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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Continuous vs. Strobe lighting
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Sony DSLR-A100
Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta
 10/10/2006 04:06:07 PM · #1
My friend just informed me his girlfriend wants some quality shots of her grandkids. This will be my first 'real' shoot and I am kind of sketchy on strobe lighting. I understand about 45/90/fill and backlighting, though I haven't had a chance to practice/try it out. Am I wrong in assuming continuous lighting is a bit easier to set up, meter, etc than strobes? If so, I'm thinking this may be a good place to start/practice. Though the only lighting I currently have is my 'on-camera' flash and just got a Sigma 500 DG Super. Would it be wiser to buy some cheaper form of continuous and use it for a while until I get more comfortable and then switch to strobes? I was thinking of something like 2 lights (1 main/1 fill) using bounce umbrellas. Something similar to this. My main problem is not having a place to try it out.

Added: Sorry it's so long....I didn't realize I typed so much :(

Message edited by author 2006-10-10 16:06:40.
Canon EOS-6D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
 10/10/2006 04:11:56 PM · #2
I'd go for strobes.

The first time I shot with studio lighting it was strobes. I was volunteered at the last minute for this gig where they had rented lighting, but needed a photog. I got there about 20 minutes before everyone showed up, and that's honetsly all I needed to get used to using the lights.

Now, obviously, the more you use it, the better you get at it, I'm just trying to encourage you that it's not that hard to use and/or get used to.

A drawback is that they are pricier...

ETA: A couple of shots from that night.



Message edited by author 2006-10-10 16:13:31.
 10/10/2006 04:15:07 PM · #3
Continuous lighting is often not bright enough for kids, not giving you enough shutter speed to deal with movement or deep enough DoF to make sure they are in focus when the kid moves. Well, that is unless you want to cook the kids under the lights.

Go with the strobes.
Fujifilm X-T1
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 10/10/2006 04:32:38 PM · #4
I am probably the only person on dpc that prefers continuous light, so just take this as the minority opinion.
- A nice set of continuous lights, such as the photoflex first studio series, is inexpensive but still very useful.
- It's easier to visualize the light and learn with continuous light. Yes modeling lights help with strobes, but they are easier to confuse with ambient light.
- You can shoot fast without waiting for strobes to recharge. I'm usually a slow shooter, but it can be handy to shoot continuous when trying to catch the motion of a dress or the fleeting facial expression from a child.
- If you shoot digital and with a wider aperature it doesn't take nearly as much light as the old days with slow film, so your subject doesn't have to cook clear through before done.
- I shoot studio work in the winter when a little extra heat is a nice thing for my subject anyway.
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