Marcel Vocino wrote:
I think I love the profoto B2 because its 1200 w/s and you can plug it in when in the studio as well as battery on location. What other brands can offer such options?

hensel porty, elinchrom ranger, etc.

Marcel Vocino wrote:
Porty Premium PLUS AS / RC is nice however much slower then the profoto, with duration, sync speeds, and recharge time... also Can more then one head be used with the hensels? it sounds like only one head can be used per pack? I hope not because for the price I am definitely considering it...

yes all offer two heads (elinchrom, hensel, and profoto) packs...

personally, I think the Elinchrom Ranger Speed AS is by far the best value.

BlindMike wrote:
Broncolor Mobil has optional AC adapter. Not cheap though.

well Im willing to pay for it. I want the best straight up, the profoto is around 5gs per pack..

Elite Group wrote:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/392228-REG/Elinchrom_10282_Ranger_RX_AS_1100_W_S.html

ya that's what I got...

Marcel Vocino wrote:
well Im willing to pay for it. I want the best straight up, the profoto is around 5gs per pack..

best is all relative... the 7b is not the top of the line...

what's your income in photography and your overall budget?

Leave plenty of dough in the tank for modifiers... the pack is really a drop in the bucket. Add beauty dishes, speedrings, parabolics, stands, octas, grids, gels, cords, softboxes, etc... and now we're talking.

Marcel Vocino wrote:
well Im willing to pay for it. I want the best straight up, the profoto is around 5gs per pack..

There's the Broncolor Verso too if you want the ultimate in flexibility in your pack between battery and AC usage, but no one can tell you which would be a better fit - Profoto and Broncolor are different ways of working.

Marcel Vocino wrote:
I do not believe the bees are battery powered, and require a constant AC

Oh you ment built in? I use my bee's on location all the time, with a Vagabond power inverter they sell.

-G

Marcel Vocino wrote:
Im getting a student loan, Im about to graduate and I want the best equipment available, I have as much money as I need technically.......

spoken like a student in debt..

well then, I think MAC offers a 50% discount if your a photography student for profoto, which helps your decision. if you didn't know about it, then feel free to give me a kickback.

Loans don't alter the reality of debt:income. Think and choose wisely.

Greg Knapp wrote:
Oh you ment built in? I use my bee's on location all the time, with a Vagabond power inverter they sell.

-G

Yah, dedicated battery kits are a very different working experience from monolights and inverter setups.

Greg Knapp wrote:
Oh you ment built in? I use my bee's on location all the time, with a Vagabond power inverter they sell.

-G

ya buddy Im looking for a completely self contained unit, Ive been working with travelites for over a year with a converter for a car battery and IM SO OVER IT!!!!!

thanks anyway!

fStopstudios wrote:
spoken like a student in debt..

well then, I think MAC offers a 50% discount if your a photography student for profoto, which helps your decision. if you didn't know about it, then feel free to give me a kickback.

Loans don't alter the reality of debt:income. Think and choose wisely.

LOL it's a lot less than 50%

Plus you need to meet enrollment criteria (including current courses).

fStopstudios wrote:
spoken like a student in debt..

well then, I think MAC offers a 50% discount if your a photography student for profoto, which helps your decision. if you didn't know about it, then feel free to give me a kickback.

Loans don't alter the reality of debt:income. Think and choose wisely.

thanks for the advise, however student debt is not something that is going to get into my way. I just want the best equipment for my needs; you guys are helping me out so much!

BlindMike wrote:

LOL it's a lot less than 50%

Plus you need to meet enrollment criteria (including current courses).

MAC lists the 7b2 @ 7826, student discount is 4376-- free head, B&H: 5434 online.

Still pretty darn sizable savings

Yes, assuming your a photography student.

Marcel Vocino wrote:
I think I love the profoto B2 because its 1200 w/s and you can plug it in when in the studio as well as battery on location. What other brands can offer such options?

www.opusprophoto.com      opus l310 w/ l301 bat

fStopstudios wrote:
MAC lists the 7b2 @ 7826, student discount is 4376-- free head, B&H: 5434 online.

