Setting Up a Small Home Studio - need help

Nikon Rumors Forum » Nikon DSLR

Setting Up a Small Home Studio - need help

(8 posts) (4 voices)

Tags:

No tags yet.

chancetlu

senior member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 61
offline

Members, I am looking at setting up a small home studio for hobby purposes and wanted some help. I plan on using speedlights for a variety of reasons I can get into if anyone asks. I am looking the using the following for basic portrait shoots:

D90 with either the 35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.4
2xSB600s off camera using the D90 as the master
2 umbrellas with stands (or would light boxes be better)?
rolled paper, canvas, or muslin white and black backdrops (which is better?).

The room is about 12' by 10' by 8' (H) with no natural light.

I already have the camera lenses and one SB600 so would simply have to get a second one with all the other studio accessories. It looks like I can build the whole setup for 600 bucks with another 300 for shipping.

For those of you that may bring up strobes and monolights, I live in the Middle East where the power source is 220v, which eliminates any ac powered lights that Adorama or B and H sells. Battery ones were way over budget. I am going to check local prices tonight at the one shop in the country, but I have a feeling they are going to be way out of my league.

Thanks

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

Goldfingers
Joined: May '09
Posts: 3,400
offline

Have you considered getting a transformer? They're pretty inexpensive and might save you some headache down the road (I don't have experience using SB-600s as studio lights). Recycle times would be a bit lower at 50Hz than at 60Hz, but other than that the strobes wouldn't know the difference.

http://www.220-electronics.com/Transformers/trans/stepdown.htm
http://alienbees.com/nonus.html

I have to recommend alien bees (http://alienbees.com/flash.html) as workhorse lights that are really powerful. For studio work, I would probably be okay with one of my B400 lights (though I usually use three), a softbox (or umbrella if that's over budget), and a reflector. The softboxes you can get there are well-built and really easy to use.

Posted 3 years ago #
Kamerad

member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 14
offline

I have my home studio setup with the following

2 SB-900
1 SB- 600

1 43" Shoot through umbrella with removable black outside
1 60" Shoot through umbrella with removable black outside
1 28" westcott softbox umbrella mount

4 monfrotto light stands
1 background paper roll stand

Triggered via Cactus V4 triggers

When I use my softbox i like to put it on a boom that i make using 2 light stands and a super clamp, the 28" Westcott light stand does not tilt down very far so this is a great way to use it.

Depending on what your how your shooting style is, the SB-900 from around 1/1 - 1/8 do cycle a little slow as compared to dedicated lights but I love the flexibility of using them at home or out around.

I recommend a softbox in your mix, it gives nice even light and the reflection in the eyes i prefer over umbrellas.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

I would use the wireless triggers that I mentioned in the other thread. Yes you can use the Camera to command them, but I really prefer it to be fully manual and this way you would learn to control even studio lights like Jonny mentioned above

Anyway when using Flashes like the SB600 with umbrellas metering would have to be manual for the best result. I would use two umbrellas, and if you like get an extra softbox.

I have 10by20 grey white and black muslin, paper can be fun and you can paint on it also

Anyway have fun and good luck

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
chancetlu

senior member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 61
offline

The local shop has a Multiblitz kit (link below) for about $1200. It seems a bit high, but amazon.uk has the same one for about $1500. Can you guys with more experience let me know what you think and if you have ever heard of the brand? The alienbee kit for $599 would be my best bet, but would cost at least another $400 to ship here not counting customs fees.

They are only 200Ws though, which seems a little low.

http://multiblitz.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/compactplus_en.pdf

Thanks

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

Mine are 250Ws and they work fine, most of the time the power is turned way down, special when the lights are placed close to the person(s) being photographed

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
chancetlu

senior member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 61
offline

Thanks for all the info guys and gals, both on this thread and my "...European" thread. I bought the Multiblitz 200Ws 2 light setup, IR triggering system for the strobes, a Manfrotto background holder, and a 10' x 30' roll of white paper yesterday. Conditioned the capacitors on the strobes last night and hope to clear out a room to set up the studio this weekend.

quick questions though...based on my reading, it would be my best bet for consistency to not have any lights in the room other than the modeling lights, is that correct?

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

Yes it would be but I have a dim light behind me so that I can operate my camera

Pete

I also use it on location and then there can be lights that I just have to deal with

Posted 3 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.

The new Nikon Rumors Forum is now live at http://forum.nikonrumors.com/discussions. This forum is now in "read only" mode until I figure a proper way to import all data over to the new platform. Please register over at the new forum.

Setting Up a Small Home Studio - need help

Reply