Instead of sitting around watching the boob tube, I could be doing something creative instead so I’m seriously thinking about taking up still life (flowers, etc) and portrait photography with my cameras (35mm, 645, 6x7 and 4x5 view camera).

Having no experience in this area of photography, I’m thinking that a continuous lighting source (besides an open window) would be a better choice than using a strobe? Does that sound correct?

Here are some of the lighting units that I have been looking at:

http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/prod...t_light/cf0003

http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/prod..._stand/cf0003k

http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/prod...o_light/sv3860

http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/prod...ght_kit/hl5030

Do you think the Calumet Quatro unit would be a better choice that the Smith Victor product? Would a 10’ stand provide sufficient height? I imaging that you could place some diffusing material in front of the bare bulbs on these units to create a soft box effect. The Wescott product is a continuous lighting source that comes with a soft box enclosure but would that limit you to one color of light? Which of the two types would prove to be more versatile?

The price differential between the units is not a deciding factor.

Thanks for your input and -

Happy Holidays,

Thomas