Light Kit Questions

[lexus guy]

I'm in the process of buying my first lighting system & have a couple of questions.

First: Softboxes, Octaboxes or umbrella's; remove price as a factor, what are the advantages/disadvantages of each type?

Second: Is a 100/150W modeling lamp enough? I'm seriously looking at Alien Bees & White Lightnings. The Bees max lamp is 150W while the Lightings is 250W.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[Bill C]

I don't have a response to your specific questions, however, here is a link to a good lighting forum at DPREVIEW:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1025

Bill

[killians913]

Depending on the size, softboxes and octaboxes can be more difficult to set up and transport. However, they can be more directional or used to "feather" the light upon a subject. Umbrellas are lighter and easier to transport and set up, but are less directional.

I find that the 250 watt bulbs (vice 100 or 150) throw a brighter light and give me a better sense of how the subject will be lit when the flash is set off.

If you plan to do a lot of on location lighting, I find the white lightnings to be more rugged and better built. However, the alien bees are much lighter and easier to transport.