Originally posted by bobbotron Yeah, I already have a number of speedlights, I'm looking to get some bigger studio lights that'll drive a big soft box. I think I'll drop the battery requirement, if I go for a Godox SK300II now, it's a lot of light, and if I ever go bigger later it'll still be a useful addition. The SK300II is under $100 USD, super reasonable compared to the AD line.
Keep your eyes open for older studio lighting if you are willing to buy used. I'm still using the same set of Photogenic lights that I bought in 1995. It's an 800 WS 4 light kit. I am usually using 24" aluminium dish reflectors on it. I use a diffuser on the fill and either nothing or a grid on the main, and snoot the hair light and background light as needed. All metal modifiers, so they are big to store and haul.
I have a couple of modifiers that I got last century called "Moonlights". They are big, round modifiers. I think one is 3 feet, the other 5 feet. With a bare bulb they give very even light with a single head. They are great for large product, but the light is too flat for a lot of stuff.
I was told at a photography seminar that it was sometimes desirable to use more than one head in oversized modifiers if really even light was required, especially if the modifier was close to the subject. They can have hot spots. I've never used one, but I suspect a big strip light would be a candidate for multiple heads.
I use bare bulb in softboxes, which makes the light more even. I turn the modelling lights off after adjusting the lights, and never leave them on for very long. A bare bulb can burn a fabric modifier if the modeling lights are on. It can happen surprisingly quickly.
I haven't used a fabric box since I went digital. I would try using no modelling lights at all now, and just using the review screen.
If you can use an LED as a modeling light, this isn't a concern. Some of the old lights used an A21 Edison bulb for the modelling lights. They are easy to get as LEDs.