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  • Lighting equipment

    So I’m thinking about finally pulling the trigger and getting a couple strobes, I mean I have 580ex 2, and a small vivtar flash...

    But I’m looking to start working with the bigger strobes and have been shopping around for a while and I really don’t think I can beat the price to quality ratio (or so I’ve read) of Alien Bees... I am working on a budget, and have been trying to save... retail has not been kind to me with hours for a long while

    and I have had photography as a serious hobby for about 5years I have been considering trying to make a little money from pictures (I mean isn’t that the dream, i guess big money would be the dream haha )

    So I guess my question to you guys is, what kind of equipment are you using? And do you have any other recommendations?
    Last edited by mad325is; 10-02-2009, 06:26 PM.

  • #2
    I have also been looking at the Alien Bees. The seem to be the best bang for the buck.

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    • #3
      check out some packages from Adorama. They look like great deals for pretty decent stuff.

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      • #4
        so it maybe useful information to say that i have stands, a set of shoot though umbrellas and reflective umbrellas and some other misc. light accessories... as i have been trying alittle bit to go on the cheap and use speedlights... but have found several things i want to use a soft box with and speedlights just arent going to be powerful enough

        and ive looked on adorama and b&h kits a bit but would like to keep it under a grand

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        • #5
          no one? mojocoggo, Pswirley, M.Burroughs?

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          • #6
            I am using 2 Promaster 160ws strobes. They are not very powerful and I try to be very creative with bouncing the light off of the ceiling or the wall.


            I use a Vagabond 2 from AB for mobile power.

            I am going to be getting some reflectors and such after my daughter goes to this tournament. I am currently awaiting some ebay triggers and an 80-200 2.8 ed lense.

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            • #7
              I use a car headlight bungee-corded to a softbox.
              Dylan Leff - www.originalplate.com

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              • #8
                Originally posted by mojocoggo View Post
                I use a car headlight bungee-corded to a softbox.
                Why in the fuck do I actually believe this.

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                • #9
                  Because bro.
                  Dylan Leff - www.originalplate.com

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                  • #10
                    Alien Bees are a great option, I'm not so much a fan of the wireless remotes they come with but for what thay cost they are great, You might want to look into the newer Pocket wizards as well though as the new trancievers can bump the sync speed of your 580exIIs (or the alien bees) all the way up to 1/8000, which makes them a lot more useful as remotes. Not to mention the in-camera control of remote flashes (all custom functions not just a fire command including TTL)


                    Erik

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                    • #11
                      I actually have an older Novatron 2 head set-up that i picked up on the cheap and has worked great for me. The light color is good and they have functioned flawlessly. I DO wish I had a little more control over the power of the heads, but this hasn't been too much of a problem so far.

                      From some brief use and experience of friends, the AB's are great strobes that will get you into the game and carry you for a while without having to move up again right away. For the money, I have also heard good things about the Genesis monolights from Calumet. You can get a 200 w/s 2 light set-up for $369 which is great for small studio work.

                      http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CF0502K1/
                      “The first race was conceived when the second car was built.”

                      + Josh @ BlownEuros

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                      • #12
                        Here is a shot from a pitch black parking garage on a black car with my set up. You can see what I mean by creative light bouncing to make lower power strobes do the trick.


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                        • #13
                          alien bees all the way!!! I have 3 of them.

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                          • #14
                            I have 2 vivitar 285s. Spent 70$ on them. Then an optical slave for the second. In certain shots i have one bounce directly to the other ( dont have a wireless trigger) so the light doesnt show in the picture at all...

                            Budget light ftw

                            Straight from cam: both flashes




                            and one flash bounced to the other ( only one flash worth of light)


                            Flickr

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                            • #15
                              wow thanks guys, that was exactly what i was after...

                              Originally posted by Bimmerteck View Post
                              Alien Bees are a great option, I'm not so much a fan of the wireless remotes they come with but for what thay cost they are great, You might want to look into the newer Pocket wizards as well though as the new trancievers can bump the sync speed of your 580exIIs (or the alien bees) all the way up to 1/8000, which makes them a lot more useful as remotes. Not to mention the in-camera control of remote flashes (all custom functions not just a fire command including TTL)


                              Erik
                              this is actually what i initially was saving up for, and still plan on purchasing... but will wait... have you tried the new PW?

                              Originally posted by Pswirley View Post
                              I am using 2 Promaster 160ws strobes. They are not very powerful and I try to be very creative with bouncing the light off of the ceiling or the wall.


                              I use a Vagabond 2 from AB for mobile power.
                              i was wondering about the vagabond being used with other strobes, or if it were somehow proprietary, but i guess that answers that question...

                              i notice that a few of you guys are using strobes at or around 200 ws... would it be fair to say that 300ws would be fairly sufficient?

                              Stephen, that is roughly the rounte i was going down but found myself constantly wishing i could use different kinds of light modifiers, and when i was using a diffuser, it just wasnt doing what i wanted it to... which is why i decided if i was going to do this, i should spend a few bucks a make life a little easier on myself... or atleast try to

                              thanks to everyone else for all your input, it has given me some more things to think about

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