Continuous Light Systems Vs Strobes Photography

Featuring. Godox QT600II(Flash) & Godox SL150W II(Continuous)

Are you wondering if you should choose flash strobe lighting or continuous LED lighting for your photography? If so, we're here to make that choice a little easier with our comparison of the two, along with the pros and cons of each lighting option.

We'll look at the differences between the two lighting systems later, but it basically boils down to this:

Continuous LED lighting - When you switch the light on, it stays on and provides continuous light while you shoot. It's great for photography and video made with DSLR and mirrorless cameras, or even with smartphones and other devices.

Flash strobe lighting - Strobes don't illuminate a subject until you set them off with some form of trigger system. It can only be used in still photography with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, and they are typically more powerful than continuous lights.

If you want to take a deeper dive and actually see the results of shooting with the two lighting systems, why not check out our video on continuous LED lighting vs. flash strobe lighting ? We shot the comparison photos for this video in Sydney at the awesome Innkeeper Studios, which is a great, friendly place to have a photoshoot.

Let's take a closer look at the key differences between the two systems:

Continuous Lighting

Featuring. Godox SL-60W(Continuous)

This type of lighting is becoming ever more popular, and one of the reasons is because it's so versatile. You can shoot with a smartphone or DSLR, and you can use it for still photos and filming videos.

Another reason for the popularity of continuous LED lighting is the simplicity. It's a 'what you see is what you get' type of lighting, so you know how your subject will look in the light before you press the shutter or the record button.

(Video) Continuous LED Lighting vs. Flash Strobe Lighting | What's the difference? When should you use them?

Along with being able to see and adjust the lighting before taking the photo, continuous lighting doesn't need any complicated trigger systems to make them work. If you want to adjust the light, you can turn the dial to dim it or increase the brightness.

Flash Strobe Lighting

Featuring. Godox AD100Pro(Flash)

While flash strobe lighting remains a firm favourite in many photography studios, there are more factors to consider, which can put beginners off.

You must use a flash trigger system to set the strobes off, and you need to dial in the correct settings in your camera and adjust the light output power. All the equipment needs to be compatible in order to work properly, too.

This type of lighting is only used with DSLR and mirrorless cameras and is not suitable for filming videos because it's not continuous.

Let's take a look at the pros and cons of a continuous lighting system in order to help you weigh up the options.

Featuring. Godox CL10(Continuous)

Pros

• You can use any camera or device to shoot photography and video
• You can easily see what your lighting will look like on the photo or video before shooting
• You can use any modifier, like a grid, snoot, or softbox to shape the light and create a different ambience
• It's great for giving your images and videos a cinematic feel
• If you want to capture motion you can get some great soft and blurry creative effects
• You can set your shot up perfectly before pressing the shutter, so you don't have to waste time shooting and then adjusting your lighting each time until it's perfect
• Continuous lighting is generally cheaper to buy than strobes
• They are easier for beginners to understand and get good lighting results with
• No need for trigger systems
• No sudden bright flash means they are well-suited to shooting children or animals

Cons

• Continuous lights tend to be less powerful than flash strobes, and they give out a softer light
• It's really hard to use continuous lights successfully with ambient light, especially if it's bright sunlight. They just don't pack enough power to overcome bright conditions
• You have to use a slower shutter speed or a higher ISO with continuous lights because of the lack of power compared to strobes

For those who want the best of both worlds, the Godox FV150 Hybrid Continuous/Flash Light is both a continuous light and a high-speed sync strobe in one hybrid light. Team it with a modifier like the Godox Collapsible Lantern Softbox (65cm/26.6") and you have the ultimate in flexible, versatile lighting for indoors or out.

We're going to take a quick look at the pros and cons of studio flash heads here:

Featuring. Godox AD100Pro(Flash)

Pros

• You can capture movement and freeze it without blurring, especially if you use a high-speed sync flash
• The light from a flash has a sharp, almost glossy, effect which is popular in many commercial shoots
• Strobes are powerful enough to overpower the ambient light, even on a bright day
• Many strobes have Bowens mounts, which means you can use any kind of Bowens or Godox light modifier to create different light effects
• The power of strobes means you can shoot with a low ISO. This means your images will be sharper and have less digital 'noise'.

