welschvideo wrote:
Now, do these two lights have two completely different functions or is just the build quality cheaper?

It's hard for me to say. Ten minutes with google didn't tell me much, either: that says a lot. There are other budget monoblocks out with similar specs, for less money. The Bees at least have a wealth of information out from users with details makers and sellers often hide.

For instance, I was unable to find if the westcott power variability is stepped or stepless. I presume the latter, but can't verify. On modifiers, someone (David Hobby, I think) said "3 pin" but not "3 pin Bowens/Calumet" so unlike Bees, you may be limited to Westcott modifiers.

If those two were the only choices, I'd go for the Bees because they're well known.

AJScalzitti wrote:
...
As for budget I usually suggest something like the starter photogenics or elinchrom d-lite line, this way when/if you upgrade to professional lights you have a clear path and all your modifers can move with you.

Personally, I would go with Elinchrom before photogenics, different class of light (although not familiar with d-lite specifically - maybe that's their budget offering).

But to expand on what he said above: When alienbees came into existence, they chose to use one of the most ubiquitous modifier mounts in the industry (the Balcar mount). Balcar was high-end lighting, so there was extensive modifier availability, as well as a solid upgrade path to more professional lighting when the alienbees started showing their limitations.

Balcar is now out of business (they haven't had a US distributor for about 10 years now). So basically now purchasing Alienbees you have another proprietary mount with no upgrade path outside of Paul Buff equipment.

With Elinchrom, you have their pro line, which is actually professional level lighting.

Smedley Whiplash wrote:
I wanted some extra accent lights for the studio, and even though I have been using ABs, I decided to buy these as accent lights:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-Monolight- … 56555ba03e




They're pretty basic, but they seem to work predictably, and at a mere $65... sheesh... why not?  No bells and whistles whatsoever (except for a slave), but so far, no problems.

Would this be fine to use outdoors?

welschvideo wrote:

Would this be fine to use outdoors?

I may be wrong, but from the picture it doesn't look like these things even accept modifiers. What are you going to do with a light that doesn't accept modifiers?

John Allan wrote:
Personally, I would go with Elinchrom before photogenics, different class of light (although not familiar with d-lite specifically - maybe that's their budget offering).

But to expand on what he said above: When alienbees came into existence, they chose to use one of the most ubiquitous modifier mounts in the industry (the Balcar mount). Balcar was high-end lighting, so there was extensive modifier availability, as well as a solid upgrade path to more professional lighting when the alienbees started showing their limitations.

Balcar is now out of business (they haven't had a US distributor for about 10 years now). So basically now purchasing Alienbees you have another proprietary mount with no upgrade path outside of Paul Buff equipment.

With Elinchrom, you have their pro line, which is actually professional level lighting.

The D-lite is the Elinchrom stater line.  Maxes out at 400w/s but offers the sky port system built in.  Not really a bad light, the first gen lacked a fan and used a 7mm umbrella but they have improve that over the years.  They are on the 3rd major gen now.

Easy upgrade path to the higher end line - love the rangers BTW

Scar Media NYC wrote:
I actually used Adorama's brand Flashpoint II 320M this weekend and they were surprisingly nice. Even though they were only 150 Watts each they were more than enough for the small studio. I think they have a 100 watt modeling light, you can power down all the way from 1/32 to full power, built in slave-triggers, felt well built.

And for $150 you can get one with the stand, softbox and speedring. I'm actually thinking of getting a pair myself.

Actually I used those with the battery pack option, not bad at all.  Consistent output and I did not freak when one fell over lol

John Allan wrote:
I may be wrong, but from the picture it doesn't look like these things even accept modifiers. What are you going to do with a light that doesn't accept modifiers?

They have a few modifiers.  A gridspot attachment, and a softbox speedring with various sizes of softboxes. Umbrellas attach via standard hole in the units mounting shaft.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photo-Studio-So … 3a6f5cae2d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photo-Studio-Ba … 3ccbe75460

I don't anticipate taking mine outdoors. It would probably work, but I prefer the AB's for outdoor work.

The build quality isn't bad on these, but to me the Bee's are uniquely suited to outdoor work.

I like to use lots of lights for Playboy style lighting, so the reason I bought these was for accents on the background, set, or edge-lighting. It's a pretty cheap way to have lots of lights.

John Allan wrote:

I may be wrong, but from the picture it doesn't look like these things even accept modifiers. What are you going to do with a light that doesn't accept modifiers?

I have a studio full of softboxes, strip boxes, BDs barn doors, snoots, gel holders, reflctors, grids etc.
if you want a specific modifier from a particular vendor or line of modifiers you can get a universal-to-specific adapters on eBay for 19.95.  They fit a lot of bowens stuff but sometimes for something heavy (like a BD) you need to go with a universal-to-specific adapter.

my problem with those particular ones is they are too powerful for indoors at 300W/S and a dial that only goes down to 1/8 power.  forget using them on the side unless your studio is wide enough to park a jet.  This is why I recommend the 180W/S units instead.  Outdoors you would need a battery pack, just like any other strobe other than ABs.  ABs have an advantage in that they are well mated to the specific battery packs from PCB.  The rest of the 'pack' have to deal with standard issues.

AVD AlphaDuctions wrote:
I have a studio full of softboxes, strip boxes, BDs barn doors, snoots, gel holders, reflctors, grids etc.
if you want a specific modifier from a particular vendor or line of modifiers you can get a universal-to-specific adapters on eBay for 19.95.  They fit a lot of bowens stuff but sometimes for something heavy (like a BD) you need to go with a universal-to-specific adapter.

my problem with those particular ones is they are too powerful for indoors at 300W/S and a dial that only goes down to 1/8 power.  forget using them on the side unless your studio is wide enough to park a jet.  This is why I recommend the 180W/S units instead.  Outdoors you would need a battery pack, just like any other strobe other than ABs.  ABs have an advantage in that they are well mated to the specific battery packs from PCB.  The rest of the 'pack' have to deal with standard issues.

