Upgading to Budget Strobe System?

Hey all,
Once again, more questions

I am looking for a set of strobes. I would be using them with my Contax G1
(35mm), and Olympus E-1 (Digital), and possibly an unknown medium format
that I may purchase sometime in the future. I am starting new, nothing but
my basic flash (Olympus FL-50, similar to Canon 550EX) and a Metz Slave
flash. I am bouncing between three kits, Could any of you all tell me what
you thoughts are on these? I am trying to keep the strobe kits at or under
$1000.

1. Travelite 1500w/s Two-Head Umbrella Kit: 999.00 I believe these are made
by bowens. Neat thing is, end of the month there is a no tax sale, and they
are opening 2 miles from me.

2. 2x DigitFlash (made a mistake earlier) 500 with Stands and barn doors.

3. Alien Bees, B800x2, + stands, etc. These seem nice but are very low
powered and have very low powered modeling lamps.

I am looking for head and shoulder portraits, and some tented small product
shots. I work, mainly, in a very small one care garage, all white interior.
My Garage is 18' L x 8'W x 8'H. I was considering using the FL-50 for fill
off the ceiling (164 guide number). At times I will very likely be shooting
at an altar area of a church (not weddings, not up to that yet).

The thing that did weird me out is how expensive barn doors are for the
travelites, versus the AB and DigitFlash. I am pretty open, new or used.
I was also offered a Calumet Elite 1200ws set with two heads (used). So I
am pretty far gone. Too many options. Any other suggestions?

?

Thanks!

Robert Meyers

Crossposted to rpe35, rpd, and rptp, as all relevant.

[

You did not list White Lightning. That is what I own. I love
them! They are VERY powerful, I have the middle ones and 90% of
the time they are TOO powerful. What I like the most about them
is that they are mono lights with the ability to control them from
a central control unit, when need be.

When I am in the studio, I have all three of my heads hooked to
the command module. Today the connection can be wireless where
mine is wired. But when I go into the feild, I leave the command
module and extra wires at the studio and have normal mono lights.

I also like the fact that the modelingl light is the same type of
light bulb one puts into a standard light in ones house.

The only down side I have found is that the set of accessories
don't even begin to touch that of the high end systems.

Here is their URL: http://www.white-lightning.com

Sam

On 2004-10-19, Robert Meyers wrote:
Hey all,

I am looking for a set of strobes. I would be using them with my Contax G1
(35mm), and Olympus E-1 (Digital), and possibly an unknown medium format
that I may purchase sometime in the future. I am starting new, nothing but
my basic flash (Olympus FL-50, similar to Canon 550EX) and a Metz Slave
flash. I am bouncing between three kits, Could any of you all tell me what
you thoughts are on these? I am trying to keep the strobe kits at or under
$1000.

1. Travelite 1500w/s Two-Head Umbrella Kit: 999.00 I believe these are made
by bowens. Neat thing is, end of the month there is a no tax sale, and they
are opening 2 miles from me.

2. 2x DigitFlash (made a mistake earlier) 500 with Stands and barn doors.

3. Alien Bees, B800x2, + stands, etc. These seem nice but are very low
powered and have very low powered modeling lamps.

I am looking for head and shoulder portraits, and some tented small product
shots. I work, mainly, in a very small one care garage, all white interior.
My Garage is 18' L x 8'W x 8'H. I was considering using the FL-50 for fill
off the ceiling (164 guide number). At times I will very likely be shooting
at an altar area of a church (not weddings, not up to that yet).

The thing that did weird me out is how expensive barn doors are for the
travelites, versus the AB and DigitFlash. I am pretty open, new or used.
I was also offered a Calumet Elite 1200ws set with two heads (used). So I
am pretty far gone. Too many options. Any other suggestions?

You're lucky that the Alien Bees company is an american one.
Here in Europe we/I can only wish these systems could be purchased as
low priced as in the US.
I've drooled on Alien Bees, for their reputation and price. But the
shippingcosts would almost double the price.

My vote for Alien Bees, for price, reputation and being a complete system.

Borgh.

Borghesia wrote:

My vote for Alien Bees, for price, reputation and being a complete system.

On paper (or website) absolutely agree. The only thing I would have
reservations about would be location work. Not sure they would handle the abuse
as well.

Cheers,
Alan

--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

Alan Browne wrote:
Borghesia wrote:

My vote for Alien Bees, for price, reputation and being a complete
system.


