Board index Equipment Digital Cameras Using Canon Digi Rebel in Studio

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Using Canon Digi Rebel in Studio

photo441
 
Posts: 8

Using Canon Digi Rebel in Studio

Post Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:48 pm


I was wondering if it were possible to use a Canon Digi Rebel in a studio setting. I was thinking of expanding my photography and doing some studio stuff. I am looking now into buying some nice backgrounds and I need some help in the lighting department. Strobes? Fixed Lights? Anyone out there with some tips.

Many thanks,

Photo441

castledude
 
Posts: 869


Post Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:50 pm


Yep the Rebel will work in a studio situation. Some others are a little better there but it will work fine.


What to get depends on how serious you are and your budget.
All the below are for simple 2 light setups. As you get better you can improve to 3 and more light sources but to start out 2 is more than you will want to handle. All prices I'm quoting are USD.

A two light setup is two sources, two diffusers (umbrellas and/or soft boxes) and two stands.

Low budget is "Home Depot" continuous lights with very high wattage bulbs. (about $40). Use a hunk of paper or cloth over the front to diffuse it.

Next up is continous lighting with commercial lights. About $100.

Next would be to use something like TTL compatable strobes on stands. About $200-$300. This is portable but is missing modeling lights.

Finally the ultimate is strobes ranging from JTL-160 type (about $250) inexpensive heads to higher end strobes like Alien Bees (recommended about $400). Finally the next one up is a system with an external pack. ($700+).

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With flash setups you will want to get a flash meter ($25 -$400). With continous lights you can use the internal metering of the camera. You can get into almost religious wars on flash meters but for me a simple JTL at $125 was more than adequate. The simple Weins at <$50 are fine for home studio use.

For the Canon reb you will need either a hotshoe to PC adapter or a wireless transmitter (radio is best $50, or IR about $25). It is not usually possible to shoot a rebel with external strobes from on camera flash. It does preflashing and other evils that will confuse the external flashes.

Note the Canon hotshoes have a reputation for being a little weak so if you are going to hook to unknown strobes (like a friends, or at a studio) then you should get a "safe sync" to control the voltage down below 6V.

Most modern studio strobes (Alien Bees, JTL, Britek, etc) are low voltage but always verify.


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Backgrounds...
1) Simple and cheap .. A piece of heavy PVC or metal pipe with continuous roll paper. (About $10 for the pipe, $20-$50 for paper).

2) Cloth backgrounds. You can pick up cloth at Walmart or other sewing stores for $2-$3 a yard get about 4-6 yards and be creative. Attach to the pipe with shower curtain hooks, or sew a pocket in the top of the cloth.

3) Professional backgrounds (painted) run $75-$150 (ebay).

4) A portable stand runs about $100 for a sturdy one.

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Room needed ...
About 10x12 or bigger is optimal but you can do things in smaller areas. I have shot in my bathroom with clamped on flashes and gotten reasonable results. Usually you want the model away from the background so you can control DOF and put the background in or out of focus. and you want the lights far enough back so they diffuse evenly.
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Advise (take it for what it is worth). Get one of the adapters for flash I mentioned above. Then look up a local pro photographer and talk to him and ask him to rent out his studio for you and give you a few simple lessons. It is amazing how much you can get out of a few hours and it won't cost you that much.

photo441
 
Posts: 8

Thanks

Post Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:58 am


Can you suggest any online stores?

Thanks

ukexpat
 
Posts: 1193

Re: Thanks

Post Thu Sep 16, 2004 2:09 pm


photo441 wrote:Can you suggest any online stores?

Thanks


B&H Photo in NY is the best place I know of, not the cheapest but their service is excellent in my experience:

http://www.bhphoto.com

snappingturtle
 
Posts: 305

Re: Thanks

Post Thu Sep 16, 2004 2:17 pm


ukexpat wrote:
photo441 wrote:Can you suggest any online stores?

Thanks


B&H Photo in NY is the best place I know of, not the cheapest but their service is excellent in my experience:

http://www.bhphoto.com



Yes B&H is great. It is my standard store and I had no problems with it. Two other online stores I got my stuff from are butterfly photo and digital photoclub.

http://www.butterflyphoto.com

http://www.digitalfotoclub.com

The prices on both of these stores are less costly than B&H, but they have fewer items.


Go to cnet, bizrate or pricegrabber to compare stores, prices and ratings. There are a lot out there. Just pay attention to their terms and conditions.

Hugh

castledude
 
Posts: 869

Re: Thanks

Post Thu Sep 16, 2004 3:45 pm


photo441 wrote:Can you suggest any online stores?

Thanks


With ebay I've had good luck and good prices with Joes Photo Auction... http://stores.ebay.com/Joes-Photo-Auction, his umbrellas and softboxes are not the best stuff but they work fine and the prices are great. I've also used his radio control and it works very well.

Alien Bees are only sold by the mfg http://www.alienbees.com

I will throw in another vote for bhphoto, abes of maine is pretty good but he does sells some grey market stuff http://www.abesofmaine.com/


Finally adorama (http://www.adorama.com) has the stuff you can't find in other stores.

exodeepblue
 
Posts: 52


Post Sat Sep 18, 2004 2:03 am


The DR works great in-studio:
Image

photo441
 
Posts: 8


Post Tue Sep 21, 2004 4:33 pm


Nice!!! What did you use for lighting in this pic?


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