Interfit lights for smallish studio

Bend The Light · March 18, 2012

Anyone know anything about lights?

I have found a room/studio which myself and a couple of other mates are going to rent. It is 6mx7m. I am looking at some extra lights that I don't have to borrow. I found these which I could afford (on credit!). Anyone have knowledge of them?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/992315/c_1/1|category_root|Photography|14419436/c_2/2|14419436|Camera+bags+and+accessories|30151794/c_3/3|cat_30151794|Photography+studio+equipment|30353461.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

I will also have access to a couple of other lights for much of the time, but they occasionally have to go to their owner for visits.

ziggy53 · March 18, 2012

I see Jacobs selling the same kit for a bit more, and that makes me feel a bit better because they (Jacobs) have a pretty good reputation.

The Interfit kit is entry level, but you could probably do fairly serious work with it. Those soft boxes are pretty small, approx 24" square. These soft boxes are probably fine for head-and-shoulder or head shots, but probably not as suitable for anything more. I would recommend larger convertible umbrellas instead.

The monolights themselves appear to be these (300WS):

http://www.interfitphotographic.com/Lighitng/Product%20Pages/Venus%20flash.php

Here's a review:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/Home/default.aspx?/saves/reviews/InterfitVenus2headkit.html

They do appear to be stepless power settings, which is good, an the modelling lights follow the power, which is also good. There is no mention about power accuracy or (more importantly) power repeatability. There is also no mention of color shift relating to power output. (Red predominance at low power output is typical in cheaper sudio flash.)

I don't see any mention of fan cooling, so these lights are probably not going to be 100 percent duty cycle. After a series of rapid flash the lights may shut down to prevent overheating. Plan on around 20 minutes for cooling. I would regard these as "light duty" flashes.

If you can buy the monolights and stands alone, and if the light duty service cycles are suitable for your application, then these might be fine. Just add a couple of 60" convertible umbrellas for better light quality and to allow larger subject coverage.

My recommendation is to purchase monolights with fan cooling and better flashtube design, along with an assortment of light modifiers, including at least 36" square, double diffused soft boxes, some large and small convertible umbrellas, and either large diffusion panels or large reflection panels. Instead of one of the softboxes you might use a 60" SoftLighter II, for similar light and faster setup.

Comments about Interfit monolights:

http://www.photography-forum.org/showthread.php/48604-Interfit-Kit-or-Bowens-S-H?p=471759#post471759

http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=259507&page=1#post5369409

Bend The Light · March 18, 2012

ziggy53 wrote: »

I see Jacobs selling the same kit for a bit more, and that makes me feel a bit better because they (Jacobs) have a pretty good reputation.

The Interfit kit is entry level, but you could probably do fairly serious work with it. Those soft boxes are pretty small, approx 24" square. These soft boxes are probably fine for head-and-shoulder or head shots, but probably not as suitable for anything more. I would recommend larger convertible umbrellas instead.

The monolights themselves appear to be these (300WS):

http://www.interfitphotographic.com/Lighitng/Product%20Pages/Venus%20flash.php

Here's a review:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/Home/default.aspx?/saves/reviews/InterfitVenus2headkit.html

They do appear to be stepless power settings, which is good, an the modelling lights follow the power, which is also good. There is no mention about power accuracy or (more importantly) power repeatability. There is also no mention of color shift relating to power output. (Red predominance at low power output is typical in cheaper sudio flash.)

I don't see any mention of fan cooling, so these lights are probably not going to be 100 percent duty cycle. After a series of rapid flash the lights may shut down to prevent overheating. Plan on around 20 minutes for cooling. I would regard these as "light duty" flashes.

If you can buy the monolights and stands alone, and if the light duty service cycles are suitable for your application, then these might be fine. Just add a couple of 60" convertible umbrellas for better light quality and to allow larger subject coverage.

My recommendation is to purchase monolights with fan cooling and better flashtube design, along with an assortment of light modifiers, including at least 36" square, double diffused soft boxes, some large and small convertible umbrellas, and either large diffusion panels or large reflection panels. Instead of one of the softboxes you might use a 60" SoftLighter II, for similar light and faster setup.

Comments about Interfit monolights:

http://www.photography-forum.org/showthread.php/48604-Interfit-Kit-or-Bowens-S-H?p=471759#post471759

http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=259507&page=1#post5369409

Thanks.

It may be that these are lightly used, and probably not "rapid fire" stuff. I have the use of a couple of other lights for much of the time, and would be supplementing that set mostly.

As we are in no way experienced studio photographers, it is about renting the room, kitting out for not a lot of outlay, and practicing our "art" until such times as we are accomplished. In that instance we start taking clients and then maybe upgrading equipment. I have no illusions about the time and effort this will take though! Hence the low risk rent, and cheaper equipment in the short term.

Cheers