Looking for good lighting kit for getting started in portrait photography

12 years 11 months ago #55679 by SJM
I might as well post this and see what responses I get. I would like to get more into portrait photography and have about $1700 to spend on lighting equipment. What can I get for that? Are there any decent portable setups with battery packs that I can get?

Country guy living in the big Apple!
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12 years 11 months ago #56255 by Gabriel Photos
Hensel has a nice kit: Integra Pro Plus
Impact has a pretty inexpensive 3 light kit
Photogenic Studiomax III Pro
studio systems excalibur 3200

Those are a few of the more inexpensive "starter" lighting kits I could find. Hope that helps.


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12 years 11 months ago #61393 by Happy-pixel
Have you looked at Novatron or Cowboy Studio?


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12 years 11 months ago #61779 by SJM

Happy-pixel wrote: Have you looked at Novatron or Cowboy Studio?


Looking them now, thank you!

Country guy living in the big Apple!
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12 years 11 months ago - 12 years 11 months ago #62831 by MLKstudios
These are nice portable lights:

www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet...o_enabled_kit/ce1310

Add a softbox, a grid set and a background stand and you'll be right around $1700.

Soon you'll want a flash meter and the Sekonic L-358 is popular with the pros. It also allows you to add a wireless module to trigger the lights above. While Calumet has their own version, get the ones that use the Pocket Wizard triggers. Those are the standard in the wireless world.

Matthew

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 11 months ago #63215 by Number 7

MLKstudios wrote: These are nice portable lights:

www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet...o_enabled_kit/ce1310

Add a softbox, a grid set and a background stand and you'll be right around $1700.

Soon you'll want a flash meter and the Sekonic L-358 is popular with the pros. It also allows you to add a wireless module to trigger the lights above. While Calumet has their own version, get the ones that use the Pocket Wizard triggers. Those are the standard in the wireless world.

Matthew


How easy are flash meters to use?


Photo Comments
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12 years 11 months ago #65327 by digitalpimp

Number 7 wrote:

MLKstudios wrote: These are nice portable lights:

www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet...o_enabled_kit/ce1310

Add a softbox, a grid set and a background stand and you'll be right around $1700.

Soon you'll want a flash meter and the Sekonic L-358 is popular with the pros. It also allows you to add a wireless module to trigger the lights above. While Calumet has their own version, get the ones that use the Pocket Wizard triggers. Those are the standard in the wireless world.

Matthew


How easy are flash meters to use?


How easy were you able to figure out your camera? Light meters are pretty straight forward, just takes hands on messing with :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


Photo Comments
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12 years 11 months ago #65591 by MLKstudios
Basic steps for a flash meter are:

1. Set the ISO on the meter to match the camera's ISO setting
2. Match the shutter speed to the camera
3. Attach the flash cord (if you don't have wireless)
4. Hold near the cheek and push a button.

The meter will give you the correct aperture (f/stop) to use. Depending on the meter in can be set to indicate 1/3rd stops that match your camera or 1/10th of a stop.

Note that shutter speed is almost irrelevant when using a strobe as it is the duration of the strobe light that becomes the shutter speed. But your camera must be set to sync speed or below.

Matthew

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

,
12 years 11 months ago - 12 years 11 months ago #65657 by angbrey
ALIEN BEES!

I have a set of four and I LOVE THEM. They have model lamps and you can remotely control any adjustments...plus they come in awesome colors!

They have packages that include softboxes and light stands too.

www.alienbees.com/packages.html

~ Angela ~
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