Help needed to DIY lightbox

[radura]

Hi Guys,

Ok, am looking to diy a lightbox for product and food shots. I have done some due dillegence and some up with the following links:
1) http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive...light_box.html
2) http://www.jyoseph.com/extras/archiv...y_lightbox.php
3) http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent

Has anyone of you guys tried out the various methods of constucting the lightboxes? Any feedback on which is the most effective?

Additionally, I have been having some problems getting hold of cheap clip lights as shown in the pictures... So, any input on:
- Where do u guys buy them from?
- What sort of light bulbs do u use?
- Would the energy saving bulbs (eg. osram 23w daylight - equivalent to 120w) be sufficient?

Thanks!

[StreetShooter]

Ikea would probably have them cheap.

The problem with the energy saving bulbs would be that they have a certain frequency, so you cannot have too fast a shutter speed (although this should not be a problem with still life shots). The advantage is that the light is white, rather than incandescent, so you have to compensate less for the WB (and ? get more accurate colours). I would still do a custom WB though.

[radura]

Yeah, places i have kiv-ed include ikea lighting shops along Jalan Besar and balestier. I think that they should have rather affordable (read: Cheap) light fixtures for my requirements.

The point on the light having a certain frequency, does that apply to the energy saving bulbs? Did u manage to experiment with those types of bulbs? I think some forums were recommending the 'full-spectrum' incandecents... super cheem words... But seriously, any comparison of the results of both?

[StreetShooter]

Yes, I think so. Fluorescent lighting (which is the technology used in energy saving bulbs) actually flickers very rapidly - too fast to be detected by the human eye, but if you take a photo in a room lit by fluorescent lighting at greater than 1/200s shutter speed, you will find that half the frame is darker (brownish). My usual solution is simply to lower the ISO, resulting in a slower shutter speed.

[radura]

Interesting... care to share with me your setup? Like how many light sources you use... etc.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by radura Interesting... care to share with me your setup? Like how many light sources you use... etc.

my setup long long time ago...

[radura]

I must say that if that was a diy setup, then i must take my hat off to you.

haha, anyway Del_CtrlnoAlt, how much did u spend on that setup?

[longko]

If I were you, I do it like this.

1. Goto those cheapo shop and buy those foldable laundry basket. (It looks like a light tent) $2-5
2. Get white ployester silk from Arab Street, for the tent and light diffuser. $2 per m
3. Goto Daiso and buy those silver sheets/forms as your reflector. $2 a piece
4. Get lights from ikea that uses E26 or E27 bulbs.
Lersta $19.90
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=20110903
Tertial $12.90
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=20370383
5. Get energy saving bulbs from outside 23-26watts about $6-10 each

Hope this will help.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by radura I must say that if that was a diy setup, then i must take my hat off to you. haha, anyway Del_CtrlnoAlt, how much did u spend on that setup?

mostly DIYed, 50% ikea that time... u see got the 2 triangle stand, ikea 1, then ikea light stand, on bottom, still got 2 ikea floor stand behind...

now i testing a new portable product shoot set... hehe... will show results in due time, but time to clear my room...

[radura]

Originally Posted by longko If I were you, I do it like this. 1. Goto those cheapo shop and buy those foldable laundry basket. (It looks like a light tent) $2-5 2. Get white ployester silk from Arab Street, for the tent and light diffuser. $2 per m 3. Goto Daiso and buy those silver sheets/forms as your reflector. $2 a piece 4. Get lights from ikea that uses E26 or E27 bulbs. Lersta $19.90 http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=20110903 Tertial $12.90 http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=20370383 5. Get energy saving bulbs from outside 23-26watts about $6-10 each Hope this will help.

Hmm... thanks for the suggestions! Really appreciate it...

However, just to check with you, what does a foldable laundry basket look like?

The energy saving bulb, id assume u mean the daylight types, are these fluorescent? Have u experienced any of the frequency problem as mentioned above?

[radura]

Originally Posted by Del_CtrlnoAlt mostly DIYed, 50% ikea that time... u see got the 2 triangle stand, ikea 1, then ikea light stand, on bottom, still got 2 ikea floor stand behind... now i testing a new portable product shoot set... hehe... will show results in due time, but time to clear my room...

Icic... the setup really looks quite pro... btw, for the lightbox shown, is it diy-ed?

[Faiz]

may be wanna use styrofoam boxes? fit in fluorescent those small tubes 1 , sume wire works and wallah a soft box !