What power strobes should I get?

[Fireball]

I'm getting my first strobe lights soon and am looking at the AlienBees. I would like to buy two but don't know if I should get both as B400s or 800s or one of each. I've read many times that you should get the most power for your buck so I'm thinking two B800s?

I have a medium Photoflex softbox, a 48" Photoflex silver-lined umbrella and two smaller white shoot-thru umbrellas. Can I mix a softbox with a shoot-thru umbrella and get some good portraits or do I need to buy another softbox for the other strobe?

The indoor portraits I do are mostly headshots and sometimes a small group of employees (mostly do outdoor photos), but I'd like to do/learn more.

Here's what I'm looking to buy:

AlienBees B400 or B800 flash units (2)
Vagabond Mini Lithium portable power (can I plug both strobes into one?)
CyberSync transmitter and receiver
Photoflex speedring for my softbox that's compatible with AlienBees
Maybe a large softbox?

My budget is about $1200

[Kalrog]

Let's start with the simple questions.

1) Yes you can plug 2 strobes into a single vagabond battery pack. It won't recharge as fast and you won't get as many flashes out of it that way, but it will certainly work. Dang laws of physics.
2) Softboxes are good. I like my PLM though. I also like a beauty dish. All 3 are good choices, but you don't HAVE to get softboxes.
3) The transmitter/receivers are not quite but almost a must.
4) Consider the Einsteins. I know the price is higher, but the cybersync receiver is about $50 less for those. That means the final price difference is less than you might have thought.

If you are going to be indoors and doing only small groups, the 400s are probably enough. The biggest complaint with the AlienBees stuff is the color consistency at low power settings. This is a big deal for some and meaningless to others. If it is important to you, then you probably want the one that will let you run it at 25% power or greater and the 400s might be the right choice. If you have larger groups or need to overpower the sun, then you will need the 800s or up. This issue hasn't been reported on the Einsteins (to my knowledge) and they are good and consistent at all power levels.

[Fireball]

So let me see if I understand what you're suggesting:

1) I should probably have two vagabond mini packs, one for each strobe.
2) Einsteins are better than AlienBees, mainly because of color consistency (which IS important to me)
3) There may be times that I do have larger groups or need to overpower the sun so I should probably get the 800s
4) You said the transmitter/receivers are not "quite". Did you mean quiet or what?

[David Whatley]

I would get 2 800's. one vagabond, the cyber syncs and a beauty dish, along with a ring for the softbox you have now. I assume you will be shooting inside, or some place with power avaliable quite a bit. Get the white and not the silver BD. as it is better for adults with wrinkles. less harsh and contrast. I have 6 800's and with a modifier, iso 100, SS 160 and F 5.6 to 6.3 the power is a little below 1/2.
Shooting portraits you can live with a 3 sec recycle time IMHO.
I buy used when possiable.

[Tom]

I wouldn't get Alienbees. Get the Elinchrom D-Lite 400 IT pack.

Here is my thread about how I went with the far superior Elinchroms over the Alienbees and how it was actually CHEAPER to get the better lights!
Whole studio setup on a budget of $2000.

[Fireball]

Thanks David. I'd love to buy everything used but trying to find it all could take more time than I'd like, and I've been saving my money for quite awhile so I can buy new.

More questions.

Instead of another larger softbox you're saying I should buy a beauty dish, right? And do they make those to fit ABs? I've never used one before.

If I only have one vagabond, how will I plug two strobes into it when they're maybe six feet apart from each other?

Maybe when I get everything someone can teach me how to use it. :)

[Fireball]

Originally Posted by Tom

I wouldn't get Alienbees. Get the Elinchrom D-Lite 400 IT pack.

Here is my thread about how I went with the far superior Elinchroms over the Alienbees and how it was actually CHEAPER to get the better lights!
Whole studio setup on a budget of $2000.

But I have less than $1500, and I don't have/want a studio so don't know how that would be a better choice.

