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Power Source for On-Location Shooting
Am I right for thinking that a generator is used for shots "on-location" when there are no power outlets around. I do most of my shoots outoors, and on occasion, when the sun is going down and the lighting is low. My camera doesn't produce great pics at higher ISO levels, so many times I need better lighting than the on-camera flash will provide. If you have lighting that you can bring and set up, what do you use as your powere source. Please make suggestions of type, brand, and price of power sources. Thanks. Oct 04 07 08:55 am Link I use 2 Profoto AcuteB600R battery driven power packs. 600 watts per light. In low light they are far more then you need and are good as gold. I have overcome the sun at 1 on FLA beaches as well. Just not cheap, but when are the best things cheap? Oct 04 07 08:58 am Link My avatar to the left here was taken with one AcuteB600R driving a Profoto head in a three foot octadome. That's it Oct 04 07 08:59 am Link Oct 04 07 09:00 am Link Thanks. Oct 04 07 09:46 am Link www.innovatronix.com works great! Great price. Oct 04 07 10:31 am Link My avatar (main photo) was also shot using a Profoto B Acute 600R. But this was with the ringlight. Oct 04 07 10:36 am Link This was also shot with the same Profoto set up. And if you go to my website and then my blog you will see videos of this shoot and others. http://SecondFocus.com  Oct 04 07 10:39 am Link I use Alienbees and the Vagabond Power pack. Works very well. Oct 04 07 11:25 am Link Well if the location is close enough to get a car or truck there, then thereis a cheaper way than expensive Broncolor or Profoto battery power pack. I use a 600W DC to AC converter. All I do if leave my car engine running, plug all my monobloc studio flash into the inverter! You can get 2500W inverter if you got a truck battery. The 600W continous 900W peak inverter only cost me £89, around $181 US dollar, cheaper than the Profoto! Oct 04 07 11:49 am Link Rick Blaine wrote: ditto. for a baller on a budget, this is the way to go. lol Oct 04 07 01:20 pm Link If you buy an inverter ,better make sure it's a pure sine wave or you could fry you lights. If you don't want to buy the Vagabond II you can buy just the inverter from Alien Bees for $199.00 and your lights should be safe Oct 04 07 01:42 pm Link car starter pack with an 110 AC plug. all of $50, if you don't want to lug generators Oct 04 07 05:22 pm Link ip studio wrote: No. MSW will kill some strobes. Oct 04 07 05:23 pm Link J8ke Photography wrote: what do you use? Oct 04 07 05:28 pm Link You can also use these. http://www.innovatronix.com/prodindex.asp Oct 04 07 05:29 pm Link I have tried APC units, an inverter, and a Husky AC\DC power supply\inverter\car starter thimajig 1000w with 6.7amps and a single Alienbee 400 at half power will trip the surge protection and shut down all of these units. Right now I am willing to try anything else before I break down and spend the money on a Vagabond. So please keep the ideas coming. I know Ransom J Cheese uses an APC 500 UPS to fire off 2 WL1600 but I cant get him to tell me how he modded it to do so. I would love to mod a UPS for this purpose. Oct 04 07 05:29 pm Link Vagabond 2 works great. I'll bump for that. Oct 04 07 05:31 pm Link ip studio wrote: If your packs are digital, then ge ready to smell them burn. Fire, fire, fire!!!!! Oct 04 07 05:31 pm Link http://www.innovatronix.com/prodindex.asp works awesome... Oct 04 07 05:31 pm Link FusionMediaCo wrote: Use a capacitor, like the ones they use when they put those big fancy sterios in cars. It will hold a charge and allow you to shoot with out triping the surge protection. Sorry this is if you are using one of those battery charger things. Not an APC. You will need your car to keep this puppy running at optimal power Oct 04 07 05:36 pm Link Jairo Cruz wrote: Can you provide more info regarding this? Is it a plug and play capacitor? Where can i get one, a link would be most appreciated. Oct 04 07 05:42 pm Link FusionMediaCo wrote: Car starter battery gives a sudden burst of current to kick start your vehicle starting motor, it is not steady, that's why the surge protection shut the units down. Oct 04 07 05:56 pm Link And I use a pair of Bowens Gemini strobes and the Bowens battery pack which keeps everything DC from start to finish. I used a vagabond once, and honestly, I don't like having AC like that on location. Oct 04 07 06:00 pm Link What's a UPS??? Yes I know.... little brown clad men with big packages.  Sounds cool whatever it is! Oct 04 07 06:08 pm Link ward wrote: This looks good so far, I think it's worth 300$ to find out too. Nice find. Oct 04 07 06:13 pm Link Hensel has a new one shipping in October ... $1100 or so http://www.henselusa.com/visitproducts.html Oct 04 07 06:22 pm Link Steven Richards wrote: $1100 for 150 flashes... hmmm sounds like a bad deal, maybe I read that wrong. I do love Hensel though, really nice color of light. Oct 04 07 06:33 pm Link August1975 wrote: A battery backup... Dec 20 07 02:31 am Link i love shooting outside alot, the sun is my powersource, ill use the onboard flash and a reflector, but it would be nice to have a generator, lets see what these people are using Dec 20 07 02:35 am Link White Lightning Vagabond 300 unit :-P Dec 20 07 02:36 am Link Vagabond 2 here.... Dec 20 07 02:39 am Link La Image inc wrote: What? Dec 20 07 03:13 am Link Kreative Phokus wrote: I used to use an inverter/battery setup along with ABs/WLs. It was a lot to carry around (didn't really like working with monolights on location) so I switched to a pack/head battery setup. I'm currently shooting with a Visatec Litepac (lousy expensive Broncolor accessories). I borrow my buddy's Porty's when needed (not as elegant but punchy). Dec 20 07 03:24 am Link Rick Blaine wrote: I've got 4 AB800s and a VB350 Dec 20 07 03:24 am Link August1975 wrote: The Visit MPG works with more than just Hensel. It has AC outlets, just like the Dynalite XP1100. Dec 20 07 03:28 am Link I just got the Tronix Explorer 1200ws. I did some test with my power packs Profoto and Speedotron Blackline. the results are at http://breganphoto.blogspot.com/2007/12 … 200ws.html I haven't really pushed the out-put yet, but I'm happy so far. I've used the Vagabond and AB's for years, now they will gather dust as a back up system. Dec 21 07 10:35 am Link FusionMediaCo wrote: In another thread he said he didn't do it, his dad did whom has his master electricians cert. Dec 21 07 10:39 am Link Chris Steinbach wrote: Yup, My Vag2 works great. I could live without the funky orange bag, but I like the unit Dec 21 07 10:43 am Link 8 to 12 AA's work great for me. Dec 21 07 10:50 am Link |
