Whats the best light tent??

[KaotikJezta]

Ok, setting up a home studio with the arrival of my DSLR at any moment and I am doing studio photography at uni. Was wondering what peoples ideas were on the best light tent. Things like size, shape, brand, materials etc. There are so many on ebay I am finding it hard choosing. Feel free to post example pictures.

 

[Bradchip]

I can't say I've ever used one, but could definitely see the benefits. I don't think shape or brand would matter all that much. Size would depend on what you wanna shoot the most. Obviously if it's reps you'd need something of a fairly decent size. I shoot primarily macro, so a small one would do me.

Are you going to be using flashes, or lamps?

I just looked up light tents on ebay...it's an absolute mine field :O

I'll post this anyway...it's not a light tent, but does the job of getting good light on the subject, and the lamp is basically used so I can autofocus on the tiny little insects

 

[KaotikJezta]

Ok, I was going to buy a kit with lamps and the tent but wondering now if I should buy the soft box, studio table kit. I thought the tent wound be good for keeping reps contained if they get unruly, haha.

 

[Bradchip]

The problem with shooting reps in a light tent, is that they might not behave, and probably decide to have their heads facing the wrong way. So unless you make it that you can actually move whatever they're on (log/branch etc) in the light tent, it might be tough.

That's just my way of thinking. I could be wrong there.

I'd actually prefer to do it on a table (probably a bigger table than I have above), and be able to move around, and then position the flashes afterwards, and then move a backdrop into position. I have enough trouble photographing my animals in their enclosures with the restrictive movement!

There's no right or wrong answers to this. I just prefer the flexibility and movement. Others might prefer the tent.

 

[KaotikJezta]

Yep, that is what I am starting to think, by the time you get a huge light tent may as well use a table and backdrops.

 

[Bradchip]

Must admit, I'm a little envioius of you doing studio photography at uni. What camera did you end up going for?

 

[KaotikJezta]

Well, being old school and loving film, after much research I decided on the Sigma SD14 as it is as close to film as you can get in a digital. I only had a budget of $500 and low and behold, there was one on ebay with 15 minutes to go. I got it with a second body that is faulty, a macro lens, a telephoto and a bunch of other stuff + a film camera for $455. I was stoked. It just turned up 10 minutes ago. YAY!!

I should mention, my dad is a photographer and I have been using Nikons since I was about 8 years old but I was never happy with the digital Nikons. I remember when my dad got his first digital Nikon, he bought the top of the range at the time and 2 weeks later he sold it and went back to film.

EDIT: Another nifty thing about the SD14 is you can remove the IR filter in about 2 seconds flat to clean the image sensor so it becomes an IR camera without the ridiculously expensive and irreversible conversion needed with other cameras.

 

[Red-Ink]

How big is the budget for a studio set up?

I have been looking at these... just need to move some critters to get some $$$.

Glanz Mini Pioneer 43 160w Studio Lighting Kit - 3 Head - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia - 'The Purple Camera Store'

 

[KaotikJezta]

How big is the budget for a studio set up?

Not huge to start with, maybe $300

 

[Red-Ink]

Not huge to start with, maybe $300

You cant go wrong here you go....
Glanz Mini Pioneer 43 160w Studio Lighting Kit - 2 Head - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia - 'The Purple Camera Store'

Or the previous one I put up for three heads and they are all optical slaves and come with a trigger. I'm sure you can find them cheaper if you look hard enough.

 

[KaotikJezta]

Thanks for the help guys, now the decisions begin.

Here's a picture I took with it quickly to try it out, has been cropped down:

View attachment 211603

 

[KaotikJezta]

Well, due to yet again over spending on reptile stuff I halved my budget. But, I managed to pick this little package up on ebay which I thought would be more than adequate to start me off until I can save up some more money:
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d�r