Home studio setup

[theRBK]

who carried them in singapore?
fluoro lights means they will have a green cast unless i set my WB to fluoro?well i shoot raw anyway.
seems like these lights are more for videography.no?

dealers

they are equally useful for photography... their tubes last longer than tungsten bulbs, and of course it is not as hot... good for rapid fire photography, or for high speed photography... also useful for modeling lighting effects for clients (the modelling effect will be more obvious than modeling lamps on flash units)... also, due to the size of the tubes, for the same power, its easier to provide a softer light than flash... of course, the revers is true in that it is not able to give powerful point lighting...

these tubes are photo grade flourescent so won't have the green cast... they are quite ex though... you can of course build your own system with off the shelf parts... ymmv...

which brings me to the question.
if tungsten lights are so hot,
why use them?who use them?for what purpose?

tungsten gives a warm glow... but that was more useful in film days than in digital shooting with adjutable white balance... tungsten lighting is also relatively cheaper... although of course, their bulbs don't last as long due to their being always on when in use, as opposed to that of a flash tube... also, don't have to worry about syncing with camera, so a much simpler system to operate, especially in the days before wireless syncing...

 

[jeanie]

thanks RBK

the ringflash sure looks good!

 

[jeanie]

masters of light, hear me now.

assuming i use f8 to shoot dance jumps.
will shutter speed of 1/250 make a difference over 1/125?
i'm using bowens esprits 500.
my aim is to freeze the jump as sharp as i could

 

[vince123123]

If your ambient light is negligible, then your shutter speed is not a factor in freezing the motion. Your ability to freeze is determined by your flash duration.

masters of light, hear me now.

assuming i use f8 to shoot dance jumps.
will shutter speed of 1/250 make a difference over 1/125?
i'm using bowens esprits 500.
my aim is to freeze the jump as sharp as i could

 

[jeanie]

If your ambient light is negligible, then your shutter speed is not a factor in freezing the motion. Your ability to freeze is determined by your flash duration.

but my ambient light is almost zero.
so does that mean i really need to get lights that has a extremely fast speed?

 

[catchlights]

maybe you would like to do a search or post your question here instead?

 

[vince123123]

Yeap, that sounds like it. And flashes with very short durations are expensive - it means the flash unit needs to output a very high intense burst of light in order to achieve the light quantum required.

E.g.

X units x Y Duration = Z quantum of light needed for proper exposure.

The shorter Y is, the larger X is, meaning a damn powerful flash tube.

Either that, or as some have suggested, up your ISO so that Z is reduced, and hopefully by reducing the power knob, Y gets reduced as well.

but my ambient light is almost zero.
so does that mean i really need to get lights that has a extremely fast speed?

 

[jeanie]

maybe you would like to do a search or post your question here instead?

i'm always shy in posting such newbies queries.even in CS here, sometimes i find my ques rather 'stupid'.:embrass: :embrass: :embrass: :cry:

 

[jeanie]

Yeap, that sounds like it. And flashes with very short durations are expensive - it means the flash unit needs to output a very high intense burst of light in order to achieve the light quantum required.

E.g.

X units x Y Duration = Z quantum of light needed for proper exposure.

The shorter Y is, the larger X is, meaning a damn powerful flash tube.

Either that, or as some have suggested, up your ISO so that Z is reduced, and hopefully by reducing the power knob, Y gets reduced as well.

thanks.i'll try the iso thingy.
but generally i dont like to use anything more than iso100.
"graininess"?:embrass:

 

[vince123123]

Well, if you wanna take those sort of heart stopping freezing shots, something has to give, either your pocket, or graininess.

People spend a lot of money on setups to freeze shooting bullets so it isn't a cheap thing you're going into.

thanks.i'll try the iso thingy.
but generally i dont like to use anything more than iso100.
"graininess"?:embrass:

 

[jeanie]

Well, if you wanna take those sort of heart stopping freezing shots, something has to give, either your pocket, or graininess.

People spend a lot of money on setups to freeze shooting bullets so it isn't a cheap thing you're going into.

ok.got it.i'll try iso for a start.if it still doesnt work, i'll give freezing a miss.:cry:

someone helpful emailed those pro's overseas for me regarding the dance shoot.
you are right, they really use those high end fast strobes.
:cry:

 

[vince123123]

A cheap way is to just ask your dancer to hold the accent moves, which is what you want to shoot anyway. You don't actually have to shoot her when she is dancing.

ok.got it.i'll try iso for a start.if it still doesnt work, i'll give freezing a miss.:cry:

someone helpful emailed those pro's overseas for me regarding the dance shoot.
you are right, they really use those high end fast strobes.
:cry:

 

[jeanie]

A cheap way is to just ask your dancer to hold the accent moves, which is what you want to shoot anyway. You don't actually have to shoot her when she is dancing.

how to hold the move in midair?:dunno: i'm referring to dance jumps.those really difficult moves.