Cons

• Strobes have a steeper learning curve than continuous lights due to the need to dial in settings, but once you have mastered the art, you'll get much more control over the lighting on your shoots
• It's difficult to see what result you'll get before you take the shot, even if you use a modelling light to give you an idea.
• You have to sync the flash head to your camera, either by wireless flash trigger, or a sync wire.
• More expensive than continuous lights

The Godox SK400II Studio Flash Strobe is a typical example of a modern flash strobe. Flash Strobe output can range from 100W up to an impressive 1200W.

(Video) Continuous Lighting vs. Strobes

Featuring. Godox FV200 (Hybrid Continuous & Flash)

Take a look at our quick lighting specifications comparison table to see how each lighting system stacks up against the other:

	Flash	Continuous
Power Output	More, from a single burst of light	Less, because it's continuously on
Trigger Required	Yes	No
Light Source	Xenon Flash (Video) LED Photography Lights v Studio Flash: Which Is REALLY Better?	LED Bulbs
Mount	Bowens	Bowens
Can be Used to shoot Video See Also The Hottest College in Boston Is... Northeastern?Horrifying evidence photos revealed extent of Lacey Fletcher's ordealJoe Jonas and Sophie Turner Hit the Red Carpet in N.Y.C., Plus Gabrielle Union, Tom Holland and More	No	Yes
Preview Light	No, unless there's a modelling lamp built-in	Light is always visible
Weight	Usually weighs less than continuous lights	Usually heavier because of the cooling system (Video) Flash or Continuous Light, Which is Better for a Beginner Photographer?
Battery Operated	Yes, battery powered options available and can last up to a few hours depending on the light output	Yes, battery powered options available and can last a few hours
Operating Temperature	While the flash tube remains hot, the unit itself is cool to operate	Being on continuously means these lights tend to work hot

Technology has brought us some great innovations, like the hybrid light. The Godox FV200 Hybrid Continuous/Flash Light is the bigger, more powerful brother of the hybrid light I mentioned earlier.

1. When you're looking for continuous lighting, get the most powerful lights you can afford, like the Godox SL150W II Continuous Light . If it's too powerful you can easily turn it down. It's better to have more brightness than you need than too little!
2. Use lighting modifiers to soften the light coming from the LED panels and heads, especially for shooting portraits. Umbrellas or softboxes are popular choices.
3. Some continuous lights allow you to change the colour temperature, unlike strobes. For the most natural look, set them to a daylight colour temperature, which is around 5500-5600K.
4. Turn off any other lighting or close the curtains before shooting. Other light sources can affect the colour temperature of continuous lights
5. Because they aren't as powerful as flash, it's recommended to use a three-point lighting setup. Use two front lights as a key and fill light, and then you can use the back light as a hair light or background light, as in the diagram below:

1. Unless you have High-Speed Sync (HSS) on your strobe, set your shutter speed to 1/125. If you have HSS on your flash such as on the powerful Godox QT600IIM Flash Strobe , you can set it to whatever shutter speed you choose above 1/125 and freeze motion such as water splashes.
2. Keep your ISO as low as possible to give clear and noise-free images.
3. Use the modelling lamp if you have one so you can see to gain correct focus on your subject before the flash goes off.
4. Use a light meter in front of the subject to find the correct camera settings while you fire the strobe at the subject. This will tell you the settings for perfect exposure.
5. Strobes are powerful enough so that you only need to use one to shoot portraits or fashion, like in the diagram below (although you can easily use two or more for extra effects). Setting a strobe and softbox roughly 45 degrees to your subject at head height should give you the classic Rembrandt lighting.

Featuring. Godox FV200 (Hybrid Continuous & Flash)

Thanks for reading our guide, and we've hopefully made choosing the right type of lighting system easier for you. Beginners to artificial light will probably find continuous lighting much easier to learn, as you can see the effects of moving the light around and changing the power without needing to mess with triggers or light settings.

More established photographers often need the extra power a flash gives, especially if they shoot outdoors or on location a lot. And that particular sharp and glossy look that flash strobes give to an image is often what they are after.

(Video) Flashes (Strobes) vs Continuous Lights for Photography

Hybrid lights give the best of both worlds in one package. They are becoming ever more popular with photographers who also want to shoot videos without having to use separate lights.