Edited after reading your post: you're saying that Elinchrom's basic 400 kit puts out more power than the ABs 800 strobes? And that I wouldn't have to buy cybersyncs since they're built into the Elinchroms? So then how do you power everything? Maybe I missed that.

Spending $12-1500 is really scary! I want to do it right. Thanks for all your help!

[Fireball]

Oh, I also already have a background stand and backdrops, 4 light stands and a good size bag that I carry everything in.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Fireball

Edited after reading your post: you're saying that Elinchrom's basic 400 kit puts out more power than the ABs 800 strobes?

Yes, the Elinchroms put out MORE light and they are more consistent in light.

And that I wouldn't have to buy cybersyncs since they're built into the Elinchroms?

Correct. It comes with a transmitter that you put on your camera and the receiver is built in. You can even change the power of the individual lights from your camera digitally in 1/10th stop incriments. The Alienbees have a sliding bar and you kinda guess where EXACTLY you are as far as power. The Elinchroms have a digital read out that is accurate to 1/10th stop.

So then how do you power everything? Maybe I missed that.

They plug into a wall just like an Alienbee. Or you can plug them into a Vegabond II or Vegabond Lithium power pack.

Spending $12-1500 is really scary! I want to do it right. Thanks for all your help!

Yep, I agree. The great thing with the Elinchroms is that it is a brand that you can grow with. Joe McNally uses the Elinchrom Rangers and all the Elinchrom modifiers, which is where I learned about them. The modifiers are MUCH better than the Alienbee ones. Night and day difference.

Oh, I also already have a background stand and backdrops, 4 light stands and a good size bag that I carry everything in.

You are halfway there.

[danchez]

I have 2 Einsteins and I highly recommend them. I also have a mini lithium and love it. I have shot with it, 3 lights and got over 300 shots with it. Near the end of the shoot, I was having to wait approx 3-5 seconds for the lights to get back to power, not a big deal to me. I don't normally shoot every 3-5 seconds. But.... and it is kind of a big but, the Einsteins are $500 each. Cyber Commander and the cyber syncs are very nice additions to have.

Just kind of reading thru some of your other questions. Lights being far apart, buy some extension cords, problem solved.

One thing with Paul C Buff and all his gear, Great Customer Service. One of my AB400s went down. I had it shipped to them, repaired and back within 2 weeks - $40

If you have any other questions, feel free to post them.

PCB also sells a reasonably priced beauty dish. I got the grids too, they were a bit more expensive.

[Fireball]

Thanks Dan. Another question.

As far as using one Vagabond mini to power two strobes and attaching them in the middle with extension cords, would that not be dangerous, maybe from overheating or even cause someone to trip over? Would there ever be a need to use two Vagabonds even though they have two plug-ins?

[stephenpinn]

I use a mix of AB/WL and Einsteins and have nothing but great things to say about the product and the company. I respect Tom's opinion and no doubt his direction is the result of much review and experience.

I use mine with the PCB Cyber Commander and all 3 models integrate and play together well, the Einstein integrates the best so I have become a bigger fan of that product.

As far as 400 vs 800, to me bigger is better, I can always lower the power, I can't add more!

[danchez]

extension cords come in different shapes, sizes and grades. Just make sure you buy the correct extension cord. Now if you are worried about people tripping over the cords, tape them to the floor. Do a little research on the type of tape though, lots of tape out there, but painter tape works quite well.

[Fireball]

Thanks Stephen. I've heard the same thing about getting bigger power. I'm leaning more towards the 800s also.

Now to step out and buy all this stuff! Need to find someone in the N. Texas region to teach me how to use it.

Appreciate all your comments. :)

[David Whatley]

Charrie, since I use AB's and have the 800's your welcome to come down and spend all the time you want playing with them and the modifiers I have before you jump off and spend any money. I'm about 15 min W. of DFW airport.
47" PCB octabox
White AB beauty Dish
Silver Cheetah BD with Grid
3 visco strip boxes, 1 with grid
david