How to set shutter speed for studio lights?

Working with studio lights is different than just using the flash you have on your camera. The Nikon D80 does not have a "PC" connection for a cable to be used with studio lights. You can fire off a set of studio lights with your small flash that is on the camera but I would filter it by covering it with a white cloth of something as not to effect your picture. * * * * * * * You will have to shoot in manual mode because that is the only way you will be able to properly shoot using studio lights. * * * * * * * Set your camera at ISO 100, 1/60th - 1/80 shutter speed and set your aperture to f~8 - f~11 to start with. This is a basic setting to get you started since I do not know how power full the studio lights are. If the image is to dark then lower you f~stop or shutter speed. Keep you ISO as low as possible to help keep the "noise" down. Also your cameras flash sync is 1/200 and when working with studio lights these are far more powerful and most manufactures will state what the max sync is. Hope this helps, Kevin

When the camera is set to auto exposure, either P; A; or S, the camera will set the appropriate shutter speed and/or aperture automatically. The settings will be based on the cameras internal meter measuring the ambient light. When you connect the camera to studio lights, the camera does not know it and will still adjust to ambient light. Therefore you must set the dial to "M" for manual and select your shutter to 1/200 (or slower as 250th is above your maximum flash sync speed) and your aperture is set based on your an external flash meter reading. If you don't have a flash meter then shoot test shots at different apertures. When reviewing, use the histogram feature to see what aperture just gives you a hint of over exposure, which is displayed as blinking areas of white. Use that aperture or the next smaller aperture (larger number).

Just to elaborate on the other answers. When using studio strobe, the moment of strobe/flash (usually faster than your cameras fastest shutter speed) will freeze the action so your cameras shutter speed is pretty much moot. You will have a bright flash of light for only 1/10,000th of a second (or whatever it is). With that being said you will need to set the aperture for that amount of light. If you have a flash meter and it tells you f/11, then set your camera to f/11 @ 1/200th sec. (or less but going under 1/60th is not advised). Since your speed is irrelivant, and your aperture is set too dark for anything but your strobes, then you will have a clear exposure. And yeah, this is the exact website that I learned all that from.