attention photographers!!!!
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- imnotadesigner
Someone is willing to sell me a studio light kit brand new for $500
Heres the specs:
http://www.opusprophoto.com/prod…Its the OPUS M1401 Kit (the second one down)
Now, 2 questions:
Is OPUS a reputable product and is it worth buying for $500??
- harv0
NOOO
Please dont buy it. Opus is like the wendys of fine dining. Its a very low end company, many sold at henrys. They have crappy builds and the outputs change shot to shot. Save your money, and look into profoto or elinchrom.If your looking for low cost gear, google alienbees. They are cheap but they work wonderfully.
- ********0
Shouldn't you be asking question2 before question1?
Opus isn't the BWM of lighting that's for sure. If you just need cheap strobes and don't care about colour temp then they're fine — if you're doing BW for instance. Otherwise, Alienbees are better. Or keep an eye on your local craigslist...
- imnotadesigner0
cool thanks for the advice.
NO DEAL Howie!!
- sikma0
I've used them and found them very weak and inconsistent.
Alien Bee are a little nicer but you get what you pay for.
- sikma0
might be okay if your doing small table top stuff.
- imnotadesigner0
Im not willing to spend $500 on crap just to have to spend more money down the road.
Can any of you guys recommend say a kit for me.
I want to start shoot people in studio (portrait/fashion & some product)My budget is around $1000 right now
- sikma0
I have had good luck with Dyna Lights
don't judge them based on their shite page
- priceysikma
- lolimnotadesigner
- < I use this kit. Consistant but no problems yet.jaylarson
- harv0
Yup, alien bees it is. You cant afford profoto with your budget.
I have a proto acute 2400 with 3 heads and some quantum's t5s which do me wonders, but it has racked me in around 6 grand.For simple setups i use nikon sb-800's. They are wicked awesome. And cheaper then alot of the other things out there
- Agreed.
Nikon sb-800s are great from small product and/or people once you've got practice. If you've got a Nikon rig...********
- Agreed.
- sikma0
- once again priceysikma
- you just wanna make me spend more eh Sikma!imnotadesigner
- slappy0
sb-800s or 580exii's if you are shooting canon can make great studio flashes if on stands with shoot through umbrellas etc. There is no modeling light and you wont be able to over-power the sun like you would with the alien bees but so much simpler setting them up for a quick shoot out on location.
- harv0
Slappy, If you use the nikon sb-800s on say a d3 or a d700 you can set them to "fp" mode and shoot at any speed. Its sooo awesome. Alien bees and be used to with them.
- imnotadesigner0
K so I already have one 580EX II, but instead arent there any kits I could get? Or are they all basically crap under $1000?
Seems alot of peep are saying alien bees so Im going to look into them.
- imnotadesigner0
Sekonic L-358 Flash Master
http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPh…
Is it a good one? Because I can also get on for half price- the bestsikma
- Sekonic that issikma
- So I should say "DEAL!"?imnotadesigner
- As long as it works. Yes.sikma
- As long as you'll use it, yes.********
- how should I test it? I've never used one before.imnotadesigner
- If I learn how to use it then yes, Ill use it :)imnotadesigner
- most people would test it against another meter. or the spot meter in your camera.sikma
- not air tight but it will work.sikma
- shit. How do I test it using the spot meter?imnotadesigner
- slappy0
http://www.alienbees.com/digi.ht…
look at something like this and select B1600s (the best they have) and you should still be withing budget.
- just as a sidenote, website sucks...imnotadesigner
- but the pice range is goodimnotadesigner
- offer them a deal, lights for redesign haha.slappy
- imnotawebdesigner : (imnotadesigner
- sikma0
get one of these to test that light meter
- I have one of those!!imnotadesigner
- read of M and then expose. this should tell you if your meter is doing its job.sikma
- k so what do I do?
I should probably google a tutorialimnotadesigner - you should be able to compare the areas in photoshop with a color picker.sikma
- this is nerdy shitsikma
- what are you going to be shooting? artwork?sikma
- nah, Im gonna start shooting in studio so Im getting gear that Im pretty sure Ill useimnotadesigner
- sikma0
Light meters always want to make everything gray. If you take a reading off a white piece of paper the meters going to make it gray by underexposing it 2.5 stops. Same goes for anything black. The meter will want to make it gray by over expose it by 2.5 stops. A light meters purpose is to measure the contrast in a scene and then expose for the most important elements.
- omgitsacamera0
alienbees :]
- imnotadesigner0
so they tend to flatten everything out? Thats why I see alot of photographer with flat in-studio images.
- they don't flatten anything. their readings always assume the subject is gray.sikma
- hence why you need a gray card to read off of.sikma
- ahhhhimnotadesigner
- im leanin' something hereimnotadesigner
- doesnt hurt to have a bit of a chimp on the computer mid shoot while everyone has a drink to see how things are looking.slappy
- i hate that term!sikma
- imnotadesigner0
thanks for the advice guys. Im out!
