Rail System

[Melody]

Hello,

I'm searching things again:getdown:

What I'm wondering is....will I really like this sort of set up??

First it's much more work for me to have installed as I have a dropped/suspended ceiling:( however I know it can be done. I purchased a used motorized backdrop which I think I will absolutely love and it's being installed in the next few weeks.

I know I'd like the stands out, and the cords off the floor, it's cleaner looking and safer for the kids well and for my equipment.

I'm curious though just how much I'd like it limiting even with the rails just where my lights are... I like the flexibility of moving them anywhere I want in my shooting area and even more so when I want to shoot in another area which granted is rare however I've done it.

If you used this sort of system which was your preference the rails or just using the lightstands? Or perhaps a combination? Backdrop and or fills and keep the main on a stand?

Melody

[Bujo]

I've used both and really liked the rails, but it was for a huge company and they had multiple sets of everything so I wasn't limited to rails or stands if needed. I used stands the last time in the studio and didn't really feel better or worse about it. The stands, like you said, can be moved around to different places so that's the base advantage until you can afford multiple systems of lights.

[easternherp]

Melody,

Where I used to work we went from stands to rails and they were good. We only had a small set up and it could be fiddly sometimes to get the lights in the right place but it was helpful to get the stands and cables out of the way. The only thing to remember is to watch out for the hanging lights and that you don't bump your head. I don't think that you will find that you will want stands once you have got it, but do keep them just in case you need to get the lights that little bit lower.

[lightwrangler]

Definitely better when working with groups and kids, although taller adults may bonk their heads if you can't get stuff up high enough. This system works well with lights that can be adjusted remotely (although you can work around this with a short ladder). You need to have good head room for a # pattern, since two rails slide under the other ones. Start with a simple set up since often you only want a couple of lights up there and additional lights could be on wall mounted booms, which are less cost and fold flat to the wall when not in use.

A rail system does give your studio a certain upscale look, so charge more!

Cheers,
Adrian

[Melody]

Thanks for the input guys!:clap:

Adrian, you just read my mind this morning!

I do have two walls in my shooting area, and was thinking that the wall mounts could easily work on the one background and on my fill light.
I just imagine it's so much easier to take them down and put on back on stands if I wanted to without dealing with getting cords off of a rail system.

My other wall has the backgrounds, opposite side wall is a floor to ceiling black drape of material on a muslin system so I can pull it all the way open if I want to shoot in the other direction. Which granted if I use wall mounts I'd eliminate that option.

I think the ceiling is high enough in reading some other places, however just barely...the suspended part is at 10ft it's open 14 feet up if I take the tiles out.

If my subject is taller then 5' I'm having to stand on something anyway so I'm not looking up their nose..:( I usually just hope they'll want something in a sitting position LOL!

Remotely adjust the lights...hmmmm....not that I know of...I've got the profoto lights now I'll have to see if there is a way to do that, I just assumed I'd have to get the back of the monolights and keep the powerpack thingy down low enough for me to make adjustments on the others.

:lol: cracks me up bump my head on lights it's not typical for me to hit many things...although my one softbox yeah I'd hit that anyone would it's usually vertical and 40inches I believe.

Darn I'll be out of the studio today or I'd be down there playing and planning a bit.

Thanks again.

Melody