So, it all comes down to individual preferences, as well as budget constraints. Whichever lighting system you choose, have fun experimenting with different modifiers and gels to create a range of effects.

FAQs

Which is better strobe or continuous lighting? ›

Flash strobe lighting - Strobes don't illuminate a subject until you set them off with some form of trigger system. It can only be used in still photography with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, and they are typically more powerful than continuous lights.

Is LED light brighter than studio flash strobe? ›

LED lights are generally much lighter than studio strobes and even some speedlights.

What advantages does Strobe lighting have over continuous lighting? ›

The advantage that strobe lighting has over continuous lighting has is the light stays the same after every photograph. It can also give you an abundance of light, without the temperature rising, it can also be controlled.

Can you use strobe and continuous lighting together? ›

It can be from a professional strobe light, an off-camera flash, or the flash integrated into your camera. You can use these two different lights exclusively or together to complement your lighting. You can use them to create a special ambience or to achieve a particular effect.

Why is Strobe lighting the current choice in most professional studios? ›

Strobe lighting is generally much brighter than continuous lighting. As a result, you can shoot at faster shutter speeds so you can freeze your subject's motion without needing to sacrifice depth of field or boost your ISO.

Why do photographers use strobe lights? ›

Strobe lighting is used to create a short burst of light. The light created is much brighter and more powerful and the burst much shorter than the kind found when using traditional flash. You can adjust the output based on whether you need it lower for close-ups or higher for distance shooting.

Can I use continuous lighting in photography? ›

Literally any digital camera, including camera phones, will work perfectly with continuous lighting, just use it as if you were taking outdoor photos. If your camera has a choice of settings then you can use a large aperture to get the background out of focus, just as if you were taking outdoor shots.

Are LED lights good for studio photography? ›

Most LED-based studio lighting is designed for video use—but can also be used for still photography. This is especially true with lights that are made of panels that house dozens of small LED bulbs. Many LEDs are relatively low-output affairs, since video work is done at closer range and less light is needed.

Can you use flash with continuous lighting? ›

Yes, you absolutely can use continuous lighting and flash lighting together to great effect. When used in together, your images will have sharp areas captured by the quick flash surrounded by blurred areas captured with the continuous lighting.

Are LED lights continuous? ›

LED has become one of the most popular choices of continuous light for photography as they don't produce a lot of heat and closely replicate the feeling of natural light with their adjustable colour temperature.

What is the difference between a strobe and speedlight? ›

Strobe lights create more light, recycle faster and have a built-in modeling light for learning. Speedlights, on the other hand, are much more portable, more versatile, and can create almost all the same effects.

What is a monolight vs strobe? ›

A monolight is a strobe that connects directly to a power source (wall outlet) and the controls are in the housing whereas a power pack strobe is connected to a power pack (battery looking) and the strobe/power is controlled from there.

What is the difference between continuous and flash lighting? ›

Simply put, any form of continuous light is just that. It is 'always on,' as opposed to flash, which delivers a quick burst of light only when triggered. In photography terms, light that is already present in a scene is referred to as 'existing' or, more often, 'ambient. '

What is the difference between constant and flashing light sources? ›

A flash or a strobe is only visible for the split second that it's turned on, for the split second that it fires. That is the primary difference between a strobe versus constant light. One we can see, it's visible to the eye, the other one isn't.

What are the three types of continuous lighting? ›

There are three types of continuous lighting in photography: fluorescent, LED and tungsten. An important thing to consider when you're buying them as studio lights is the CRI (color rendering index).

What are the three types of studio lighting? ›

The three types of lights are key light, fill light, and backlight. 1. Key light. This is the primary and brightest light source in the three-point lighting setup.

How many lights do you need for studio photography? ›

The basic studio lighting setup is comprised of 1 to 4 lights. There's the key light, fill light, rim/hair light and the background light. In Mark's example, four lights are used, and each of them contributes to the shot in a different way.

How do LED lights work in studio photography? ›

Studio Portraits with LED Lighting: Tips, Camera Settings & More

What is a flash strobe? ›

Strobe lights emit a bright burst of light akin to on-camera flash photography. However, a strobe flash is brighter and produces a tremendously short burst of light. Also known as monolights, strobes have a quick recycle time and a full power output of anywhere from 100 to 1,000 watts.

