NEW - Ken Gilbert

For studio newbies,
inexpensive and simple is the
way to go. Simplicity in gear and
style, as exemplified in Kyle Christy’s
one-light portrait of actress Gabriella
Union, means no complicated controls
(what is asymmetrical, anyway?), heavy
packs, or softboxes that are difficult to
set up and/or mount. Some of the best
at being simple include...
nLIGHTS: INTERFIT 150
Ws Stellar X monolight
($207, street) Well constructed and
straightforward, this entry-level strobe
has well-marked controls and simple
dial-set output—no labor-intensive,
multi-press push-buttons. A grab handle
allows easy aiming and carrying. While
simple, the unit also offers its share of
sophistication in stepless power setting,
fan cooling, auto dumping, and a long
list of groovy accessories.
nBACKGROUND STANDS:
SAVAGE Port-A-Stand ($110,
street) With a carrying bag and free
roll of white seamless, this favorably
priced background system includes a
telescoping cross
bar (9.4 feet) and
two risers (8.3
feet) that can double
as lightstands. All
together it weighs a
mere 12 pounds.
nCASE:
FLASHPOINT
CS770 lighting
case ($170,
direct; www.adorama.
com) This is a procaliber
case at an
amateur price. Interior
dividers include a
long shelf to create
top and bottom
compartments,
plus vertical
dividers. The
tough-guy
construction
includes high impact
plastic walls with
foam padding plus
a weather-resistant
outer nylon shell.
Its 38x10x10-inch
dimensions are
big, but not too.
nLIGHT
MODIFIERS:
PHOTOGENIC Eclipse 32inch
white umbrella ($22,
street) This umbrella has something
extra: a removable black backing. The
backing prevents ambient spill, creating
visibly stronger shadows, especially
in small studios. Also nice: its highly
reflective, white satin internal surfacing
prevents the umbrella ribbing from
appearing in reflective subjects.
nSTUDIO ACCESSORIES:
SP-SYSTEMS Grip Clamp
($27, street) Studio clamps are
indispensable. They handle reflectors,
diffusers, filters, backdrops, and more.
Start with a selection of various-sized
A-clamps, and then graduate to a
heavy-duty, gear-driven tool like the SP
Grip Clamp. It can hold accessories and
light fixtures weighing up to 33 pounds.
nOPTIONS & UPGRADES:
lMICROSYNC Digital Radio
Slave kit ($190, street) Once
you’ve tripped over a PC cord a few
times, you’ll see the point of wireless
strobe triggering systems. One of the
most novice-friendly is the MicroSync
Digital, thanks to its favorable pricing
and compact proportions. The
smallest radio transmitter
there is, it will fire strobe
at distances up to 100
feet and free you from
that trip-wire otherwise
known as the PC cord.
lLASTOLITE
EzyBalance
gray card
($49, street)
Depending on the
color and reflectivity
of your subject
and the color
temperature and
consistency of the
light source, setting
an accurate white
balance in-camera
can be tricky. The best
hedge is including
a white balance
target in one shot per
lighting setup. Light
and collapsible, Lastolite’s
EzyBalance offers a
washable white surface
for custom white
balancing, and a
gray side for finetuning
white balance
later in software. p
FOR NOVICE SHOOTERS
n Product name n Catalog number
n Street price
LOCATION SHOOTERS
•Calumet Travelite 375 CE1100 $ 500
•Calumet Travel-pak CE1107 $ 530
•Bowens Ringlight
Converter BW-1790 $ 400
•Lowel Uni-TO UN-55 $ 55
•Kenko KFM-1100 KFM-1100 $ 260
•PocketWizard FlexTT5
transceiver 801-150 $ 219
•PocketWizard MiniTT1
transmitter 801-140 $ 199
•Photoflex FV-Multibag
Transpac FV-Multibag $ 190
•California Sunbounce
Windkiller 0001WK $ 144
•SP-Systems Excalibur
Lancerlight B&H kit SPACD3200K $ 395
EVENT SHOOTERS
•Quantum Instruments
Qflash TRIO QF8C/QF8N $ 875
HIGH-END SHOOTERS
•White Lightning X800 X800 $ 399
•Elinchrom Digital
Style Combo EL 20728.2 $ 1650
•Photogenic caster
lightstand 959336 $ 150
•Sekonic L-758DR 401-758 $ 500
•Elinchrom EL-Skyport
USB RX transceiver EL 19354 $ 105
•Tenba 1030 PAT Tripak 634-504 $ 265
•Studioball Graf
Strato kit GRS222 $ 750
•AlienBees ABR800
ringflash ABR800 $ 400
MIDLEVEL
STUDIO SHOOTERS
•Westcott TD3 Spiderlite kit 4861A $ 420
•Westcott TD5 Spiderlite kit 4881 $ 649
•Gossen Digipro F GO4033 $ 240
•Lastolite Tri-Grip
reflector LL LR3607 $ 75
•Lastolite Tri-Grip
covers LL LR3698 $ 64
•Tenba Roadie Rolling
Grip Case 638-323 $ 227
•Manfrotto AutoPole 2 kit 2961D $ 380
•Westcott rentable backgrounds
(*PER WEEK) (n.a.) $ 49*
•Sunpak DigitFlash 500 MDF500 $ 400
NOVICE SHOOTERS
•Interfit Steller XD 150 INT450 $ 207
•Savage Port-A-Stand 6203750 $ 110
•Flashpoint
Lighting Case FPCS770 $ 170
•Photogenic
Eclipse Umbrella 909143 $ 22
•SP-Systems Grip Clamp SPGRIP $ 27
•MicroSync transmitter/
receiver kit VMTRM $ 190
•Lastolite EzyBalance
gray card LL LR1250 $ 49