Still pretty darn sizable savings

Yes, assuming your a photography student.

Hrm, I don't know if you can combine the free head offer with the MAC discount. And list doesn't really mean much given B&H prices

terrysphotocountry wrote:

www.opusprophoto.com      opus l310 w/ l301 bat

I need way more then 300 w/s when I have a 12x12 15 feet over head. thanks though!

Marcel Vocino wrote:
Im thinking its between broncolor and elenchrome. However the broncolors power ratings are 2400 j ...... is that 2400 w/s if so I may go with that.....

your comparing apples and ... walnuts now. I would slow down and figure out what you really need rather than go spec/name hunting. My fatherly advice is over now -- I promise

fStopstudios wrote:

your comparing apples and ... walnuts now. I would slow down and figure out what you really need rather than go spec/name hunting. My fatherly advice is over now -- I promise

i do not think those are apples and walnuts man, they are both high end battery packs with AC capabilities. If you want to advise me, help me figure out german power ratings! 2400j is??? ...

Lumigraphics wrote:
I went the cheap route- a pair of Sunpak 622's off eBay. Great for location work and they have AC adaptors to plug in. Sure they aren't real studio lights but they are a lot smaller and cheaper too.

383 Supers for me.

These are so inexpensive and easy to power that I have been wondering if banking 2 or 3 flashes with a single unbrella might be worthwhile.

This would offer two options: Higher light output with longer recycle, or lower output with fast recycle. For example, two flashes set to 1/2 power would equal one at full with faster recycle.

rp_photo wrote:

383 Supers for me.

These are so inexpensive and easy to power that I have been wondering if banking 2 or 3 flashes with a single unbrella might be worthwhile.

This would offer two options: Higher light output with longer recycle, or lower output with fast recycle. For example, two flashes set to 1/2 power would equal one at full with faster recycle.

I already have canon 580EXs for my super portable lightweight flashes. Im really looking for high end equipment and willing to spend thousands.

fStopstudios wrote:

yes all offer two heads (elinchrom, hensel, and profoto) packs...

personally, I think the Elinchrom Ranger Speed AS is by far the best value.

i love the elinchrom!

Marcel Vocino wrote:

i do not think those are apples and walnuts man, they are both high end battery packs with AC capabilities. If you want to advise me, help me figure out german power ratings! 2400j is??? ...

One (1) watt second (WS) = one (1) joule (j) so yes, a 2400j pack will provide a maximum output of 2400 WS.

215 Studios wrote:

One (1) watt second (WS) = one (1) joule (j) so yes, a 2400j pack will provide a maximum output of 2400 WS.

My understanding is that a WS is related to the amount of light a standard tungsten bulb would emit in one second. For example, 500 WS is the amount of light a 500W bulb would emit over 1 second or a 50W bulb would emit over 10 seconds.

BlindMike wrote:
Yah, dedicated battery kits are a very different working experience from monolights and inverter setups.

How so? Can you elaborate on that? I am currently looking for a portable lighting solution as well. I am mulling getting something Ranger/Porty-ish  OR something like a Dyna-lite XP1100  plus a monolight. I would prefer to keep my setup below $2K ... but I want it powerful enough to do an image like this

Pic by Doug Swinskey

Marcel Vocino wrote:
I already have canon 580EXs for my super portable lightweight flashes. Im really looking for high end equipment and willing to spend thousands.

LOL at the willing to spend thousands...

this isn't a problem to throw money at, and you're stupid if you're starting to think this way.

5nap5hot wrote:

How so? Can you elaborate on that? I am currently looking for a portable lighting solution as well. I am mulling getting something Ranger/Porty-ish  OR something like a Dyna-lite XP1100  plus a monolight. I would prefer to keep my setup below $2K ... but I want it powerful enough to do an image like this

Pic by Doug Swinskey

I'm kinda jumping back in late here... but I have my pack and monos and ya, he's right-- different world.

What do you want to know specifically rather than me get into a long winded ramble?