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Anonymous
Alright /p/, I've got a bit of a problem. I'm mostly a street photographer, but I want to move into more studio style stuff for my color class. Can anybody explain the differences between hot lights and stobes, and maybe the pros and cons of each?

I'll give you some corn in exchange for your help.
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>> Anonymous
Hot lights are hot and strobes go on and off.
>> Anonymous
>>87884
Duuuuuur. What I mean if the effect each one gives. Which are better for softer, more natural light? What lights give that shiny, rich light on skin tones? Stuff like that.
>> Anonymous
>>87886
either and both
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>87886
The only difference between hot lights and strobes is that hot lights are hot and strobes strobe. The quality of the light is the same, it's just easier to see what it's going to look like with hot lights because they're always on. But if you're shooting digital, you can chimp, so it doesn't make nearly as much sense to shell out the extra cash for hot lights.
>> Anonymous
>>87897
Thanks for the help. That answers a lot of my questions.
>> Anonymous
>>87897
Actually hot lights are generally cheaper. That said, they're less comfortable to work around because they get very hot, durr. They also put out less light and use more electricity. Hot lights were originally intended for video use, but became popular with cheap and lazy studio photographers because they're less expensive and generally believed to be easier to visualize than strobes. The fact of the matter is that they're just as easy to visualize when using a modeling light, and digital makes it that much easier. Strobes also give you more control over light output because the heads have variable output, whereas hot lights can't be dimmed without screwing up the color temperature, if the light holder even provides the capability. You also have to worry much less about melting gels and setting your softboxes or umbrellas on fire with strobes during a long shoot.

There is no reason to go with hot lights unless you intend to do video work.
>> Anonymous
>>87915
How easy is it to work with strobes? I have absolutely no experience and I can't take a studio class until I'm through digital. Can I use strobes with most modern SLRs? And what's a master and slave strobe?
>> Anonymous
>>87916
If your going to be serious, You should look at Pocket Wizards as the remote trigger for your flash's. This is especially the case when shooting outdoors or with large ranges on your flash's (or objects in the way)

Otherwise picking up a bunch of Nikon SB-600's and using the commander mode on (most) Nikon DSLR's will do you quite well, Not only that but they can take cheap colored gel's and they support "Modeling light" and Multiple flash's per exposure settings (Lots of fun with a zoom lens).

The Sb-800 is a great flash to use as a commander as it has much more control over the Wireless commading than the built in flash's on the Bodies.

I hear Canon has a similar setup with their external flash's, But I have no experience with it, And I've heard Nikon's is fantastic. (And I use an Sb-600, Sb-800 and D200 as commander for macro shots)
>> Anonymous
>>87921
The setup for digital and film is identical. The only difference is that if you want to preview with film, you'll need a polaroid back (and a camera that can accept it).

If you go with ordinary studio strobes rather than dedicated flashes, it doesn't matter what brand, format, or type your camera has as long as it has a sync port or hot shoe.
>> Anonymous
>>87924
Beautiful. I guess it's time to start shopping and playing around.
>> Anonymous
>>87923
Noooo. Certainly there are some light cast issues you get using artificial light, but that can be corrected with filters in in the darkroom. My teacher is convinced Photo 2 students aren't smart enough to figure out studio lighting.
>> Anonymous
>>87922
What lights would you suggest I look into then? Being a student leaves my wallet less than full, so price is a big factor.
>> Anonymous
You can get some Chinese stuff off of ebay that is acceptable for learning and those without the pro requirements. Thinks like radio triggers and all sorts.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>Actually hot lights are generally cheaper. [...] They also put out less light and use more electricity.
I meant that they're more expensive for a given amount of light.