Need recommendation for lighting upgrade

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netwerks

Member
Hi everyone-

I am looking for some recommendations on some lighting for some shoots I am doing. I'm currently shooting with a 60d and a sigma 50mm f 1.4 lens.

Here is my scenario. I currently have a 8'x10' white vinyl roll background on a stand. I have it lit with about 4 100w cfl on each side and 3 across the top and bottom which is getting me to a lighting measurement of f2.8 using 60fps and 160 iso and @ f4 @ 320 iso.

I then have three point lighting (cfl softboxes) on my subject which I can get to @ 1.4f using 60fps and 160 iso or f2.8 @ 320 iso to keep me a few stops off the background so I can get that "apple" look.

I'd like to film my subject at a higher fstop, say f4 rather than the current f1.4 or f2.8 which means I need to have my background @ f8 or brighter.

I know I could bump up the iso up a bit but I am trying to keep the pic as clean as possible. I do have a denoise plugin but would prefer not to use it. :)

So to do this and stay at the same shutter speed and iso, I'd need to invest in some brighter lights to bring that background lighting up a few stops.

I am using 5600k cfl with portable clamp lights from lowes now. I'm open to suggestions on what I might be able to use on my background that is relatively inexpensive and easy to transport, as my current 14 clamp lights aren't very mobile.

Look forward to any suggestions on what options I may have. I'm going to throw a budget out there of about $1000 but I'd like to keep as cheap as possible.
 
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Is 125 the native ISO of your Canon? I'd think 200-320 would be more likely, & cleaner, though I imagine 400-640 would be more than usuable.
 
Sorry that was a typo I meant 160 iso. My understanding is that 160, 320, 640 are optimal iso for video on 60d.
 
netwerks said:
Sorry that was a typo I meant 160 iso. My understanding is that 160, 320, 640 are optimal iso for video on 60d.
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d00d. I had to Google what the Hell an "apple" look was and behold. Someone had a video explaining just how he did it!
 
netwerks said:
Sorry that was a typo I meant 160 iso. My understanding is that 160, 320, 640 are optimal iso for video on 60d.
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While they'll give you the least amount of noise, you're losing a bit of dynamic range at those sensitivities.

Also, more of a general observation but I do think it applies here - IMO, the whole issue of noise has been blown way out of proportion by all of these super sensitive cameras. I've gotten images that I consider to be fine in that regard while shooting at 1250 ISO. As long as you have a proper exposure (which I did, it was daylight and I wanted to stop the iris way down), I would say just go up to 320 ISO at least.

I'm not trying to diminish the importance of getting good lighting by saying to bump up your sensitivity by a stop or two, but that will get you half way there. You want good, cheap lights? The two things I always recommend - ebay and craigslist for used Mole or Colortran lights, or see if local rental houses are selling old rental inventory. Build up a kit bit by bit. Avoid cheap stands too.
 
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