External Lighting for Light Box

[Doofus]

What would you recommend for external lighting if I'm using a 90cm light cube to photograph small items?

I know the cube itself will diffuse external light sources, but do I need a dedicated lamp? If so, what kind/size of thing?

TIA

[singlecoil]

The answer is going to depend. Is the camera on a tripod, can you do long exposures without camera shake? If yes, then assuming reasonable ambient light you should be ok.

If you provide more detail you will get more detailed answers.

[Doofus]

singlecoil said:

The answer is going to depend. Is the camera on a tripod, can you do long exposures without camera shake? If yes, then assuming reasonable ambient light you should be ok.

If you provide more detail you will get more detailed answers.

Sorry.

Camera (Nikon D3300) is on a tripod (Manfrotto ) I can do long exposures without shake (and I have a remote shutter release). I have 18-55 and 55-200 lenses, and I have all kinds of ND filters. The only flash I have is the built-in one. I'll be photographing in an environment with overhead flouro tubes and/or overhead diffused natural light - nothing from the sides. The items will be photographed in the tent, on either a white or a black backdrop. Probably both.

[singlecoil]

Have you actually started using it yet? I'm guessing not so I think the thing to do is to set it up, start shooting and decide if you are happy with the results or not. You'll probably want to be on f8 or above to get good sharpness/depth of field.

If the results are ok then great, otherwise you might want to add some light. Yongnuo make a variety of inexpensive flash guns that either work with their radio trigger on the camera or some have slave mode whereby they sense the flash on the camera and fire.

[Doofus]

No, I've not started using it yet. I wanted to make sure I had what I needed before I started.

I'll have a play, and look for external lights as per your suggestion if necessary.

Thank you

[singlecoil]

Thinking about it some more, if you feel it's worth some investment then a pair of Youngnou flashguns with brackets for mounting on light stands, and radio triggers would allow you to set one up on each side. Main light on the left, fill light on the right, then vary the fore and aft, height and power of the lights until the result in terms of giving shape and definition to the subject is what you want.

If your camera has HDMI output, plug it into a TV or monitor so you can see the results at a decent size quickly.

I do quite a bit of still life and I have a setup similar in principle to that.

[Doofus]

Interesting, thanks. I like buying shiny stuff, so I'll go Googling!

[Simpo Two]

As exposure time is not an issue, then if you can fix white balance, eg by shooting RAW, then a couple of anglepoise lamps might suffice, and you can move them around if required for a bit of modelling.

[Doofus]

I need the shots to be clear, but not particularly creative, because we need a uniformity to all the different images.

[Turn7]

You might find a pair of daylight energy saver bulbs give a consistant and repeatable light.
Cheap and easy to make work.

[Doofus]

True.

[singlecoil]

It is indeed true. The only problem is that it won't be so easy to control the relative brightness of each lamp unless you move one further away or use extra diffusers. But of course it is up to you to decide how much you want to spend. As is the case with so many things, the more you spend the easier and more effective the equipment becomes.

[steveatesh]

Doofus said:

True.

But not nearly as much fun as buying shiny things

I can add support to the Yongnuo flashlights and wireless triggers, they work a treat with full control of your flashes from the wireless trigger you attach to the camera.

Very good value too, I got two of the 568 models plus the wireless control unit and two triggers, Amazon is your friend

Edited by steveatesh on Thursday 16th February 20:26

[Doofus]

Is the wireless trigger an all in one thing? My camera doesn't support wireless as standard.

[singlecoil]

You need a transmitter to fit in the hot shoe, and receivers on the flash units. Some Yongnuo stuff has the receivers built in, and a dedicated transmitter with which you can remotely adjust the flash units. This would be a good setup, powerful too. All you would need to add is a couple of cheap light stands and adapters to hold the flash units to them.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/YN600EX-RT-Speedlite-SN-E...

[steveatesh]

Or these for Nikon, I have this set up for my D5100 along with two 568 speedlights.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/5fn/Yongnuo-YN-622N-TX-...


https://www.amazon.co.uk/YONGNUO-YN568EX-TTL-Flash...


They work a treat, allow full control of your speedlights from the YN622N controller which just goes into your camera hot shoe. Put the flash lights on the triggers then on stands or other support around your subject and off you go.