 

[jeanie]

guys, i found this.
can help me out?what does t=0.5 means and 1/925, what has this got to do with what my d200 can set to?:embrass:

Stored Energy 500Ws
Guide number (m/100 ISO) 79.8
Recycle time to full power (240v) 1.54secs.
Flash Duration to t=0.5 1/925 sec.
Flash Power Variation Full to 1/32
Stepless Power Variation Yes
User Replaceable Flash Tube BW2032 (UV)
BW2030 (Clear)
Recommended Modelling Lamp 275w Photoflood
250w Halostar
Model Lamp Variability Full to 1/32
Colour Temperature (+/- 300K) 5600K
Voltage Stabilisation to 1%
Flash Inhibit Circuit Yes
Ready Light Indication at 100% charge
Audible Recharge Confirmation Yes
IR Remote Control No
Reflector Mount S-Type Bayonet
Operating Voltage 190-250V 50Hz
Sync Voltage 5V DC
Built in Slave Cell Yes
Switchable Slave Cell Yes
Circuit Protection Yes 5A(F) fuse
EM Noise Suppression Yes
Width 145mm
Length 365mm
Height 130mm
Weight 3.4kg

 

[vince123123]

I have no idea, maybe T is the max power? So its saying half of max power is 1/925 sec burst?

But what I do know is that it has nothing to do with what your D200 can set to. Shutter speed and flash burst duration are independent factors.

guys, i found this.
can help me out?what does t=0.5 means and 1/925, what has this got to do with what my d200 can set to?:embrass:

Stored Energy 500Ws
Guide number (m/100 ISO) 79.8
Recycle time to full power (240v) 1.54secs.
Flash Duration to t=0.5 1/925 sec.
Flash Power Variation Full to 1/32
Stepless Power Variation Yes
User Replaceable Flash Tube BW2032 (UV)
BW2030 (Clear)
Recommended Modelling Lamp 275w Photoflood
250w Halostar
Model Lamp Variability Full to 1/32
Colour Temperature (+/- 300K) 5600K
Voltage Stabilisation to 1%
Flash Inhibit Circuit Yes
Ready Light Indication at 100% charge
Audible Recharge Confirmation Yes
IR Remote Control No
Reflector Mount S-Type Bayonet
Operating Voltage 190-250V 50Hz
Sync Voltage 5V DC
Built in Slave Cell Yes
Switchable Slave Cell Yes
Circuit Protection Yes 5A(F) fuse
EM Noise Suppression Yes
Width 145mm
Length 365mm
Height 130mm
Weight 3.4kg

 

[jeanie]

question:

if i set my cam to 1/250 and f8,
assuming i put the lights close to subject and power down as cathclights mentioned.

i then put 2 big bookends (for fill)to isolate dancer from backdrop, will the shutter open long enough(cos i want to freeze subject, hence chose fastest shutter speed) for the light from the strobe to hit the bookend and fill in the dancer's posterior?

i could add 2 more light from the sides firing to the dancer's rear to isolate her but i'm afraid of lens flare

please advise.

 

[Splutter]

Shutter definitely opens long enough, but your flash duration might still not be fast enough to freeze everything. I reckon the max your strobes go is 1/1000s. You don't have to shoot at F8, can try lower setttings and see if you can shoot at min power.

 

[catchlights]

question:

if i set my cam to 1/250 and f8,
assuming i put the lights close to subject and power down as cathclights mentioned.

i then put 2 big bookends (for fill)to isolate dancer from backdrop, will the shutter open long enough(cos i want to freeze subject, hence chose fastest shutter speed) for the light from the strobe to hit the bookend and fill in the dancer's posterior?

i could add 2 more light from the sides firing to the dancer's rear to isolate her but i'm afraid of lens flare

please advise.

I have say I'm not sure will it work.
base on the article, plus the spec from bowens.

 

[jeanie]

Shutter definitely opens long enough, but your flash duration might still not be fast enough to freeze everything. I reckon the max your strobes go is 1/1000s. You don't have to shoot at F8, can try lower setttings and see if you can shoot at min power.

thanks for the fast reply.

lower settings as in f5.6 or f4?will the DOF be sufficient?
i'm thinking of using 70-200 afs vr.
or what lens you suggest?
9 feet backdrop.

 

[jeanie]

I have say I'm not sure will it work.
base on the article, plus the spec from bowens.

oh shucks....means i really have to get faster strobes ah?

already spent so much on these strobes.:cry: