want to spend. I would stay away from the Hotlights like Smith Victor, they are just a pain compared to stobes. I would'nt go bottom of the line on strobes either although I've gotten some decent photos with my Nikon SB-80 as a slave on an umbrella stand and my pop up flash on my camera. Anyway I feel that any strobe setup gives you better photos than Hotligts.

Just my opinion.

[david cunningham]

Your studio is slightly larger than mine. I bought a Dyna-Lite M123R-PS 2000 W/S kit and a Dyna-Lite 4040 flashhead with the 18" reflector and silk for my front light. For the background and any other additional lights I use the 2040 flashheads. I use both powerpacks, one for the front light and any other key lights and the other for the background lights. I get better control that way. I also use a set of grids quite often. I use a paper backdrop in the studio and a PeoplePopper kit when I go out to do portraits on location. The system works great for me.

[._._z]

<i> I bought a Dyna-Lite M123R-PS 2000 W/S kit and a Dyna-Lite 4040 flashhead

with the 18" reflector and silk for my front light. For the background and any other

additional lights I use the 2040 flashheads. I use both powerpacks</i><p>

 

That's a great system (wish I had one), but at over US $4,000 it not really a beginner

system.

[david cunningham]

Speedtron and Photogenic make similar packages as Dyna-Lite. Dyna-Lite

also has cheaper packages. I had a Novatron kit. It was plastic, broke easily,

didn't have user replaceable flash tubes, etc. I was not at all happy with it. I

didn't mean to suggest you had to have the system I got. Just that that's what I

eventually did get after spending money on equipment that I wasn't happy

with. The Dyna-Lites have been great. Very durable. You're better off starting

with a GOOD small system that you can expand rather than a CHEAP small

system that you may have to replace.

[wayne_crider4]

Get a 45" shoot thru umbrella with black cover for bouncing, a umbrella flash

adapter for a light stand, a SC17 TTL cord, a bounce and stand and a Nikon

flash with or without a portable battery pack. Add another flash setup later if

needed. My pick for a reasonable cost flash outside of Nikon is the Sunpak

120J TTL or upgrade to a Quantum. Also get a reasonable sized white fur

throw that can at least cover a large bed for babies and young children at the

local cloth store. Store it all in a plastic locker type of trunk in the car. Later

pick up a folding background and stand and/or a muslin in medium shades of

brown.

[kevin_kolosky]

Photogenic Photomaster 800 WS with three heads.

 

Kevin

[joe heiliger houston, tx]

Derek,

 

Look at Alien Bees.

 

www.alienbees.com

 

Joe