So I want to get monolights

msbarnes

msbarnes

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I have no experience with artificial lighting but I want to get started. The application is for environmental portraits. And the camera that I will be using is a Rolleiflex TLR, primarily. If not that, then a Hasselblad (if I ever get around to getting one). I'm strictly interested in black and white medium format. A digital camera in the future perhaps, but I'm not really planning on that at the moment (I don't think it would really matter which camera I use in purchasing lights).

Now, my choice for monolights over speed lights is because the former is supposed to be easier to work with; that is, better modifiers and modeling lights. I will probably start with an umbrella or softbox/octabox. Then get into grids, a beauty dish, etc. Not sure yet but I think an Umbrella/softbox/octabox would be a good start then I would add modifiers and lights if I feel the need to.

The look that I am going for is this:
http://agent-lee.blogspot.com/2010/03/ode-to-female-form-by-patrick.html
I prefer available light but I want to illuminate my subjects with artifical lighting as a gentle fill.

Here is what I was thinking:
http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet_genesis_300b_with_power_port_battery_system/cf0506k
Calumet Genesis 300b w/ Power port
Or Alienbees B800 / Einstein E640 + Vagabond
For my modifiers, I was interested mostly in Softbox/Octabox, Umbrella, and a Beauty Dish.

1. I'm not really sure on how much power I need, but do you think 300/400 watts is enough? I'm not really trying to over power the sun.

2. Anyone have experience with Calumet lights? PCB seems to be the more popular choice on low/mid-entry lights, but I read that the Calumet stuff is quality too and that it has the same mount as Elinchrom so a gateway to higher quality modifiers/lights (incase I want to "upgrade").
 
For exactly what you want to do, i.e. TRL and BW film, I took the free Strobist 101 course. It will tell you what to get and how to use it. http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/
The course assumes you have a DSLR. I worked around this by using my meter's flash mode. I use a Sekonic L308s, but any meter with flash options will work.
Good luck!
 
You know more about your choices than I do. I would suggest you price out the modifiers for different systems, that's really what you're buying into. Photogenic looked good to me. The flash on the pics you linked looks like on camera flash and dragging the shutter, the more natural looking ones look like reflectors.
 
Excellent advice above.

Serious off camera artificial lights add a whole 'nuther dimension to photography. Lots of fun. Enjoy!

I have a Prolinca and 3 Hensel monolight units. I usually shoot into/through umbrellas. The Prolinca I bought new. The 3 Hensels I bought used at a pawnshop for $100 each.
 
Stobist 101 is great but not on the same level as quality monolights.


Like Frank I also use hensels.
I have a mixture of new and old. 500 and 1000's I would stick to at least 500 esp if your using big modifiers. Any of the brands i list in this post will give close to the rated power, cheaper brands will exagerate.

search on ebay for modifiers. Some of the chinese ones are excellent for the money.

I would rather use a good brand second hand for the monolight units than cheap new chinese units.

good brands to look for include :
hernsel, bowens, profoto, elinchrom.

if i was buying again i'd still choose hensel (300w modelling light and tough as bricks). If i was on a budget i'd get elinchrom, they are the cheapest of the quality brands. quality brands keep the color temp throughout the output range, recharge much quicker and stand continuous firing more reliably.

all modern monolights can also be run of a pure sine wave inverter and gel gel or lipo battery packs.
 
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