Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hi folks!

I would love some advice in choosing some start-up studio lighting!
I mainly do on-location (indoor and outdoor) family portraiture, headshots, and sometimes weddings.

Can anyone recommend a respectable brand for studio lighting for starting out? Affordable but good results?

I seem to hear about Alien Bees and Photogenics and would love more first hand opinions.

Much appreciated!
Krista

Love my bees. I own three of them and they haven't failed me yet and the price is even better the way the dollar is currently.

I use Photoflex Softboxes with them and the Alienbees Speed ring fits perfectly.

If you're doing location work I suggest the Vagabond II for power.

Thanks! I was leaning that way In terms of shoot through umbrellas and the softbox, do you have any recommendations for affordable purchase and good results from somewhere in Toronto?

Alienbees umbrellas are on back order...

Thanks again

Paul C Buff products are excellent. Very affordable strobes and even the power source VBII. I really like the foldable modifiers you can set them up quick and without breaking a sweat.

One mistake I made is not to get air cushioned stands and just get regular heavy duty, little did I know how much I would prefer them ... especially with a boom mount. You'll hear some others saying how the whitebalance isn't consistent when varying the power, but I'm fine with doing the grey card thing and shooting in raw.

I have 2 AB800s and 1 ABR800 and I like them all. I have 1 large softbox, 1 medium softbox, the 30" moon diffuser which makes for a great octobox on the ABR800 and is really shallow to for size. I have the 56" which I haven't even tried yet. I picked up the PLM 84" which amazing, but I also haven't actually used it on a shoot yet and the wind catches it pretty good.

I have the Vegabond II and have only used it 3 times, but it is great and I got about 300 shots out of it with the last time I used it without the warning beeper coming on at all. Of course that was only with one AB800 and not at full power.

I'm interested in the Cyber Commander as it would be great to set up the light output once it is set up on a boom. Has anyone tried this device?

The cyber commander looks good. There was a review of it from someone at POTN. For now I just use the regular cybersyncs and a step ladder

Sorry for going off topic here but is your VBII's inverter always squealing / or making noises even when fully charged?

No, never had any noise issues. Is it just the fan on yours that could be making the noise? Like something that's trying to get going? I have that noise on a small fan on one of my external hard drive cases.

I have used Alienbees products for years .. no complaints. B800, brollybox, stands, plm, vagabond II, umbrellas, grids, etc. - all good. Highly recommended.

Another AB fan here. Only issue i know is some inconsistency with the lower power settings.

I picked up a couple of medium Photoflex umbrellas a few years back that were on sale ( I think it was henrys).

I purchased a Large Q39 Softbox off ebay brand new from the US. It was a third of the price Vistek is selling them for. I would try ebay if you're not in a hurry and want to save some cash.

Thanks so much! Any opinions on photogenics? I have a friend who's looking to sell, so was wondering how they compared.

haha not yet, my friend. elinchroms will have to come later for me

I use the adorama flashpoints. I have used the bees too. I think they are on a par personally and they are cheaper and have a DC (battery) option too. They are reliable and the modifiers are pretty inexpensive too. You can buy a ring for them and use whatever modifier you want.