Nikon manual David Busch’s Nikon D7000 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

436 David Busch’s Nikon D7000 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

and lots of light to smaller subjects. The output of such units is measured in watt sec- onds (ws), so you could purchase a 200ws, 400ws, or 800ws unit, and a power pack to match.

Their advantages include greater power output, much faster recycling, built-in model- ing lamps, multiple power levels, and ruggedness that can stand up to transport, because many photographers pack up these kits and tote them around as location lighting rigs.

A more practical choice these days are monolights (see Figure 12.23), which are “all-in- one” studio lights that sell for about $200-$400. They have the flash tube, modeling light, and power supply built into a single unit that can be mounted on a light stand. Monolights are available in AC-only and battery-pack versions, although an external battery eliminates some of the advantages of having a flash with everything in one unit. They are very portable, because all you need is a case for the monolight itself, plus the stands and other accessories you want to carry along. Because these units are so popu- lar with photographers who are not full-time professionals, the lower-cost monolights are often designed more for lighter duty than professional studio flash. That doesn’t mean they aren’t rugged; you’ll just need to handle them with a little more care, and, perhaps, not expect them to be used eight hours a day for weeks on end. In most other respects, however, monolights are the equal of traditional studio flash units in terms of fast recycling, built-in modeling lamps, adjustable power, and so forth.

Figure 12.23

All-in-one “monolights” contain flash, power supply, and a modeling light in one compact pack- age (umbrella not included).