New to Alienbees, few questions.

[Admiral_A300]

I am thinking about getting some Alienbees studio lights. Probably the kit that has 2 lights, the B800's maybe. But I was wondering how they sync to each other and where they get their power from? They don't seem to work like the lights in my college studio, where we have a "battery" pack, and the lights plug into the battery pack, via a special 'cannon' plug, and then the pack into the wall. The Alienbees look like they just plug into a wall socket, is this a safe assumption? Now how would they sync to each other and then camera? They don't have pictures of the back of the lights on their website for me to tell, maybe you guys could fill me in? Oh, one last thing, do you think the B800's would be too much light for a novice like myself, or would the B400's be a better choice, or maybe one 400 and one 800, or just stick with the two 800's, OR suggestions for other good reliable cheap lighting kits (less than $650)?

Wow, almost confused myself. If i confused you I am truly sorry.

[Some Idiot]

you can sync with cords or optical or with poppers... you can also run them off a battery pack sold separately

[Admiral_A300]

so i can sync the lights to each other via a sync cord, then sync one of the lights to the camera via sync cord and they will both flash. or i can plug the lights into a battery pack and plug in the sync cord to the battery pack too and sync the battery pack to the camera through a sync cord? I am sooo making this too complicated. for the battery, power to power (duh), then sync out(on batery) to sync in(on light).

ugh, I feel like a dummie, asking these questions.

[l.mccormick]

Hello Carly,

For indoor usage the AB800's can be a little bright depending on the look you are going for but you can offset this with Neutral Density filters to drop a few stops of light if you find that is the case. I personally bought the 800's because they were in my budget and would rather have to much light then not enough so I can adjust down.

Yes they just have normal power coming off the back to go straight into the wall so that is a safe assumption.

There are a few ways that you can handle sync with them, they all have optical triggers built into them so if you are plugged into one and fire the optical trigger will fire the other. I have had a few inconsistencies using softboxes with this one but it does still work. The other option is picking up radio triggers such as pocketwizards or the cybersync ones sold by alienbees for their lights. There are multiple options out there around this that could be an entire thread by itself.

What I would recommend so that you are getting use to the lights is use the umbrellas that come with them use the sync cable and optically trigger the 2nd one until you understand the lights then start moving forward looking at alternatives as far as modifiers and radio triggers.

There are more knowledgeable folks on this forum that will probably pipe in but I can try and answer any questions you may have.

[Tom]

I would save up a bit until you have a bit more budget than $650.

For $850, you can get the Elinchrom D-lite 4 IT kit.
That will include:
2 400w/s strobes
2 light stands
2 softboxes
Wireless kit to control lights
stand bag and light bag
Reflector for umbrella use

These are MUCH better than Alienbees. More accurate light. More powerful. Digital control to 1/10th stop. (So you actually press a button to go up and down in power, rather than an inaccurate slider.) And Elinchrom is a profession brand - the light is very consistent - which is a huge failing of Alienbees.

Save up and get that Elinchrom kit. It has everything you need to start up. But you will want more. The other great thing is that I would MUCH rather grow with a professional Elinchrom kit over a consumer Alienbees kit. Elinchrom is what pros like Joe McNally use. (I've used Joe's Elinchrom Rangers.)

[Admiral_A300]

LARRY!!!! (The Cavalry) Funny you mention the Cyber Sync transmitters and receivers, I was litteraly just looking at them. I think I will get one of these, like you said, after i get the lights and play around with them and figure out for myself how they work.

Now when you say when I am synced to one light and I snap the shutter, the other will fire? Kinda like a slave? It has a built-in slave? Innovative! I like that, if that is exactally what that is. That answers TONS of questions I have, if in fact that is the case.

I would like to get the 800s, and understanding they are fully adjustible, I could always turn down the light if I need to, but the affordability of the 400s is quite nice. But the 800s are only $110 more in the digi bee kit. I don't know...

[Admiral_A300]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

I would save up a bit until you have a bit more budget than $650.

For $850, you can get the Elinchrom D-lite 4 IT kit.
That will include:
2 400w/s strobes
2 light stands
2 softboxes
Wireless kit to control lights
stand bag and light bag
Reflector for umbrella use

I like your thinking....but these are umbrellas and not soft boxes, but seem to be the same....i think....Elinchrom D-Lite 2/4 Starter to Go Kit (90-260VAC) EL 20813KIT

Nevermind completely different setup. But what are your opinions on these?

[Tom]

You can use umbrellas with the Elinchroms. Or softboxes. Or beauty dishes. They are fantastic lights. I have them and love them. I also have a set of Bowens and a set of Dynalites. I like the Elinchroms the most, but the Dynalites make great light. Just dont like the pack+head system.

[l.mccormick]

The Elinchroms are actually a more consistent temperture light then the AlienBees like Thomas said and with the skyport system built in for triggering them with a radio trigger which is included in that kit makes it a very affordable option.

The AlienBee package will run you about the same as that kit if you start looking at the cybersyncs and the benefit behind the Elinchroms is they come with softboxes as well.

When comparing the two the power is going to be rated differently but in actuality the elinchroms are likely more powerful then the ab800's as they are rated at 320 True WS where as the Elinchrom is rated up to 400ws but that get's a little more technical (of which I am not the best to speak towards).

As for your question on the AlienBee's yes, they have built in optical slaves that can trigger as it "See's" the other flash triggered. Once you introduce modifiers and things into the mix sometimes this becomes problematic. Which is why the radio trigger option is consistent, controllable, and can be fired when you want and how you want.

[arich]

Darn you thomas! I had just managed to feel happy with my 1 AB800 and old school speedotrons, now I want this kit! Grrrrrr......

[l.mccormick]

I have considered it myself Andrew, I have had good results with my AB800's but I have seen the temperature inconsistencies on more then one occasion which has frustrated me to almost making the switch.

[Tom]

I put a post in the lighting forum earlier this year about how I bought an entire studio worth of gear for under $2k.
And it is all Elinchrom.
3 light stands, including C-Stand+casters+boom
1 transmitter+3 receivers
3 400w/s Elinchrom strobes
53" Rotalux Octobox
2-25" Elinchrom soft boxes
27" Beauty dish
2 backdrops (black and white)
Backdrop stand

I'm sure some other stuff I am forgetting. I've got a full professional studio worth of stuff for under $2k. You can't beat that price.

[David Whatley]

Thomas, I love my bee's, but you do make a good case for the Elinchrom's. Question, when you break a modeling light or flash tube, how easy and how much are they? And yes, you will break one :)
We also have some photogenic's and the modeling light went out on one, and you have to replace the whole damn flash tube :(
If you havent broken one, you might was well get a replacement now, cause EVERYONE will break one at some point :)

[Tom]

Thomas, I love my bee's, but you do make a good case for the Elinchrom's. Question, when you break a modeling light or flash tube, how easy and how much are they? And yes, you will break one :)

Flash tube is around $50 at B&H. Have yet to blow one.
Modeling light is $8 at B&H, but you can use any similar sized 100w bulb.


In the end, it comes down to wanting to grow with a pro-series light kit, not a consumer-series. But the added benefit is that it was much CHEAPER for me to go Elinchrom over Alienbees.

[Admiral_A300]

Thomas, you have made your case. I really like the deal. I'm always saying spend the extra money for the good stuff, you won't ever be sorry. So I think I am going to take my own advice and get the Elinchrom D-Lite 4 IT Kit. Thanks for all the good useful info too.

You are always a big help and/or persuader, lol.