How many watt seconds do I need?

me wrote:


Watt seconds is not an accurate measurement of light output. Two
different lights with the same ws rating could put out vastly different
amounts of light.


What manufacturer's specification do you use when comparing?
Thank You,

You can only compare W-s. On the AlienBees site, they use to put up what
aperture setting you would get at a fixed distance (10 ft.) for ISO 100 when
using their basic reflector. (I don't recall if they gave a GN equivalence for
this too). They've redone their website since then, so not sure if the same
info is still there.

Why don't strobe manufacturers give GN? Mainly becasue of reflectors and the
behaviour of packed strobes with various cable lengths.

For what you want to do a couple 400's and a 200 would be ample, a cut above (2
x 800 + 1 x 400) would give you more manouevering room. But as I said an AC
strobe or two is handy for touching up the lighting here and there.

Cheers,
Alan

--
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-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.

In article ,
Randall Ainsworth wrote:

Jeez...you don't need to give 'em a sunburn. Shooting portraits of
ordinary people at f/16 is not advised.

In a lot of the churches I photograph in, old & dimly lit
Usually f/8 is barely possible with 100 asa for group shots, unless one
is using full power. Additionally I print my own work which means I print
people down so that the ambient light, on stained glass, candles etc.
is part of the picture. Some people like shadows around the subjects
heads (I don't).

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

In article ,
Randall Ainsworth wrote:

Jeez...you don't need to give 'em a sunburn. Shooting portraits of
ordinary people at f/16 is not advised.

In a lot of the churches I photograph in, old & dimly lit
Usually f/8 is barely possible with 100 asa for group shots, unless one
is using full power. Additionally I print my own work which means I print
people down so that the ambient light, on stained glass, candles etc.
is part of the picture. Some people like shadows around the subjects
heads (I don't).

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

In article ,
Randall Ainsworth wrote:

Jeez...you don't need to give 'em a sunburn. Shooting portraits of
ordinary people at f/16 is not advised.

In a lot of the churches I photograph in, old & dimly lit
Usually f/8 is barely possible with 100 asa for group shots, unless one
is using full power. Additionally I print my own work which means I print
people down so that the ambient light, on stained glass, candles etc.
is part of the picture. Some people like shadows around the subjects
heads (I don't).

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

In article ,
Randall Ainsworth wrote:

Jeez...you don't need to give 'em a sunburn. Shooting portraits of
ordinary people at f/16 is not advised.

Two lights on the pack can be adjusted but starts at 600 a piece, two
stops down from full power is 150 ws per lamp I believe. I only need that
much power on occasion for groups.

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

In article ,
Randall Ainsworth wrote:

Jeez...you don't need to give 'em a sunburn. Shooting portraits of
ordinary people at f/16 is not advised.

Two lights on the pack can be adjusted but starts at 600 a piece, two
stops down from full power is 150 ws per lamp I believe. I only need that
much power on occasion for groups.

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

In article ,
Randall Ainsworth wrote:

Jeez...you don't need to give 'em a sunburn. Shooting portraits of
ordinary people at f/16 is not advised.

Two lights on the pack can be adjusted but starts at 600 a piece, two
stops down from full power is 150 ws per lamp I believe. I only need that
much power on occasion for groups.

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

Gregory Blank apparently said:

In article , "me"
wrote:

How many watt seconds do I need?

1200 is good and strong for 100 asa.

I don't know if anyone else noticed, but thanks for an
answer that addresses the actual question. I know
that WS isn't an accurate measure of light output,
but I've always believed it to be somewhere in the
ball park. Like "me," I've been a bit hazy on just
how much power constitutes an acceptable flash.

Gregory Blank apparently said:

In article , "me"
wrote:

How many watt seconds do I need?

1200 is good and strong for 100 asa.

I don't know if anyone else noticed, but thanks for an
answer that addresses the actual question. I know
that WS isn't an accurate measure of light output,
but I've always believed it to be somewhere in the
ball park. Like "me," I've been a bit hazy on just
how much power constitutes an acceptable flash.

Gregory Blank apparently said:

In article , "me"
wrote:

How many watt seconds do I need?

1200 is good and strong for 100 asa.

I don't know if anyone else noticed, but thanks for an
answer that addresses the actual question. I know
that WS isn't an accurate measure of light output,
but I've always believed it to be somewhere in the
ball park. Like "me," I've been a bit hazy on just
how much power constitutes an acceptable flash.