Continuous or Strobe?

SanDShooter · **Continuous or Strobe? -** 07-24-2009, 07:23 AM

Ok I have a heard a lot on both sides but I can't choose if I want to get continuous lighting set up for a studio set up or just get strobes. Help me out here with pro's and cons.

RochinPhotography · 07-24-2009, 08:35 PM

Depends what your shooting really. Product photography Continuous will work perfectly. If your shooting portraits, strobes are a must.

Killjoy · 07-25-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RochinPhotography

Depends what your shooting really. Product photography Continuous will work perfectly. If your shooting portraits, strobes are a must.

Why? Wouldn't it be easier to see the light falloff as well as shadows if you were using continuous lighting?

Other than melting your model, why are strobes a must?

RochinPhotography · 07-25-2009, 07:30 AM

You can get allot more power out of a strobe and keeps cool. Not only will your model melt you will too. Continuous with enough power to light a model properly (or 2 or a family) will heat a small studio to unbearable temps.

Its doable, but so is using a P&S

Ahh! · 07-25-2009, 01:57 PM

FJ Wescott makes continuous lighting using color balanced CFL's that won't heat up too bad. The down side is the limits to the control. I use stobes with enough modeling light to see what I am doing, and also to keep the subjects eyes from getting too dialated by the lack of light. I turn off the studio work light to make sure I am seeing what I want.

Strobes = more light, lower ISO, faster shutter, smaller aperture, and freezing motion to eliminate blur. Continuous = higher ISO, slower shutter, larger aperature, and requires very still subjects.

No free lunch.

Learning to improvise with hot lights (any continuous lights) including those nasty quartz work lights is something to know to round out your skill set. They come in handy for the occasional subject who can't use strobes for medical or other reasons.

Lastly, experience will be your best friend or worst enemy when it comes to combining mixed lighting and the issue of color balancing and deliberate color shifts between various types of light. Unless you wish to shoot B&W where it is much less critical.

RochinPhotography · 07-26-2009, 07:43 AM

^ There ya go. Someone whos not to lazy to type out the details

SanDShooter · 07-26-2009, 10:56 PM

Its funny, I posted this the day before I read Scott Kelby's book volume 2 or digital photography and he said the exact same thing. Continuous is awesome but uncomfortable for the model or portrait or anything that would have to stay still for an extended period of time. Flashes are meant to freeze motion. Good Gouge to have. Thanks everyone.

Ahh! · 07-26-2009, 11:35 PM

Your welcome. Enjoy the week!

SanDShooter · 07-27-2009, 02:48 PM

Yup good times in the making.

BrassPremier · 07-27-2009, 03:23 PM

I hear continuous is mostly used for product shots (maybe not ice cream though...)

RochinPhotography · 07-27-2009, 07:50 PM

Yeah, I use my continuous for product shots. Usually in a photo tent