How fast does a strobe light flash? ›

Modern strobes are pretty good at this, with flash durations as fast as 1/20,000 of a second, but a Bristol-based company Vela Labs is about to take high-speed photography to unheard-of heights.

Do LED lights strobe? ›

There's no flickering. LED bulbs don't have glowing filaments. When the dimmer switch goes off and on many times per second, the LED bulb becomes a flickering strobe light. In rare cases, the flickering can be some other power supply issue, which may be the explanation if you don't have dimmer switches.

How do you make LED lights look continuous? ›

The easiest way to make an LED strip light look continuous is to use back-to-back wireless pin connectors. These pin connectors allow you to seamlessly connect two sections of LED light strips together.

How often do LED lights flicker? ›

Most people cannot notice the flicker in fluorescent lights that have a flicker rate of 120 cycles per second (or 120 Hz). Flicker with LED lights may be more noticeable due to the fact that LED lights flicker between less than 10% and 100%, where as fluorescent lights dim to about 35% and back to 100%).

What is the point of a speedlight? ›

They give you more balanced exposures in daylight - you can shoot in strong sunlight without your subject becoming a silhouette. You can freeze fast-moving subjects in a photo without blurring. These lights can be used to control or trigger off other speedlights or strobes.

How many strobes do I need? ›

Most people will need no more than 4, which will give you a key light (main light on the subject), fill (as its name suggests, just adds a bit of fill to remove excess shadows), a hair light and a background light – or you can use the hair and background light as both background lights in high key photos.

Is a speedlight necessary? ›

Adequate lighting is crucial to achieving properly exposed shots, and sometimes, you'll need the help of additional light sources if the scene isn't bright enough. The speedlight or "flash gun" makes a portable and useful option for this.

Is continuous light good for photography? ›

Plus, continuous lighting is far less disruptive than speedlight and strobe photography. If you're photographing a sensitive event, you can set up your continuous lights, then leave them on for the entire photoshoot. You'll get great images, and you won't have to worry about disturbing your subjects.

What is the best lighting for studio photography? ›

Fluorescent is generally easier to find in studio lighting and does not overheat, so that is what most studio photographers use. LED is a safer option to tungsten because they tend to not overheat as much.

Can I use continuous lighting for photography? ›

Portrait Photography using continuous lighting - YouTube

Is continuous light good for product photography? ›

Studio Lighting for Product Photography: What light should I ...

What is the difference between continuous and flash lighting? ›

Simply put, any form of continuous light is just that. It is 'always on,' as opposed to flash, which delivers a quick burst of light only when triggered. In photography terms, light that is already present in a scene is referred to as 'existing' or, more often, 'ambient. '

What is the difference between a speedlight and strobe? ›

Strobe lights create more light, recycle faster and have a built-in modeling light for learning. Speedlights, on the other hand, are much more portable, more versatile, and can create almost all the same effects.

What is the difference between constant and flashing light sources? ›

A flash or a strobe is only visible for the split second that it's turned on, for the split second that it fires. That is the primary difference between a strobe versus constant light. One we can see, it's visible to the eye, the other one isn't.

What are the three types of continuous lighting? ›

There are three types of continuous lighting in photography: fluorescent, LED and tungsten. An important thing to consider when you're buying them as studio lights is the CRI (color rendering index).

What are the three types of studio lighting? ›

The three types of lights are key light, fill light, and backlight. 1. Key light. This is the primary and brightest light source in the three-point lighting setup.

What light do you need for product photography? ›

The best solution is to use either Continuous lights (always on) or Strobe lights (flashes on and off). Examples of Continuous lights are LED Panels, fluorescent tubes, or tungsten light bulbs. Some of them are adjustable, so you can control the brightness in your products!

What Monolight should I buy? ›

Those using larger studios to create full-body portraits or fashion images, freezing motion, or maybe shooting outdoors, should look at strobes around 500 to 600Ws. If you think more power will be needed, you'll be looking at monolights around 1000Ws or higher.

How many lumens do I need for product photography? ›

The ideal lumen intensity for photography is over 1,000 lumens.

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Source: https://lubbil.com/article/continuous-led-lighting-vs-flash-strobe-lighting

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