Continous lighting for Stills

PerroneFord said:
Ok, let's try this again.

My purchase:

1 AB1600 (640ws)
1 AB800 (400ws)
1 PCB Large Octodome
1 Vagabond mini DC pack
1 Spare battery for Vagabond mini
1 Pocketwizard MultiMax
2 Pocketward Flextt5

I already have stands, cases, umbrellas, etc. from my film work.

When I compared costs on Elinchrom, Profoto, AB, and some others, getting a mobile kit put together was SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper going with the ABs.
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AB800 is 320w.

I'm not counting the Vagabond here because it's the cheapest portable power and you can use that with most lights available.

1 AB1600 (640ws)
1 AB800 (400ws)
1 PCB Large Octodome
1 Pocketwizard MultiMax
2 Pocketward Flextt5

So cost for these are 1570$ + battery.

2 Elinchrom BXRi 500w
1 Elinchrom Skyport SPEED Transmitter
1 Visico 120cm Octabox

1540$ + battery. Where's the 2k$ difference? 50$ more and you get softboxes, stands and cases worth 650$ that you can sell and get at least 500$ from them that brings the price to 1040$.

Huge bonus (additional to the ones mentioned before) with Elinchrom setup is that with Elinchrom SPEED Transmitter you can change the power of the lights on your camera from your transmitter.

In jambredz case he should obviously buy the set since he saves 650$ by doing that. Though, I would not suggest to get the D-Lite it 400/400w set or BXRi 500/500w set if you don't always shoot in daylight because in studio these lights are too powerful. D-Lite it 200/400w and BXRi 250/500w sets are way better choises because the smaller light will give you smaller minimal power so there will be less cases where the lights produce too much power. In more cases the problem is that lights produce too much power, not that they produce too little.

I read all kinds of stuff about color shifting at lower power, etc. Whatever. In general I will be out on the beach shooting bikini models, so I'll be using full power.
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And DSLR's have annoying rolling shutter, jello, etc. whatever. You can fix it on post.

My cameras all sync at 1/250. Pocketwizards support that just fine. I don't know why you are talking about cheap triggers.
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You said you are able to shoot 1/250 with your bees, but lights have nothing to do with that. You are able to shoot 1/250 with any lights if your camera's sync speed is 1/250 and if you use Pocketwizards. With Elinchrom you don't need expensive Pocketwizards. Elinchroms built in triggers are even better since you can dial the flash power from the transmitter.

Like I said. If the Elinchrom's are working for you, that's great. The Bees are doing what I need them to do, and I am happy with them. So why the need to put down other people's gear?

As I've mentioned, I am VERY new to strobing. I've been a sports photographer since before most people on this list were born. But this is all new to me. I've surveyed what I wanted and needed, found a solution that works for "ME", and am happy with it.

Is that ok with you?
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Read below...

PerroneFord said:
Exactly. Use what works for you and be done with it. Somebody always has to jump in with "my stuff is better than your stuff drama..."
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Well I think it's stupid to pay more for worse equipment and that's what you are suggesting here with your made up cost differences. People should be suggesting the best option, not the equipment they own. That is the universal bad when it comes to suggesting equipment, people usually suggest what they own, not what would be the best option.
 
isle said:
AB800 is 320w.

Well I think it's stupid to pay more for worse equipment and that's what you are suggesting here with your made up cost differences. People should be suggesting the best option, not the equipment they own. That is the universal bad when it comes to suggesting equipment, people usually suggest what they own, not what would be the best option.
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I am not RECOMMENDING anything. I simply said what I bought and what is working for me. It's nice of you to leave off the Vagabond but since I shoot away from AC power most of the time I "NEED" a battery pack. The Elincrom solution was about $1100 if I remember, and the Vagabond was about $279. Given my being somewhat green when I purchased, I preferred to not mix and match brands. Additionally, you seem to keep ignoring the fact that I *NEED* the pocketwizards anyway to trigger my cameras. So even with your "cheaper" solution, I'd still have to buy them. As it is now, they do double duty as camera and light triggers.

But given what you've said here, Elincrom may well be a superior solution for many, if not most. Thanks for sharing your insight.
 
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PerroneFord said:
I am not RECOMMENDING anything. I simply said what I bought and what is working for me. It's nice of you to leave off the Vagabond but since I shoot away from AC power most of the time I "HAVE" a battery pack. The Elincrom solution was about $1100 if I remember, and the Vagabond was about $279. Given my being somewhat green when I purchased, I preferred to not mix and match brands.

So given what you've said here, Elincrom may well be a superior solution for many, if not most. Thanks for sharing your insight.
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In your first reply you said for example that the reason to choose Alienbees is that they cost(ed 2k$) less.

You can use Vagabond with Elinchroms too that's why I left it off. It wouldn't make any difference in the calculations if both had +279$ on the total price. Or you could buy Tronix Explorer Mini batterypack that's made for bi-voltage lights. It costs 349$. The latter is what non AB users prefer.
 
isle said:
In your first reply you said for example that the reason to choose Alienbees is that they cost(ed 2k$) less.

You can use Vagabond with Elinchroms too that's why I left it off. It wouldn't make any difference in the calculations if both had +279$ on the total price. Or you could buy Tronix Explorer Mini batterypack that's made for bi-voltage lights. It costs 349$. The latter is what non AB users prefer.
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Alright, given what I looked at, it appeared to me that the Elichrom's were $2k more. Given what we've discussed here, and what I learned in time since I bought my strobes and learned from reading more online, it appears that the Elinchrom solution may not be very much more, or in some cases, may cost less. That's awesome if it works out that way.

I understand why you left off the Vagabond, but as I said, coming to this from a position of ZERO knowledge, I preferred to stay inside the brand. I wanted to be able to trigger two AB1600s from the pack. I can do that with the Vagabond, though the recycle time won't be quick, but that's ok for my use. In looking at the Elinchrom solution I found this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/364083-REG/Elinchrom_EL_10263_Ranger_RX_1100_W_S.html . It appeared to me, the casual observer, that the 1100ws Elinchrom solution was $1800+. That's $1500 more than the competing solution that I chose. I knew nothing of the Tronix, or any other solution when I looked to buy.

Again, I am not saying that your advice isn't valid. In fact, probably a lot more valid for a new buyer than mine. I simply offered what I bought, and that it worked well for me.

Done here. Have a nice day.
 
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