dedolights for portraits?

[drp]

i'm wondering if the dlh4 dedolights are worth getting compared to something like the arri 650w or 150w lights? am i better off getting the arris and saving that money for something else?

i was thinking about getting 4 dedolights (key, fill, kicker, background) for a full kit for portraiture for doing 3/4 shots and close up head and shoulder shots. can both type of lights work in a small 2-car garage environment?

i'll be shooting in 4x5 and 8x10 format.

thanks for any insight!

 

[Tim Gray]

I've never used mine for portraits. I have one. I see no reason why it couldn't be used. It's a tremendously high quality beam and seems to have more bang per watt than a standard fresnel.

One problem might be trying to get a large enough spot for some shots. But it should be no problem for head and shoulders, and probably not a problem for 3/4 shots as well.

They are incredibly expensive. I would consider 2 dedo's and maybe a big Arri or two. Best of both worlds.

I use mine for lighting for video.

 

[Ray Heath]

g'day dede

what's a dedo?

 

[drp]

g'day dede

what's a dedo?

g'day!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/298701-REG/Dedolight_DLHDIM4U_DLH4_150W_Spotlight_with.html

 

[df cardwell]

Dedos might make more sense as a minimal, portable studio for 35 & 120. They make, as Tim said, a high quality beam,
wonderful to work with, but they are SO expensive they might better be a last resort for a working pro. You CAN accomplish all the classic lighting effects with a couple big old reflectors.

Here's a shot of Halsman's studio in 1950. Pretty classic.

http://www.magnumphotos.com/CoreXDoc/MAG/Media/TR3/S/K/C/L/PAR196099.jpg

 

[df cardwell]

g'day dede

what's a dedo?

http://www.dedotec.com/dedolight/de...id=Product_and_Portrait+Photography&section=0

 

[Ray Heath]

g'day all

ok, so dedolights are a portable mains powered off camera video light

wouldn't the light be too directional for many subjects?

do dedolights come with light modifiers?

they seem to be very expensive

Ray

 

[Christopher Nisperos]

g'day all

ok, so dedolights are a portable mains powered off camera video light

wouldn't the light be too directional for many subjects?

do dedolights come with light modifiers?

they seem to be very expensive

Ray

Ray has some good points. I'd take exception, however, to Dedolights being considered simply as "off-camera video lights". They are much more versatile than that! (beginning with the fact that they are probably used more frequently in filmmaking than in standard video production). Moreover, their design is fundamentally different from typical small light sources: neither fresnel nor bulb+reflector, but rather, an optical "zoom lens" system in the head. Sharper, cleaner light.

I've used my Dedolights quite successfully for "Hollywood" type portraits. Ray is on the nose when he ponders whether the light from a Dedo might be too directional. Therefore —if you are going to use "Dedolights only"— I would suggest using them primarily for tight headshots (they are also perfect for product photography, by the way). The solution for larger subjects such as a 3/4 portrait is to go "Karsh style". That is, basicly a rim type lighting (or a couple of Dedo's as backlights) with your fill-light illuminating frontal details.

A tiny softbox is available for the Dedolight but I find that it cuts the lighting level too much... not to mention cutting the original advantage of using a Dedo. The softbox would be great with digital shooting ... but I don't do that!

They are expensive, but I don't regret owning mine. Same feeling about my first Hasselblad. Difference is, my Dedolights have kept their value in spite of the changing technology.

Summary:

Using only one type of light for portraiture is probably OK if you're only going to create one type of portrait. As a basic, polyvalent "starter kit", I'd suggest a couple of Dedolights, a larger-faced spot (fresnel) and two or three floods. To save money, get a used theater light for the fresnel and just about anything will do for your floods (use clothpins and tuff-spun for diffusion). NOTE: Flagging and barndoors are essential for this type of lighting, and remain the most expensive accessories. Unfortunately they aren't always easy to DIY .

As a location kit, two Dedo's and two floods ought to do. But don't listen to me —or anybody! Always test and experiment!!!

Best,

Christopher

.

 

[Solarize]

I would echo what's already been said. I've been using dedo's for about two years now through a university programme. They are expensive to buy and so are the accesories, but I love their versatility. The extra projection unit is pretty nifty, and three heads have done me well - with an arri redhead for extra power when needed.

Are you thinking about getting the dimmers? I'm not sure if they come as standard, but for tight locations the spot/flood zoom, flexible barndoors and dimmers have been invaluable for shaping the light in tight spaces. As Christopher says, they are pretty durable too.

The best option would of course be if you could test them first!

 

[drp]

thanks for the responses everyone.

i plan on getting the newer dlh-4's that include the dimmers. so it seems like i should get two dedo's and 2 or three other fresnels for the key/fill lights.

thanks again! this info really helped!