Which is the best lighting for micro shooting?

Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

I don't have a studio ,but I want the lighting to take micro pictures at home.
Please help me to choose the best kit from the list below: or (If there are some good kits please list it !!)

The fist kit:

Elinchrom D-Lite2 2 Monolight Kit- includes: 2- 200 W/S Monolights, Softboxes, Light Stands, Sync Cords, Cases - 400 Total Watt/Seconds (110-220V AC) Price:$ 899.00

The second kit:
Multiblitz Compactlite 400 Total W/S Location Kit - Includes: 2 Compactlite 200 W/S Monolights, Umbrellas, Light Stands, Sync Cord, Case,Price: $ 669.95

The third kit:

Norman ML400 2 Monolight Kit - includes: 2- ML400 Monolights, Umbrellas, Sync Cord, Light Stands, Case - 800 Total Watt/Seconds
Price: $ 998.95

Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Boulder, Colorado

Any kit of lights will be handy...but more important to the macro/micro photographer is usually a "ring flash" that mounts to the lens...allowing a variety of lighting setups and shading.
I once knew a guy that shot amazing photos of bugs and such using a "homemade" ring flash that he made from the flashes that are in those disposable plastic cameras. He just removed all the goodies and built his own setup where he could fire each flash as many times as needed.

Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

Fisheye wrote:

Any kit of lights will be handy...but more important to the macro/micro photographer is usually a "ring flash" that mounts to the lens...allowing a variety of lighting setups and shading.
I once knew a guy that shot amazing photos of bugs and such using a "homemade" ring flash that he made from the flashes that are in those disposable plastic cameras. He just removed all the goodies and built his own setup where he could fire each flash as many times as needed.

Thank you so much, I'll consider your advise .

Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 6

Oh, sorry I almost forget
I mean by micro shooting the products and the things such as coins,cars models,cups,and etc...
Not the outdoor micro shooting.

Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Knoxville, TN

You could consider Alien Bees (www.alienbees.com) you could get a small kit and a ring flash for that price (and they'd all be more powerful.)

320w Ring flash
2-400w Strobes
2 stands
2 unbrellas or brolly boxes
$968.68 (about $1000 shipped)

You could also get yourself a light box, which works well for getting good light on small objects.

Cheers,
Michael