The 300w units do have quite a bit more power then I anticipated. With a small softbox I still get about an f5.6 at the lowest power setting at 6ft.


In terms of outdoors though, I wouldn't go outside without my AB1600 for most shoots. I can turn it to 1/64th power for shade, or full blast for full sun.

Smedley Whiplash wrote:

The 300w units do have quite a bit more power then I anticipated. With a small softbox I still get about an f5.6 at the lowest power setting at 6ft.


In terms of outdoors though, I wouldn't go outside without my AB1600 for most shoots. I can turn it to 1/64th power for shade, or full blast for full sun.

the Neewer 300s are fine outside.  in a bizarre twist of fate (or engineering) they are apparently more powerful than their rating, although ratings dont translate always to the same GN.  more than enough to turn sky dark blue or even black.  of course...they still dont have a 1/64 power setting   So I'm always using speedlights for that on HSS.

AVD AlphaDuctions wrote:
the Neewer 300s are fine outside.

as long as it doesn't rain.

welschvideo wrote:
Would this be fine to use outdoors?

John Allan wrote:
I may be wrong, but from the picture it doesn't look like these things even accept modifiers. What are you going to do with a light that doesn't accept modifiers?

Those are Godox units.  I have a couple of the smaller 160 WS ones.  Work fine with "universal" snoots, small softboxes etc. but you are right - large modifiers are not really meant for those

Their bigger models use the "Bowens" mount for modifiers.
Full product line all the way up to high speed and 1000WS units.

The world of private labeling. Julius, Neewer, one giant factory for everyone.


http://www.godox.com/EN/Products_Studio_Flash.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Real-Watts-Outp … 0892925661
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290852884865


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q3SysRKiiQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuNtHg_IN2Q

Robb Mann wrote:
Know what you're buying. Many cheap lights double theur rated power, or more. I doubt you're getting 300ws on a $65 monolight. I would not buy anything cheaper than alienbee. At least you get customer service and resale value there.

this may have been true in general years ago and maybe I got luck with my choices back then. but now, its pretty much standard. the 37$ 180WS really puts out that much light as their claimed GN bare bulb.  it just doesnt have the power range that more expensive strobes have. that is limiting.  the 300w/s jobbies are under rated if anything. I almost never use mine except shooting through pillows.  even a BD doesnt eat enough light for me to get it in close enough on lowest power without shooting at f16 and beyond.

GPS Studio Services wrote:
Alien Bee is a very popular light with great customer service and a proven track record.  Since they are so popular there are many companies that make compatible accessories as well.  By the way, it is more than 150 watt seconds.

The light you are looking at is less popular, won't have access to the same customer service and will be more difficult to get accessories for.  It also isn't that much cheaper.  I would go Alien Bee, but that is just me.

This +1

Smedley Whiplash wrote:
I wanted some extra accent lights for the studio, and even though I have been using ABs, I decided to buy these as accent lights:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-Monolight- … 56555ba03e




They're pretty basic, but they seem to work predictably, and at a mere $65... sheesh... why not?  No bells and whistles whatsoever (except for a slave), but so far, no problems.

I bought the kit.....Brand name Neewer. 3x strobes,Stands, remotes, brellas, soft boxes, barn door, gels...$325. So far so good...no issues.

Rick OBanion Photo wrote:
I bought the kit.....Brand name Neewer. 3x strobes,Stands, remotes, brellas, soft boxes, barn door, gels...$325. So far so good...no issues.

did you get next-day delivery from Brampton?

Robb Mann wrote:
Know what you're buying. Many cheap lights double theur rated power, or more. I doubt you're getting 300ws on a $65 monolight. I would not buy anything cheaper than alienbee. At least you get customer service and resale value there.

I tell you what... that little Chinese 300w unit puts out a hellofa lot of light, probably more then my AB400.  I found myself surprised. The problem was more that I couldn't turn the volume down far enough.

The downside is to be determined later. Like the rest of my Harbor Freight/Yongnou collection, I suspect it will fail prematurely.

AVD AlphaDuctions wrote:
Outdoors you would need a battery pack, just like any other strobe other than ABs.  ABs have an advantage in that they are well mated to the specific battery packs from PCB.  The rest of the 'pack' have to deal with standard issues.

That’s not quite true. A PCB engineer told me (last week) that they have tested their new Mini sine wave inverter with a variety of non-PCB strobes, and there’s a long list of them that the new Mini will work with.

I own 14 Photogenic monolights (from one of the original Powerlights to four of the current model Solairs including a couple of StudioMax II’s) and two Photogenic packs with heads that I’ve had since the 1970’s. The reason I called PCB is that Photogenic recently introduced the Photogenic ION Lithium-Ion Pure Sine Wave Inverter. The specs of the PCB and Photogenic inverters are virtually identical. PCB said their Mini will work with all my Photogenic monolights. Photogenic has tested its ION with several non-Photogenic strobes as well – but Photogenic’s costs about $130 more than PCB’s.

Neither company has tested them with the old Photogenic power packs – but I haven’t used them in years anyway.

And Dyna-Lite still has its own sine wave inverter that apparently is very different from PCB’s and the Photogenic’s. Dyna-Lite has been advertising its inverter for use with many brands of strobes for several years.