Video Lighting on a Budget

[bowmah]

Does anyone have a link to any good tutorials on how to setup a DIY 2-3 point lighting for simple video shooting? Also, where would be a good place to purchase some low cost studio lighting kits? Which set would be good enough as a starter kit for video podcasting?

[Soopafresh]

Check out Youtube. You'll find plenty of tutorials on 3 point lighting.

[drjtech]

B&H Photo has some good Tutorials:

Introduction to Lighting

Their products tend to be priced for the professional, so beware of sticker shock. After you read their tutorials you'll be better equipped to shop for bargains elsewhere.

-drjtech

[drjtech]

Here's another resource for you:
Studio Lighting on the Cheap

-drjtech

[bowmah]

Looks like Camera (boothphoto.com) makes a kit at aound the $250-$300 dollar mark. No umbrellas or lightboxes but it's available locally. Can anyone take a look at this setup and give some feedback?

Digital Imager 16" Cool Light 2-Light Kit - http://us.boothphoto.com/prod_detail.cfm?PRODSELECT=30&PAGESELECT=prod_detail_data.cfm

We want to shoot podcast video with it and secondarily use it to give added light to still images as well. Will the camcorder be able to auto White Balance these bulbs?

[bowmah]

ok, found this dual umbrella setup. Each umbrella has 2x45 flourescent bulbs. Will this be enough to light a small kitchen for a video podcast (video + still)?

Also, in general, what is the consensus on using transparent umbrellas versus solid ones and lightboxes?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-800W-PHOTO-STUDIO-UMBRELLA-DOUBLE-LIGHTING-KIT-BAG_W0QQitemZ320...QQcmdZViewItem

[bowmah]

bump. Does anyone have any feedback on that setup? Any help would be appreciated. This is my first attempt at any sort of studio lighting. Here is the link again just in case: http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-800W-PHOTO-STUDIO-UMBRELLA-DOUBLE-LIGHTING-KIT-BAG_W0QQitemZ320...QQcmdZViewItem

[Soopafresh]

Looks like you'd still need a backlight, unless the bounce from the backdrop is supposed to do that.

I like those cool lights from Booth Photo that you linked to. They put out far less heat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQssObwiKjQ&fmt=18

http://store02.prostores.com/servlet/tubetape/the-Lighting-cln-Cool-Flo/Categories

[bowmah]

That is exactly it. I am stuck between the Booth Photo Setup and the eBay setup. Both are cool lights but the eBay ones come with umbrellas. Would you mind taking a look and seeing which ones would work better. I am not a pro, just a hobbyist. The Booth Photo one is double the price of the eBay setup.

Booth Photo ($300): Digital Imager 16" Cool Light 2-Light Kit http://us.boothphoto.com/prod_detail.cfm?PRODSELECT=30&PAGESELECT=prod_detail_data.cfm

eBay ($139): http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-800W-PHOTO-STUDIO-UMBRELLA-DOUBLE-LIGHTING-KIT-BAG_W0QQitemZ320...QQcmdZViewItem

[Soopafresh]

Oh, I didn't realize the umbrella ones were fluorescent. If you'll notice the pic on the bottom of that page, those lights have to be placed quite close to illuminate that jacket. I don't think they put out enough light.

[bowmah]

Right. The eBay kit is an equivalent of 800W and the TubeTape product is also 800W but with 4 bulbs per umbrella instead of 2. I am guessing the TubeTape is more trusted so do you think this is also not bright enough?

http://store02.prostores.com/servlet/tubetape/the-121/Cool-Flo--dsh--800/Detail?sfs=7ac31f6d