My wife wants lighting

Jamoke

Currently I have a pair of 580's but my wife wants to setup a studio (Preferably portable). She was told that AlienBee was the way to go - so she is looking at a couple 1600's with 10' minimum stands. She is thinking wired, but I'm interested if there's a wireless solution cheaper than the PW's. Eventually I'd like to go PW - but I definately want to start wireless. Anybody have experience with the AlienBees Wireless solution?

It was said that AB's color temperature wanders a bit after heating up... Any Examples? Testimonials for or against?

What other brands might I consider? Hate to admit it - but I don't know much about studio lighting. I've never used any personally, but have read a bit, and am looking to make the purchase. still a newbie I guess...

$4 Ebay Wireless flash solution:
What the heck is this?

Same Price - but a little different:
Are these camera specific mounts?

They show a nikon... but I have a Canon 5D and 20D. They imply it's universal... What are these and are they good or bad?

We don't even have a nice tripod yet...

spider-t

Jamoke wrote:

Currently I have a pair of 580's but my wife wants to setup a studio (Preferably portable). She was told that AlienBee was the way to go - so she is looking at a couple 1600's with 10' minimum stands. She is thinking wired, but I'm interested if there's a wireless solution cheaper than the PW's. Eventually I'd like to go PW - but I definately want to start wireless. Anybody have experience with the AlienBees Wireless solution?

It was said that AB's color temperature wanders a bit after heating up... Any Examples? Testimonials for or against?

What other brands might I consider? Hate to admit it - but I don't know much about studio lighting. I've never used any personally, but have read a bit, and am looking to make the purchase. still a newbie I guess...

$4 Ebay Wireless flash solution:
What the heck is this?

Same Price - but a little different:
Are these camera specific mounts?

They show a nikon... but I have a Canon 5D and 20D. They imply it's universal... What are these and are they good or bad?

We don't even have a nice tripod yet...

I use AlienBees and I like them a lot. I too was thinking I'd have to go wireless, but I haven't yet. Being wired is not as bad as I had imagined.

The nice thing about the Alien Bees wireless is that you can adjust the strength of all your strobes remotely. I am always climbing up on stuff to reach my strobes and adjust them. Frequently I just take a guess where the slider is because it's too high to see.

That's when I think "hey, wasn't I planning on getting that wireless..."

I have also been considering this wireless solution: microsync
which is cheaper and smaller.

Also, 1600's are big. I have 800's and barely ever turn them higher than quarter power. Although if you're planning on lighting a large area or large group, 1600's are the way to go.

cheers,
Trish

dancinkate

Jamoke wrote:

Same Price - but a little different:
Are these camera specific mounts?

I have something almost identical to this and I LOVE not having to use the wires. I also use AB400 because my studio is so small.

Art Scott

this might interest you......all.......



http://www.white-lightning.com/remotes.html

by the creator of the white lighting and alien bee lights....Paul Buff

DF79

If I'm not mistaken the Alien Bees (400 and 800) have a built in slave that fires when I fire off the SB800 on my D2H. This is what I was told this weekend. I hope I don't have to buy wires because I too planned on going wireless. We'll see how this goes. AB's should be arriving Tuesday.

spider-t

DF79 wrote:

If I'm not mistaken the Alien Bees (400 and 800) have a built in slave that fires when I fire off the SB800 on my D2H. This is what I was told this weekend. I hope I don't have to buy wires because I too planned on going wireless. We'll see how this goes. AB's should be arriving Tuesday.

That's true, they do have a built in slave that can be triggered by any flash.

cheers,
Trish

trihokie

spider-t wrote:

That's true, they do have a built in slave that can be triggered by any flash.

Here is an example that I shot using an Alienbee 800w main light reflected into an umbrella. It was positioned off to left of the camera. I used a Sunpak 383 as a highlight located behind the subjects and to the right of the camera. The sunpak was fired using a Pocket Wizard and the Alienbee was fired as a slave. Nothin fancy, I know, just a quick shot to send Grandma.

John Mueller

I use the wireless system and in theory it works great.
My biggest problems is that every 3 shots or so,it wont fire.
I have contacted AB and as nice as they were,I think they were blowing smoke up my..................
If I was to do it over,I would go with PW,s