On paper (or website) absolutely agree. The only thing I would have
reservations about would be location work. Not sure they would handle
the abuse as well.

Cheers,
Alan


I drag my Alien Bees to weddings all the time. I've never had a problem
with them. True, I'm not much of an abuser of equipment, but they do
seem to be pretty darn tough.

AB's service is excellent too. Well, I've just asked questions, but you
won't get much friendlier or knowledgeable.

My question for the original question is: Do you really need that much
power? I have the Alien Bees 400 strobes. I shoot wedding groups of all
sizes with them. At F8, I rarely have the power level much over half
power. I would think that with 800s you would have to crank it down to
1/32 all the time.

Highly recommend Alien Bees.

Clyde

Clyde wrote:

My question for the original question is: Do you really need that much
power? I have the Alien Bees 400 strobes. I shoot wedding groups of all
sizes with them. At F8, I rarely have the power level much over half
power. I would think that with 800s you would have to crank it down to
1/32 all the time.

flexibilty in number of stops is as important as top end power. Having enough
power to blast through a softbox or off of an umbrella and light a widish scene
(10 - 15 people wide) is a nice luxury as well. Striking the balance is what
you need to do. I could see having 2 800's and a 400 for all the margin in the
world... but likely a few 400's would be more than enough for most situations.

Cheers,
Alan


--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

"Clyde" wrote in message
news:_B9ed.230368$wV.177422@attbi_s54...
My question for the original question is: Do you really need that much
power? I have the Alien Bees 400 strobes. I shoot wedding groups of all
sizes with them. At F8, I rarely have the power level much over half
power. I would think that with 800s you would have to crank it down to
1/32 all the time.

Highly recommend Alien Bees.

Interestingly, the only flash system listed that gets commented on is the
Alien Bees

My big worry is more the fact that all I hear is that the modeling lamps are
low powered. That they will not be usable in daylight, according to
several. Both of the other units are useable. My primary problem is in
truth, current budget, but that changes with time. Oddly enough, I now have
one more thing I need to do: photograph paintings (film for that, gonna need
another SLR I think, maybe a 167?). So softbox effect is needed.

As for power: I want an expandable system. They do not need to be
homogenous, but it must be expandble beyond my current limitations. I keep
ending up learning something that I want to go beyond, and end up needing
more capability. As such, I may at some point do some MF or even LF (I like
view cameras atually). And at that point, the more power the better.

Thanks all!

Robert Meyers

On Sat, 23 Oct 2004 01:41:15 -0700, "Robert Meyers"
wrote:

Interestingly, the only flash system listed that gets commented on is the
Alien Bees

Well, my opinion, for what it's worth: I love my Norman system. It's
pack and heads but it's got great power. I can get 2000 ws out of one
head or I can get 200 ws out of one head. Light modifiers like
different sized parabolics, barn doors, softboxes, etc. go cheap on
ebay and are plentiful. They have 150 watt quartz modelling lights
which put out enough light for any tungsten work you want to do.
For the price of a couple of alien bees you can have a complete system
with 4 heads and enough accessories to set up a complete portrait
studio.

On Sat, 23 Oct 2004 01:41:15 -0700, "Robert Meyers"
wrote:

Interestingly, the only flash system listed that gets commented on is the
Alien Bees

Well, my opinion, for what it's worth: I love my Norman system. It's
pack and heads but it's got great power. I can get 2000 ws out of one
head or I can get 200 ws out of one head. Light modifiers like
different sized parabolics, barn doors, softboxes, etc. go cheap on
ebay and are plentiful. They have 150 watt quartz modelling lights
which put out enough light for any tungsten work you want to do.
For the price of a couple of alien bees you can have a complete system
with 4 heads and enough accessories to set up a complete portrait
studio.

Clyde wrote:

My question for the original question is: Do you really need that much
power? I have the Alien Bees 400 strobes. I shoot wedding groups of all
sizes with them. At F8, I rarely have the power level much over half
power. I would think that with 800s you would have to crank it down to
1/32 all the time.

flexibilty in number of stops is as important as top end power. Having enough
power to blast through a softbox or off of an umbrella and light a widish scene
(10 - 15 people wide) is a nice luxury as well. Striking the balance is what
you need to do. I could see having 2 800's and a 400 for all the margin in the
world... but likely a few 400's would be more than enough for most situations.

Cheers,
Alan


--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--