Home studio kit

Loire

Hi,

I would like to buy a studio kit for home use. I have a Nikon D40 and a tripod. The primary purpose is to take portraits of my family. I am not looking to spend a lot of money but would be looking for something better than just getting a flash (Or maybe a flash would be better?!)

Would anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks!
Loire.

kelly1

What kind of kit do you have in mind? Flash heads or speedlite(s)?

Loire

kelly1 wrote: »

What kind of kit do you have in mind? Flash heads or speedlite(s)?

Hi,

I'm a complete novice here I'm afraid and open to suggestions. If I could get away with a flash that would be great (as I could use the flash separately as well). I've seen some kits on amazon but am pretty clueless as to what would work on not.

Thanks,
Loire.

pixbyjohn

Loire,
for starters you could go for something like this.....http://www.ebay.ie/itm/New-Photo-Studio-Light-Stand-Umbrella-Flash-Mount-set-/250732315196?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item3a60cf823c

You will need a flashgun and remote trigger also.....
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Yongnuo-YN-560-II-Flash-Gun-Light-Speedlite-Fr-Canon-Nikon-Pentax-Olympus-Camera-/120858165147?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item1c23b53f9b

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/433MHz-Wireless-Remote-Flash-Trigger-for-CANON-/130528092764?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item1e6414a25c

Loire

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Loire,
for starters you could go for something like this.....http://www.ebay.ie/itm/New-Photo-Studio-Light-Stand-Umbrella-Flash-Mount-set-/250732315196?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item3a60cf823c

You will need a flashgun and remote trigger also.....
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Yongnuo-YN-560-II-Flash-Gun-Light-Speedlite-Fr-Canon-Nikon-Pentax-Olympus-Camera-/120858165147?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item1c23b53f9b

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/433MHz-Wireless-Remote-Flash-Trigger-for-CANON-/130528092764?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item1e6414a25c

Thanks for that. Would I just need 1 of those lights or two? Also, what about just getting a continuous light (I've been reading up!)?

Thanks,
Loire.

Studio120

If it's something you might get more involved with in the future it might be worth going with something you can build on, speedlights are very limited in the studio compared to a studio flash unit.

Elinchrom have a small unit ( RX ONE ) for a reasonable price and the advantage over a speedlight is the fact you will have a modelling light to see what you are doing. They also have more power to allow smaller apertures if needed and as far as I know they have the standard Elinchrom mount so you will be able to use any of their modifiers and accessories in the future.

To start off one light , a stand, a brolly and a sheet of polystyrene and your away. Only other thing will be something to trigger the flash, a sync lead would be the cheaper alternative to start.

I can't post links but if you look on Elinchroms website you will find it.

Continuous lighting is also an option but depending on the power you may end up using large ( wide open ) apertures and slow shutter speeds.

Loire

Thanks for that - I'll take a look at that!

Loire.

FrankGrimes

Hi Loire, I'm a relative newbie to this stuff so you may well want to take advice of more experienced folks than I. But just wanted to share an alternative view as I've just recently explored off camera flash and the advice I got on some of the main global photography forums was to forget TTL and forget continuous lighting and go with manual off camera flashes.

So I went with 2 Yongnuo 560 version IV flashes and a 560-TX transmitter. Couldn't be happier - very economical way to do it and the transmitter allows me to easily control flash power and zoom remotely either individually or in groups.

Then ensure you head over to http://strobist.blogspot.ie/ (course from the guy who heavily influenced the popularisation of off-camera flash) and do the 101 course. Then I'd advise spending the 20eur to sign-up for one month's subscription to Lynda.com. The Strobist videos on there are brilliant and it'd be worth it for that alone (you can cancel any time). But you also get access to a huge library of videos and they have plenty on portrait techniques that I've found very informative, so do both and you should be well on the way to being able to shoot brilliant portraits of your family in any light.

I got these flash stands, these cold shoes and then some umbrellas and softboxes (an array of very good value options available).

While you can always use a reflector with a continuous light to enable flash-powered lighting from a 2nd angle, advice I found elsewhere was that having the ability to fully control each flash is preferable and all I can say is I've found the mechanics of it all quite easy....which I hope will now allow me focus on the more important stuff like improving the composition of my shots.

Alltherage

Interesting, why twin 560 IVs instead of a IV and a cheaper III?

FrankGrimes

Alltherage wrote: »

Interesting, why twin 560 IVs instead of a IV and a cheaper III?

There was only a few quid difference in the price of the IV vs III so I just went with IVs. By all accounts, the III version is an excellent flash and if going 2nd-hand, can be had for even less, so if budget is a priority, the OP could certainly get setup for even less.

Loire

Thanks @FrankGrimes

Alltherage

I've done a quick price comparison and found an e-bay seller pushing 560 IV's for about the same as IIIs cost elsewhere. I wont link it because I have no idea if it's trustworthy. If that's what you end up going for Franks correct there's no reason not to just go all mk IV's